Vancouver food recovery organization looks for volunteers

Lauren Maynard is about to complete her 57th food rescue this year.

Maynard has been a volunteer driver with Vancouver Food Runners (VFR) — a food recovery organization that redirects surplus food from more than 150 businesses across Metro Vancouver and delivers them to nearby non-profits — for more than four years.

“Seeing the same faces every week is definitely a highlight, but also walking away knowing you’re making an impact on so many intersectional issues that our community is facing,” she said.

The Leader Spirit joined Maynard as she delivered eight boxes of produce from Fresh Direct to the City Reach Care Society. The entire pickup and dropoff took less than an hour.

“One day when I was dropping off at the women’s centre on Hastings, I asked them [how much the delivery helps them],” she said.

“They said that food went towards making 150 meals every day for women and children… so the scale of impact for 45 minutes out of your day once or twice a week is so worthwhile.”

Lucas Fernandes speaks for the City Reach Care Society.

“On a weekly basis, we are feeding at least 1,000 families every week,” he said.

“So if we’re getting more food, that means the families are receiving a better quality hamper of what they’re going to eat throughout the week.”

Michelle Reining, VFR’s executive director, says over 46 per cent of food in Canada is wasted or lost.

“A lot of organizations or businesses don’t know about reducing food waste, so we’re able to redirect their surplus foods for free,” she said.

“Food insecurity is rising. One in five households in B.C. are now food insecure. People are going to programs hungry. These donations are integrated their community food programming, meals, food hampers, as well as direct food provisions.”

Now, as the holiday season approaches, VFR is calling on more volunteers to join them in the fight against food insecurity. Anyone with a car can sign up on the organization’s app and start delivering right away.

“VFR has been so incredible,” Maynard said. “Very thoughtful about all of the details, all of the steps, and making the steps as efficient as possible because they know people’s time is valuable.”