A shelving unit about five feet high will be installed at the Richmond Food Bank property, and will be filled with food that anyone can pick up 24/7.
The idea is to lower barriers and reduce stigma for people who are struggling to make ends meet and need food.
While the Richmond Food Bank gives out food regularly to local residents – who have to pick it up on certain days – there’s a lot of stigma attached to lining up for handouts.
This pantry was the brainchild of a peer-led committee, Food Action in Richmond – FAIR – that was looking at ways to reduce gaps in food delivery.
Alex Atkinson, who used to work for the Richmond Food Bank, is the facilitator of FAIR. The pantry was the action item that resulted from six months of discussion around food insecurity in Richmond, she explained.
The planning and execution was largely done by the volunteer committee, with Home Installations at Rona donating the material and labour.
There will be a grand opening on June 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the food bank, after which the committee hopes the pantry will become self-sustaining.
And the committee hopes to see more such pantries around Richmond.
“The pie in the sky for this group is that this is the first of many,” Atkinson said.
The idea of the FAIR committee was to consult with people struggling with food insecurity to understand what they need. This is based on the principles of “If it’s for us, it’s by us,” and “nothing for us without us,” Atkinson explained.
There have been some problems with a similar pantry in Steveston, sometimes with cars rolling up and emptying the entire pantry.
To keep the new food distribution hub in city centre low barrier - and anonymous - means not policing it.
“The hope is there’s more (people) who need it than those who abuse it,” Atkinson said.
There will be signs that outline the community guidelines and values as well as what food is appropriate to donate.
Richmond residents can help fill the pantry with non-perishables food items, such as canned food, pasta and rice or dry packaged meals.
FAIR is now looking for an Indigenous artist to paint the pantry.
Atkinson notes that not all food bank clients are on income assistance, rather, there are many “working poor” people living in market rental housing who can’t afford to buy enough food.
“That’s just simple math,” she said.
The pantry is an “add-on” to the services already provided by the Richmond Food Bank.
