Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank

Thank you to The Jingle Pot Pub for being our newest Empties 4 Food partner! The support from Empties 4 Food is vital for our food recovery and free food market programs!

This glow up 🌟 of our Harvest Building is brought to you by a generous donation from Coastal Community Credit Union and a grant from BC Gaming! Thank you for the help with the necessary repairs and refurbishments. This ensures the longevity of the building and our ability to serve north island communities well into the future. Thank you!

Important Notice:

The Farquhar Street free food market will be moving to Nanaimo Native Victory Church (471 Irwin Street, Nanaimo) starting Monday, July 29th. The drive-through will also be permanently closed. The last day for food distribution at the Farquhar location is Thursday, July 25.

Please check our website (www.viloavesandfishes.org) for more information as we approach the location change.

We appreciate your patience with this change and look forward to continuing service through this new location.

We wanted to express our immense gratitude to everyone who supported our Food 4 Summer program. Whether it was through food donations, financial contributions or helping spread the word, you have made a real difference in the lives of people in need. Together we raised $52,633 of which $10,000 was generously matched by Island Savings giving us a grand total of $62,633! This provides over $102,000 worth of food! Our food donations, generously facilitated by Thrifty Foods added up to 6880.9 lbs of food going out to people in need across Vancouver Island!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Volunteers, we need you!
We need the Empties at East Wellington sorted by July 27th, and your help is vital to achieve this!

VI Loaves & Fishes Community Foodbank - Empties 4 Food Sorting - 1861 East Wellington Rd These volunteers will support our Empties4Food program by helping to sort donated empties at our 1861 East Wellington Road, Nanaimo location.  These donations provide a significant source of income that enables healthy nutritious food to get into the hands of those in need within our community. *C...

Does anyone know a student in the Port Hardy area looking for a summer job? If so, please share...
We need another summer student to apply at our Harvest building in Port Hardy ASAP! Starting ASAP, until Aug 31. Full time (35 hours per week) working in Harvest (food bank and thrift store). Driver's license preferred but not mandatory. Please come apply in person to Josh this week from 8:30am-3:30pm. Today to Friday. MUST start by Monday (July 22). Must be between 15 and 30. In between school (going back in Sept at any level).

Thank you Gwen O'Mahony for coming by our warehouse today to meet with Peter and learn more about our food recovery and distribution!

Thank you again to our long time supporters at Coal City Cycles! A $660 donation towards helping provide food for people in need!

Thank you to Coast To Coast Tribute for putting on such a fantastic show and to everyone who attended! We also thank you for fundraising to help provide good food to people in need across Vancouver Island! Rock on!

We're looking for a full time Community Partner Manager to join our Nanaimo team! Please see our website for details and how to apply.

Loaves & Fishes - Job Postings The Controller plays a pivotal role in the fight against hunger on Vancouver Island by overseeing daily financial reporting and long-term financial planning for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. This position is instrumental in achieving our operational goals, which include:

Our friend from DoorDash arrived with another donation of soap! We could not be more grateful to DoorDash for their ongoing support!

Another awesome concert in Nanaimo, thanks to everyone who attended! This show was filmed and recorded for release, and we can't wait to share it with our fans and supporters far and wide. A special thanks for the excellent work of Take Off Photography, our soundman Juraj Pisko, all the staff at the The Port Theatre, our media sponsor 106.9 FM THE WOLF, and our fundraising partner Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank.

We want to extend a great big thank you to our longtime friends at Coastal Community Credit Union for sponsoring the repairs and refurbishment of our Loaves & Fishes Harvest Building Thrift Store and Harvest Food Bank. We truly appreciate this support for our north island service!

Please note that today (Monday, July 1st) the only free food market open in Farquhar Street free food market in Nanaimo. The office Nanaimo warehouse is closed for Community Partners but open for farmers. The Harvest building in Port Hardy and the Port McNeill free food markets are also closed. Regular operations resume Tuesday, July 2nd.

Also, we want to thank...uhh...this guy who joined the final part of the Spokesmen Food 4 Summer ride by running. 😃

They made it! All the way to our Port Hardy Food Bank! Thank you everyone who supports the Food Bank Spokesmen and their ride to feed Vancouver Island this summer! Give here over the weekend! https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

The Food Bank Spokesmen made it to Zeballos and met our drive Neil on the way! Loaves & Fishes provides monthly free deliveries of free food to Zeballos and the Ehattesaht Fist Nation too! Help us keep the food on the road by donating towards their ride for Food 4 Summer here: https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

The Food Bank Spokesmen made it to Tahsis! Their journey continues all the way to Port Hardy for Food 4 Summer! You can support their ride for feeding Vancouver Island this summer by giving here Island Savings matching up to $10,000:
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

Do you need pallets? We've got some up for grabs today at 1009 Farquhar St. These pallets are first come, first serve. They make fantastic building materials for various cool projects, so come get yours today!

The Food Bank Spokesmen have made it to Gold River! Loaves & Fishes provides free monthly deliveries of free food to Gold River and Tahsis too! Keep the food flowing this summer by giving here:
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

The Food Banks Spokesmen have made it to Campbell River Food Bank! In 2023, Loaves & Fishes provided over $78,000 worth of food, free or charge to Campbell River. Help us continue to keep our island communities fed this summer by supporting this ride for Food 4 Summer! Sponsored by Thrifty Foods and Island Savings matching donations up to $10,000!
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

The Food Bank Spokesmen are still riding! They have raised $2,769 so far on their ride and are hoping to reach their goal of $10,000. Who is going to help them get the remaining $7,200 and help feed our island this summer!?
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

Today they have rode Port Alberni to Cumberland and are still going! In 2023 the communities of Coombs, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Ucuelet received over $65,000 worth of free food from Loaves & Fishes!

🎶 Feel the rhythm and let the good times roll! Coast 2 Coast is your ticket to an electrifying night. Get your tickets today and be part of the legend! Use code ROCK25 for a 25

July 6th 7:30-9:30pm

Everyone is getting on board with Food 4 Summer. Thank you Upper Island Power Pioneers for this generous donation towards feeding our island communities this summer!

The Food Bank Spokesmen have made it to Port Alberni. They rode 180km today! All to bring attention to the need for our Food 4 Summer campaign. In 2023, Loaves & Fishes gave over $213,000 worth of food, free of charge, to charities in the Alberni Valley. We can't do this without your help! Please give here and help these riders us reach their goal! https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

Thank you Casey, Brandon and everyone who participated in their volleyball tournament to make sure people have enough to eat this summer. Thank you!

They found some Elk in Youbou! The Food Bank Spokesmen ride across Vancouver Island continues for Food 4 Summer! Give on this link to have your donation matched!
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

They've made it to Lake Cowichan! In 2023, Loaves & Fishes gave over $18,000 worth of food to the Lake Cowichan Food Bank! You can help keep the food going across Vancouver Island by giving here: https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ

And the Food Bank Spokesmen are off to Port Alberni today via Lake Cowichan! You can support Food 4 Summer by donating to this ride to feed Vancouver Island by giving on this link. Island Savings matching donations up to $10,000!
https://www.viloavesandfishes.org/campaigns/food4summer2024?form=FUNXUASLMCR&fundraiser=NHQGHPJZ&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR29iGBuj0L6rf_MVuEsB6qLBfPHWqN1CnLZiiQ0O9Ym-zAar1ieIuoKEec_aem_PsLS0vdhsSOYe5hUQ3mvpw&member=SXWNCNKJ