Mission: Sharing food. Feeding hope; Vision: We believe in a hunger-free community; our Values: Respecting, integrity and compassion.

These things are the basis of the Kamloops Food Bank today.

It all began in 1981 when Hank Woodland established the Kamloops Food Bank via the Kamloops United Church with the goal of assisting people experiencing difficulty during the high inflation rates of the 1980s.

 “Good things come about when a group of people put aside their bias and work towards a common goal,” said Alex Backmeyer, (deceased) President of  the Society at the opening of the Kamloops Foodbank and Outreach Society Drop-in Centre on Oct. 22, 1989.

Seven people from the United, Anglican and Catholic congregations in Kamloops came together to serve the less fortunate. Vice-president Paul Corcoran acknowledged the paramount need at the time was providing food for welfare recipients whose cheque just didn’t stretch to the end of the month.

The next targeted group were those who didn’t have a permanent residence and needed a place to feel at home. Their third identified need included an information/counseling service.

Corcoran, one of the last surviving founding members of the society, explained the food bank outlet in the United Church became too small to meet the needs of the clients. It was decided to form a non-profit society that would encompass the food bank and a drop-in-center where the marginalized could be welcomed with coffee and warmth.

To fulfill these goals they rented a space at 116 Seymour Street, setting up a drop-in center and food bank.

Luckily the Unemployment Action Committee shared the space with the center. This added another service for visitors. Unfortunately, that first building was purchased and they needed a new center.  They found an older house in need of repair, but which met their needs, and a fundraising campaign began.

Businesses, service organizations, church congregations, private donors, and the Catholic Credit union provided seed funding, and $35,000 was raised and  the house was purchased.

Improvements to the house at 422 Lorne Street were achieved by volunteers in the community and the clients themselves. The Kamloops Fire Department donated a $1,500 cheque to the Centre.

MP Nelson Riis presented an opening commemoration plaque and Bud Smith, BC Attorney General, congratulated the organizers for attending to the needs of those who “don’t fit into the agency slots.”

Corcoran said food banks aren’t the answer to the problem; however, the food bank helps about 300 to 400 people a month (in 1992).

The Food Bank of today acknowledges that it operates on Tk’emlupus te Secwe’pemc territory in the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwe’pemc people.

Today’s Food Bank, the fourth building, serves families, seniors, single parents, and singles and couples who find themselves in need of a little help.

One example of help is the foodSHARE Program which distributes good food, that would otherwise be destined for landfills, to students.  At a school’s request a food truck delivers the food which is offered to students who could benefit from a mid-morning snack.

This program received the Recycle BC Environmental Award in 2024, for its continued environmental commitment, and the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence award. Further, the Food Bank also received the King Charles III Coronation medal for environmental concerns. It was presented by MLA Peter Milobar.

‘Past use’ food products are offered to  farmers who pick up the perishable products to feed their animals, thus contributing to sustainable practices and supporting local agriculture.

The Food Bank also initiated the Basics for Babies held every year in November. Needed formula, diapers, baby food, and hygiene products and more are collected at Delta Hotel by B-100 and CFJC-Midday. This way mothers experience support while dealing with financial difficulties.

Another innovation of the Food Bank was the Rotary Spring Food Drive held some time in April. Drivers comb Kamloops looking for the Food Bank bags filled by the generous citizens of Kamloops and then unload the bags at the Food Bank collection center. Every year the citizens of Kamloops respond generously.

The Starfish Backpack program came about by way of the Abbotsford Rotary Club. The backpack idea came to Kamloops in 2016 through the Rotary Club of Kamloops. Together with the Kamloops Food Bank, School District 73, dozens of local businesses, and many volunteers working together, 250 back packs are filled with enough food for a family for the weekend. These backpacks are delivered to 30 schools on Friday morning to be taken home for the weekend.

Food is also gathered when the CPKC Holiday Train comes through Kamloops and is attended by some 4000 people. This train gathers donations of food across Canada during the Christmas season which is distributed to the cities Food Bank.

When called to step up to the plate, the Kamloops Food Bank was there through the pandemic, inflation, high interest rates and the Shuswap, Kelowna, and Lake Country fires, providing support, especially for seniors and children under five years of age.

Bernadette Siracky, Director, acknowledges the dedication of the staff, Board of Directors and Volunteers. Volunteers can give back to the community in a fun environment which is supportive and has flexible scheduling.

“As we pursue a better world, we move forward with the conviction that our collective efforts truly matter. Here’s to another year of resilience, compassion and meaningful change,” said Siracky, who has guided the Food Bank for the last 15 years.

A few interesting Stats: 25 foodSHARE retail partners; 8,755 people served, 73,980 food bank visits; 25,400,000 lbs of food diverted from the landfill since 2007 ($91,000,000 value).