​The Lake Country Food Assistance Society operates a Food Bank in the District of Lake Country with a clear mandate: to eliminate hunger.

​

Every month, the Food Bank provides a helping hand to individuals and families with hampers of nourishing food. We are committed to serving everyone who reaches out—no one is turned away.

​

In addition to the monthly hampers, food is made accessible through six well-placed community fridges and an open-access market. These are stocked six days a week, allowing individuals to pick up what they need, whenever they need it.

​

We also deliver hampers and offer weekly food pickup and delivery to three Indigenous communities and over 35 local organizations that serve marginalized groups, the elderly, families, and children.

 

We’re grateful for the strong relationships with local grocers and food producers, who generously donate food. Their contributions have helped us grow our food recovery program, reducing waste and enhancing our ability to provide nourishing food to even more people across the community.

​

HISTORY

The Lake Country Food Bank, operated by the Lake Country Food Assistance Society, has been dedicated to addressing hunger in the Lake Country community since its founding in 1988. Initially a small operation providing food hampers to those in need, the organization relied on various temporary locations to carry out its work.

​

In 2015, the Lake Country Food Bank received a significant boost when the Rotary Club of Lake Country gifted a purpose-built facility at 9830 Bottom Wood Lake Road. This permanent home marked a turning point, enabling the organization to serve the community more effectively and efficiently.

 

Building on this momentum, in 2016, the Lake Country Food Bank formed the "Helping Through Sharing Network", a collaborative initiative with other food banks and charities. This network allowed the organization to extend its reach and pool resources, providing more comprehensive support to those in need.

 

The following year, in 2017, the lower level of the facility was transformed into a food recovery center. This development positioned the Lake Country Food Bank as a trailblazer in the region, making it the first food bank in the Okanagan to launch a food recovery program. Partnering with Save-On-Foods, the program aimed to reduce food waste while increasing the availability of nutritious food for clients. Over the years, this initiative has expanded significantly, thanks to partnerships with organizations like Sysco, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and local farmers.

 

In 2024, the Lake Country Food Bank reached another milestone by constructing a new building in front of the existing facility. This addition provides an open market for clients and community members and a warehouse for assembling hampers, further enhancing the food bank’s ability to serve the community with dignity and efficiency.

 

Throughout its history, the Lake Country Food Bank has remained steadfast in its mission to eliminate hunger. This journey has been made possible by the tireless efforts of its dedicated team of volunteers and its innovative approaches to food assistance and recovery.