Each year, the Cranbrook Food Bank feeds over 2,600 people, one-third of whom are children, with a total of over 19,000 visits to the food bank.
There is now a new way for residents to support this vital community service, with advent of the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies' (CFKR) newest endowment fund.
The CFKR announced the establishment of the Cranbrook Food Bank Society Legacy Fund last week
By contributing to this permanently invested endowment fund, donors have a unique opportunity to support the Cranbrook Food Bank in perpetuity, with the interest from this fund providing an annual grant to support the Cranbrook Food Bank’s operations and programming.
“The Cranbrook Food Bank is so pleased to establish this new endowment fund as another positive step towards enhancing our financial sustainability," said Julie Rose, Cranbrook Food Bank Executive Director. "The need in Cranbrook continues to grow, and we’re here to support our community.
“Our community's invaluable support is essential to our work; without it, our mission would not be possible,” Rose added.
“The Cranbrook Food Bank is a food-security leader in our community, collaborating with multiple non-profit organizations to provide the best possible support to people in need," said Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director. "CFKR is honoured to support the vital service they provide to our community.”
The Cranbrook Food Bank is a non-profit society that operates independent of core government funding, relying on the generosity of donations, grants, community fundraisers, and this newly established endowment fund, to support its programs and cover operating expenses each year.
The Food Bank started in Cranbrook in 1982 in the basement of the Labour Centre, following a collapse in the economy, particularly in the forest industry, and was meant to provide a temporary service. The Food Bank soon moved to a heritage house on 8th Avenue, which was provided by the Steelworkers Local 1–405 and BCGEU to house the growing clientele; this location was generously donated to the Food Bank in 2018.
This donation, the sale of the previous warehouse, and several amazing construction and equipment grants from the Government of BC, Columbia Basin Trust, Food Banks BC, and Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies facilitated the construction of current distribution/warehouse facility.
