The food bank that helps to feed more than 800 families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows is running out of food daily, and sounding an alarm.
The Friends In Need Food Bank is urgently calling on the community for support, facing an unexpected and significant drop in the amount of perishable food collected from local grocery stores. The food bank blames supply chain disruptions, caused by tariff wars between Canada and the U.S. as a factor.
Since April 4, the food bank has run out of food every day, unable to meet the growing needs of families, seniors, and individuals. This shortage comes despite regular daily pickups from major local grocery stores.
“We haven’t seen shortages like this since the height of the COVID 19 pandemic,” said executive director Mary Robson.
“The food simply isn’t there to collect. We’re facing empty shelves, and our clients are going without. It’s heartbreaking.”
The food bank’s Perishable Food Recovery Facility, which typically collects thousands of pounds of nutritious surplus food weekly, has seen a dramatic decline in donations from local grocery stores, she explained. This sharp reduction is leaving serious gaps in supply at a time when demand for food support continues to grow.
This shortage is believed to be driven by two key factors impacting the entire province:
• Ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, along with Canada's retaliatory measures. These trade tensions have led to increased costs and logistical challenges, affecting the availability and distribution of perishable goods in grocery stores.
• Rising food prices: Canada's Food Price Report forecasts a 3% to 5% increase in food prices for 2025. Higher food costs have forced retailers to tighten inventory and order more conservatively, meaning less excess food is available for redistribution.
The Friends In Need Food Bank is urging individuals, businesses, and local farmers to donate food or funds to help bridge this critical gap. Donations of fresh and non-perishable items are gratefully accepted, and financial contributions allow the food bank to purchase urgently needed items in bulk.
“We are a strong and caring community,” said Robson. “With your help, we can make sure no one is turned away hungry.”
To donate visit www.friendsneedfood.com/donate or call 604-466-FOOD (3663).
