'My situation can happen to anybody': food bank donor now relies on program

Pat Bayes was once a monthly donor to the food bank, but after losing her job as an executive director at a non-profit because of an illness, she has had to turn to the food bank for support.

"It's been a very humbling experience," said Bayes, who for the past three years visits the food bank several times a month to supplement her needs.

Bayes is one of 103,400 people receiving assistance from food banks in B.C. as of March 2016 — a record high number, according to Food Banks Canada's annual hunger count.

Her life was turned on its head five years ago, after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and began chemotherapy.

"I was forgetting to pay bills. People were thinking I was drunk or on drugs. I kept falling and breaking things," she said.

It wasn't long until she was evicted from her home.

"I became homeless. I was sleeping in my office, sleeping in my car, etc...," she said.

Before falling ill and losing almost everything, Bayes was the executive director for Stand Up For Mental Health, as well as an advocate for people with mental health issues and acquired brain injuries.

"I've gone from being an advocate to someone with an acquired brain injury. That's how I got here," she said.

Due to her brain injury, Bayes hasn't been able to go back to work and has been on income assistance.

"The irony is not lost on me that here I'm standing in line," she said.

While the lineup to get food can be exhausting, Bayes said she is grateful for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and its efforts to provide fresh produce.

"My situation can happen to anybody. I'm the poster child of that. I had a very good life, a very good life and everything was turned on its head because of a catastrophic illness."

While Bayes hopes to no longer rely on the food bank, she isn't sure when that time will come. 

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