The Golden Food Bank is closing the book on 2025 with deep gratitude for the donors, volunteers, partners, and community members who continue to make its work possible. Without the continued support of everyone, the Food Bank simply could not operate.
Over the past year, the Golden Food Bank supported 407 households, distributing 2,476 food hampers to more than 500 individuals. Those numbers include families, seniors, and a growing number of working adults who still find it difficult to make ends meet.
Financial donations continue to be a critical piece of the puzzle. In 2025, donors contributed just over $135,000. The Golden Food Bank does not receive core government funding, making community donations essential to maintaining programs and meeting demand.
Equally important are the Food Recovery partnerships that help stretch every dollar. Local partners, including Save-On-Foods, IGA, Daley Bread, Tim Hortons, and Ethos helped recover 38,472 kilograms of food last year, with an estimated value of $308,546. This recovered food added fresh produce, meat, and staple items to food hampers while also reducing waste and operating costs.
Surplus recovered food is shared with the wider community through Food Rescue Days, held on Thursday afternoons when supply allows. In 2025, the program ran 36 times and was accessed 758 times. Residents interested in Food Rescue Days are encouraged to sign up for the Food Bank’s email list or check its social media pages on Thursdays between 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. Donations are welcome to help cover program costs.
Volunteers remain central to the Food Bank’s day-to-day operations. Last year, volunteers contributed 864 hours of service, valued at $24,019. Their work supports food access, waste reduction, and food literacy initiatives across the community.
While the number of hampers distributed in 2025 declined slightly from the previous year, demand remains double what it was in 2021. Single working-age adults continue to represent the largest group accessing the Food Bank. According to Food Banks Canada’s 2025 HungerCount report, 19 per cent of food bank clients now report employment as their primary source of income, up from 12 per cent in 2019.
Rising housing, food, and transportation costs continue to outpace wage growth. Households with the lowest incomes may now spend as much as 66 per cent of their earnings on housing alone.
These pressures are particularly evident in Golden. The local living wage is calculated at $27.80 per hour, yet roughly one-third of paid workers in British Columbia earn less than that amount. Census data shows that more than 40 per cent of Golden residents fall below the living-wage threshold, underscoring the ongoing risk of food insecurity in the community.
Looking ahead, 2026 will mark the Golden Food Bank’s 25th anniversary of incorporation. The milestone will be acknowledged at the organization’s Annual General Meeting this spring, which is open to the public. The Food Bank is also recruiting new board members, with more information to be shared through its website at goldenfoodbank.ca.
Food prices are expected to rise another 4 to 6 per cent nationwide in 2026, potentially adding nearly $1,000 a year to the average Canadian family’s grocery bill.
While recent federal measures aim to ease pressure on food costs, the Golden Food Bank says continued community support will remain essential as it works to ensure access to healthy food for residents of Golden and Area A.
