Vancouver's
Food Rescue Service
Staff and volunteers at the Food Stash Foundation give surplus food from grocery stores a second life.
By Tia Sacks
The Food Stash Foundation is a registered charity in Vancouver which rescues surplus food from grocery stores, farms, and wholesalers, that would otherwise end up in landfill. It's distributed through a food box delivery program and a weekly rescued food market, as well as a free community fridge that is open to the public. Additionally, they deliver food to 36 community partners, including other charities and organizations with food programs.
Recipients of the food boxes are people with low-income who have a disability or chronic health condition which makes them unable to access grocery stores and buy food. For many, this is the only food they will have all week.
Rescued food market patrons receive membership through a randomized lottery after registration and it costs two dollars per week for three months. It's located in the Food Stash warehouse in Mount Pleasant.
Anna is one of the key individuals helping bring Food Stash's mission to life.
With previous experience working for a public relations agency in the food industry, Anna sought a job that not only leveraged her expertise but one with a focus on community.
Three years ago, she started at Food Stash as a summer marketing student and later moved into a full-time role as the Communications Specialist.
She manages all the foundation's social media marketing efforts across TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, while also creating educational content on how to reduce food waste at home.
"I'm really passionate about protecting the environment and getting outside, and I want to be a part of something that's helping our planet" she says.
Every Thursday, staff and volunteers sort through rescued food and stock the market for patrons.
Food Stash has full-time and part-time employees, as well as about 150 volunteers. Some volunteers are weekly, while others contribute on a less regular basis. "They come because they want to help reduce food waste and they stay for the friends they make volunteering" says Anna. "For a lot of us at Food Stash, we're really driven by community." The staff and volunteers have formed strong relationships with each other and the market members, creating a sense of belonging for everyone involved.
Graham, a long-time volunteer, discovered Food Stash three years ago through his mother after she heard about it on a local radio station. He's been a volunteer ever since.
"This organization actually puts to good use the stuff that the store would throw away and I thought this sounds really really good..."
For Sam,
Working at Food Stash as the Market Coordinator is how she wants to contribute to ensuring food is an accessible right for every human. "I just personally think that food shouldn't be for profit. Food is a basic need, it's a basic right, people need it in order to be functioning members of society." She says. "In my life, I want to do everything I can to make that happen."
"I recently moved to the downtown east side area and I have a very vivid understanding of the poverty in this city, and how it affects people and limits our basic needs."
Patrons wait outside the market until doors open at 3:00 PM.
In the market, every shopper can choose from a variety of meat and dairy products, non-perishables, and baked goods, and also receives a produce box. The goal is to emulate a grocery store experience where everyone has the dignity to choose what they want to eat.
Staff and volunteers get ready to welcome everyone inside.
Thank you to everyone at Food Stash for allowing me to witness and document all the hard work that goes into the Thursday market, and for letting me get to know some of you personally. The spirit in the warehouse is palpable, and I'm truly inspired.
- Tia
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