Friends In Need Food Bank

Some birthdays are celebrated with gifts. Others are celebrated by giving back.

This incredible young community member chose to spend his birthday making a difference, raising and donating $208 to Friends In Need Food Bank Society.

Your kindness and generosity will help provide nutritious food to individuals and families in our community who need it most. Thank you for showing that you're never too young to make a big impact.

Happy Birthday, and thank you for inspiring us all! (With permission photo posted).🎉

A huge thank you to Meadowridge School for their incredible support of Friends In Need Food Bank!

Through their hard work, dedication, and community spirit, students took the initiative to organize a fundraising effort that raised an amazing $10,665 for our organization.

We are inspired by these young leaders who recognized a need in their community and chose to make a difference. Their generosity will help provide food and support to individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Thank you, Meadow Ridge Middle School, for showing that you are never too young to create a meaningful impact. We are truly grateful for your support! ❤️

From seed to sale, our Middle School students turned learning into impact.

Today, students presented a cheque for $10,665 to the Friends In Need Food Bank—funds raised through this year’s Meadowridge Farmers Market. Through the Explorations Program, students planned, created, marketed, and sold products, all while supporting an important local cause.

Thank you to everyone who attended, purchased items, and helped make this incredible contribution possible. Together, we’re growing more than gardens—we’re growing community.

According to recent research from Food Banks Canada, nearly 1 in 5 food bank users are employed, a significant increase from just a few years ago. Rising housing costs, grocery prices, transportation expenses, and other essential bills are leaving many working individuals and families struggling to make ends meet.

Food insecurity doesn't always look the way people expect. It can affect:
✔️ Working families
✔️ Seniors on fixed incomes
✔️ Students
✔️ People receiving disability supports
✔️ Individuals facing unexpected life changes

Nationally, food bank usage has reached record levels, with nearly 2.2 million visits to food banks in a single month, and food bank use has doubled since 2019.

Here in our community, we continue to see more people accessing support who never imagined they would need a food bank.

Food insecurity is not a personal failure. It's often the result of rising costs outpacing incomes.

A heartfelt thank you to Vancity Credit Union for selecting us a recipient of their Community Branch Grant in the amount of $2,000.👏

Support like this helps us continue providing nutritious food, outreach, and compassionate support to individuals, families, and seniors throughout Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. As the need in our community continues to grow, partnerships like these truly make a meaningful difference in helping us continue our daily operations and support those facing food insecurity.

Thank you for investing back into the community and standing alongside local organizations working to make a difference every day. 🍽