About Osoyoos Food Bank

Osoyoos Food Bank has been operating in the Town of Osoyoos since approximately 1992/1993. It was then known as the Osoyoos Volunteer Food Bank. Food Bank is a monthly program; with emergency food also available if needed. It takes many volunteers who have committed many hours, days, and months of their time, resulting in it's success in helping those in need to receive healthy and nutritious meals. It transitioned to the Osoyoos Baptist Church in approximately 2001 and was then, and still is, known as the Osoyoos Food Bank. Osoyoos Food Bank is a registered charity (#119070886 RR 0001) with both Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada. We operate solely by donations . Our dedicated volunteers work diligently to ensure we address Food Insecurity in our community.  

The Food Mesh Program began in 2020, and currently operates twice a week. Clients can visit us once per week for Food Mesh. It is a a Food Recovery Program that gives food a second chance.  We rescue unsellable, surplus food (dented cans, near best before dates, discontinued) that would otherwise go to waste. Edible, nutritious food is recovered and distributed to those in need. Save-0n-Foods, Nesters Market, Starbucks and many local farmers generously donate food items to our program. If something is unusable or inedible, it is sent to feed local farm animals.

After the Bell has been operating in this facility since about 2022. This program runs during the summer when school-centered supports are not available. We provide a weekly snack bag for each child. Packs contain shelf-stable items such as milk, hummus, crackers, cereal, etc. It also includes perishable items such as apples or other fruits. This program provides children with healthy snacks for the week.

Both Food Bank and Food Mesh do not pre-make hampers, with the exception of our annual Christmas Hamper. The programs are set up like a grocery store so clients can go through and choose their own items from those available. This also helps us reduce waste. With both programs running, it allows our clients access to food up to five times per month. All children are given snack packs at Food Bank and with our weekly After the Bell Program that runs during the summer months.