November 22, 2024
The Archway Food Bank of Abbotsford urgently needs to raise $1.2 million before the end of the year to keep up with the growing need for food in our community.
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September 29, 2023
Archway Food Bank, in Abbotsford, is no exception to the increasing trend of food insecurity across Canada. British Columbia food banks have experienced a 31% increase in food bank visits since 2019.
Archway Food Bank is seeing more and more households accessing its services every month. Staff and volunteers are working to meet the need through increased hours, expanding satellite locations, and further expanding food distribution and access options.
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January 7, 2021
by Tracy Rahn (Christmas Bureau Coordinator) and Rebecca Thuro
If there is one thing that connects us all as human beings, it’s the deep desire to be seen. To be known. To feel that we belong. It is, in the simplest terms, the need for connection – this has been especially highlighted in a year where isolation is necessary. I (Tracy Rahn) experienced some of the most profound moments of connection, of empathy and understanding at this year’s Christmas Bureau. I found it peeking out from behind masked faces, passing sets of eyes that we sometimes may not even recognize as our neighbour or old acquaintance.
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December 15, 2020
At Thanksgiving we shared how the Archway Food Bank is breaking the stereotype and distributing fresh food every day.
When the cost of transportation to and from the Food Bank can cost $12 by taxi, transportation was a barrier to accessing food. Now with home delivery – this means that people like Mary-Margaret can have nutritious food delivered directly to her door.
We’d like you to meet Mary-Margaret.
You can hear directly from Mary-Margaret about the impact that fresh food from the Food Bank has made to her.
October 7, 2020
Cans of soup? Dried goods? Simple meals? Stereotype challenged!
Within the last few years, we’ve done a lot to change the quality of food we provide. With the help of the community, we were able to start the “Fresh Food Recovery” program.
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April 2, 2020
In the same way we adapt to the changing seasons throughout the year, Archway Food Bank has had to adapt how we operate given the unpredictable season we’re in. In our attempt to increase guest safety due to growing concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19, we have had to adapt how we deliver some of our services.
We are taking precautions to keep our guests safe. This includes adapting the amount of people in the building at one time, ensuring the amount of times food is handled is kept to a minimum, increasing sanitation of surfaces and washing hands constantly. COVID-19 is hitting the Food Bank hard. Not only are we operating with limited staff and volunteers, but the demand in service has increased significantly and it’s only the beginning. With decrease in manpower and increase in service demand, we have had to make some tough choices.
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March 16, 2020
Updated Aug 30
When visiting indoors – please be advised that masks are required.
We want to ensure our guests, volunteers, and donors that the team here at the Archway Food Bank is doing our very best to respond as restrictions change and evolve in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to keep providing access to food for individuals and families, and we’ll adapt and change the way we distribute food to keep people safe. We believe people should not go hungry and that continues to be our mission now more than ever.
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March 12, 2020
The Food Bank is taking a bite out of the climate crisis. You’ve seen the news headlines and the Netflix specials. Over 40% of food grown or raised in North America is wasted. We want to show how you are making a positive environmental change when you partner with the Food Bank of Abbotsford.
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January 30, 2020
by Rebecca Thuro
(3 minute read)
Every year we enter the Christmas season with some loose ends that need a touch of the miraculous. This year we needed a building to host the Christmas Bureau toy room and a way to raise $1.2 million by December 31st. Feeding 3,300 people doesn’t get easier at Christmas. It requires even more engagement from our community. And that is just what we found.
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January 15, 2019
Wow, another successful year! We define success, in large part, by the stories of gratitude that have been shared with us by both those who have been helped and those who have been able to extend help this Christmas. And guess what, we have SO MANY STORIES this year. Each year we face different challenges to make the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau a reality. This year was no different, from the loss of a distribution location to medical emergencies – the start of this season was a little shaky.
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October 22, 2018
(3 minute read)
Claudia’s life has been full of challenges. At age 12 she was kicked out of her home in Mexico and lived on the streets for over a year before finding a welcoming family in a traveling circus. At the circus, Claudia did everything from selling popcorn and cleaning trailers to making costumes and juggling rings. During her time traveling with the circus she had her first son before eventually meeting a Canadian man who would become her husband.
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July 5, 2018
(2.5-Minute Read)
By Lucas Driediger
Big Things are in the Works!
From extending Starfish through the summer, to increasing the amount of children we support, there is a lot going on in the world of Starfish! Whether you are eager to fight poverty, or just want a feel good story, this blog is for you.
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January 17, 2018
Another Christmas is wrapped up and we wanted to say thank you to all who helped make this year another success! Whether you gave in time, money, service or all the above, it made a difference and we are so thankful. We know that many of you do not give out of excess, but rather make sacrifices in order to make giving to the Christmas Bureau possible and we admire that so much. Watching the community surround us once again is an amazing experience. We are so grateful to be able to witness our community show such love to the families who come to us for help.
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