Imagine you’re hungry, your kids are hungry, but all of your shelves are empty.
For thousands of British Columbians, this isn’t an imaginative exercise—it’s their everyday reality. That’s why the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive (BCTFD) exists, and needs your help to fill the shelves of those trying to meet their basic nutritional needs.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the provincewide initiative returns to Squamish with a multi-agency drive involving over 100 volunteers. According to Squamish Food Bank manager Venita Fung, the community’s generosity each year has a huge impact—last year, about 2,300 kilograms (5,000 pounds) of non-perishable food items and $5,000 were donated.
“Thanksgiving is a special and meaningful time for the Squamish Food Bank. As the need for services at the Squamish Food Bank continues to grow, with 6,670 visits and 480 household hampers prepared and delivered in the first six months of 2025, the BCTFD is one of the primary ways through which the Squamish Food Bank receives community support and resources,” she said.
Once again, the food bank will be working alongside the Squamish Multifaith Association with the goal of stocking enough food for the remainder of the year.
The food bank and Squamish Helping Hands officially merged into "one happy food security family" in early 2025, strengthening the Sea to Sky food system, the release states.
This year, food drive organizers are requesting that community donations include only the most requested items, which will increase their supply of nutritionally dense foods for individuals and families.
On pick-up day, please only put out the following:
-Rice (brown or white)
-Peanut butter
-Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
-Cereal/oatmeal
-Canned soup (meat and vegetarian)
-Canned vegetables
-Apple sauce
“We encourage everyone to give generously, and, when donating food, to be mindful of expiration dates. Expired items cannot be used and result in additional disposal costs for the food bank, impacting our resources,” reads the release.
Donations will be collected door-to-door on the morning of Sept. 20, and brought to the Squamish Food Bank located at 37871 Third Ave.
For more information on food security programs, please contact [email protected]
If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact [email protected].
