An indefinite drive: New West's Don't Go Hungry needs help

It’s a food drive that technically doesn’t have an end date—because resources are becoming tougher to come by, according to those leading the Don’t Go Hungry (DGH) program.

Rev. Laurie McKay is part of the Trinity Presbyterian Church—made up of three historic congregations in New Westminster and South Burnaby—including St. Aiden’s Presbyterian Church, (referred to now as Trinity West End) Knox Presbyterian in Sapperton (now called Trinity Sapperton) and Gordon Presbyterian (now known as Trinity Edmonds) in Burnaby. There is also a distribution site in Queensborough.

The initiative, which began in 2020, is unfortunately struggling to keep its supply of food up, between a growth in numbers and a more limited supply of nutrient-dense food, along with fresh produce.

While The Anchor has cited DGH’s average distribution numbers at 1200 people each week in previous pieces—including this one in which Tom Jackson played a holiday concert at the Massey Theatre and named DGH the beneficiary of his ‘Santa Cause’—McKay says they recently saw their historically highest numbers.

“[We fed] 1,475 people [the week of April 15] … we [began with] one or two families … [now we’re at over] 400 families. A lot of them are new arrivals. We’ve seen a huge bump in Ukranian refugees who come [to get food]. I’d say at least 50% [total, of our families] do not speak English as their first language,” McKay tells The Anchor.

A little more than three years later, and there are approximately 350 active volunteers—but there’s still a need for more helping hands, including drivers who can help transport food from location to location, as well as deliver food to those who, for a variety of reasons, cannot wait in line. In its early days, the program grew quickly, mainly through the use of social media, as well as through word-of-mouth.

“We were actually stopping people driving down the street, on their bikes, and saying, ‘hey, want some food?’”

As she points out, hunger does not discriminate, and it’s common to see folks from all walks of life access their program.

“I remember one encounter at Sapperton, they were saying they were a young, professional woman, and she was in tears. She was saying, ‘I have never, ever had to use a food bank before.’ She was in her early 30s,” says McKay, adding that it’s becoming more common to see people who are going through all sorts of life experiences and changes show up on distribution days. “We’re seeing people who have had jobs and they are self-sufficient, until COVID or other health problems. Or they lose a job or get a divorce—any kind of [life] transition. Most of us are probably one or two paychecks away from the line-up, because the cost of everything is going up. Food. Gas. It’s huge.”

When asked about the breakdown of participants, McKay added about 30 families receive hampers. It’s also still common for a third of the program’s total recipients to be children—a statistic that hasn’t really changed.

What has changed is the amount of food needed: McKay says they haven’t been receiving the same kind of supply they historically have.

“[We’re looking for] canned meats, nut butters, lentils, beans, chickpeas,” she explains, adding that while they do get some fresh produce—like onions, apples, and potatoes—those get cycled through pretty quickly. While the group does get some food from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank—it’s just one of their sources.

“We’re not run by the Food Bank. We’re run by volunteers from the community,” she notes, adding that sometimes things have been so tough that volunteers—some of whom are actually recipients of the weekly food distribution—will share their food with others who may otherwise need to be turned away when the supply runs out.

McKay is hoping folks in the city will get creative when it comes to sharing any sort of bounty—whether time or talents—they have with the community.

“We can use volunteers. If you can’t donate food, you can donate money…money allows us to purchase foods that are gluten-free and vegetarian. We’re always looking for drivers at all sites. We have a pet pantry for pets, and once a month we give out diapers and baby products. We also give out [household] cleaners and personal items.” DGH is hoping people will donate the extra produce from their gardens to them, too.

At the end of the day, McKay says they want to help people—especially knowing that any one of us could be in their shoes.

“I think we need to realize that all of us are human and no judgement. I think all of us want to have a life [of] purpose. And to be part of something beyond yourself to help other people, to help your neighbour, this is ideal.”

To learn more about this grassroots program, be sure to visit their website. If you’d like to learn more about donating, check out this page, which includes a handy QR code, as well as tips and tricks for planning a food drive.

The City of New Westminster is also an option for donation drop-off; those totes will be available until May 31 at various locations—including the Anvil Centre, and the Glenbrook and Queensborough fire halls.