Annual CBC Vancouver food drive reaches 30 year milestone

In 1986, CBC Vancouver hosted its first annual food drive for hungry families across the province. It raised $462.

Last year, the same food drive raised $630,314.

Over the last three decades, generous British Columbians have donated millions of dollars to help food banks across the province feed families in need during the holiday season through CBC Vancouver's Open House & Food Bank Day. Dec. 2 marks the 30th year for the event — and the need has never been greater.

• Food bank use in B.C. at an all-time high
• 'I hope I don't have to be here for long': What it's like to rely on a food bank

Food bank use in B.C. is at a record high, with 103,400 people receiving assistance as of March 2016, according to Food Banks Canada's annual hunger count — that's a 3.4 per cent increase from 2015, and the third year in a row food bank use in the province has increased.

'It is so, so significant'

"Right now food bank use in B.C. is unacceptably high — especially considering what a prosperous country Canada is," said Laura Lansink, executive director of Foodbanks BC, an organization that represents the 99 food banks across the province.

Food bank use in the province has been rising steadily since 2008, says Lansink, and children represent a third of the recipients.

She says the growing reliance on food banks is indicative of a much larger issue of poverty in B.C., and she feels that it's time the provincial government developed a poverty reduction strategy.

• Rising food bank use leads to call for B.C. poverty reduction strategy

B.C. is the only Canadian province without a poverty reduction strategy, she said.

"That means that our government is not ready to recognize the problem. We can't fix it when we don't recognize what it is."

Lansink says of the people who rely on the program, many are on disability subsidies, are seniors who cannot support themselves on their pensions or are single parents struggling to make ends meet.

And with the holiday season around the corner — a time that tends to strain personal finances — Lansink says the dollars raised at CBC's Open House will go a long way.

"Something like CBC day, where this money goes directly to those food banks, it is so, so significant," she said.

"Every food bank gets at least a couple thousand dollars, no matter how small they are, and most of them get much, much more than that. And for a tiny food bank to get $2,000 — that could be half of their yearly budget."

• 'A victim of our own success': B.C. food banks quickly became essential for many in 1980s
• ​'We're not the answer to food insecurity': Surrey Food Bank serves many needs with few resources
• B.C. child poverty rate higher than national average, says report

A milestone event

CBC Vancouver's annual Open House & Food Bank day originally started as a fundraiser that was broadcast on CBC Radio.

"In the past, it was a call-in and pledge, and that's how we raised money," said Johnny Michel, managing director of CBC British Columbia's English Services.

The event underwent a major transition in 2010, when CBC Vancouver's studio space was redeveloped in time for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

"It was more open and more airy and more accessible ... and we felt, 'Wouldn't it be a great idea if we combined the food bank drive with an open house?'"

Since the transition, CBC has held an annual open house in support of the food drive, where audiences can meet staff and on-air personalities, watch live broadcasts and have some fun. 

Michel says he is excited for the event and hopes it will shed light on how widespread poverty is in B.C.

"While we're happy and thrilled to be able to support the food bank ...  the larger issue around poverty needs to be addressed."

In a written statement, B.C.'s Ministry of Health said, "We recognize the importance of community supports like food banks, and appreciate efforts like the CBC Open House and Food Bank Day to increase support for food banks."

CBC Vancouver invites you to join our annual Open House & Food Bank Day on Friday, Dec. 2.