MAPLE RIDGE– NDP MLAs Bob D’Eith and Lisa Beare say that funding distributed to local food banks and food security programs across B.C. will help support people in need in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

“Our government has always supported food banks and they have a long tradition of making sure that families who may be struggling don’t go hungry,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. “Especially around the holidays, food banks make a huge difference for British Columbians and we are here to help support the work of food banks in Mission and Maple Ridge.”

In August 2023, the Province announced $15 million in funding for Food Banks B.C. to help people in B.C. access nutritious food in their communities. This funding was then distributed by Food Banks B.C. to local organizations, including in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society, which helps feed people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, received $34,129. 

“Investments in food banks resonate beyond the shelves they fill,” said Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows “The Friends in Need Foodbank Society is an important organization here in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows that contributes to the well-being of the community.”

This funding is an investment to support food banks in B.C., and was part of a larger $200 million announced in the spring for work to strengthen the food supply, increase availability of fresh food, encourage food production in remote areas, strengthen food infrastructure, and create more regional food hubs.

Funding for these local organizations helps them to have a direct impact on their communities, and be able to choose how best to serve people in need. This funding is key in communities like Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows where food insecurity has risen due to global inflation, and emergencies that have interrupted supply chains and food production.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023SDPR0051-001338