Christmas Neighbours Needed

A program of our Food Bank is searching for individuals and organizations to help make Christmas a little brighter for hundreds of families and seniors in Abbotsford.

 

The Archway Christmas Neighbour program matches families and seniors with a Christmas Neighbour who delivers Christmas gifts and food supplies directly to them.

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Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast on November 26th to Collect Gifts

The 11th annual Archway Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast event presented by the Clarion Hotel will be held Sunday, November 26th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event collects toys and donations for the Christmas Bureau program of the Archway Food Bank.

 

Community members who bring gifts or donations can enjoy a free buffet breakfast along with live entertainment at the drop-in event at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Centre.

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Volunteer Feature: Meet Ghadeer

National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration of the millions of individuals who give their time and talents to help others. This week is a time to recognize and thank volunteers for their contributions to communities across the country and at our Food Bank.

 

Volunteers like Ghadeer!

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Common Food Bank Myths

As we talk with community members, we’ve noticed that there are some common myths about food banks.

Myths or stigma can stop people from accessing food or from making donations. We are here to help anyone who needs help and aim to make the process as barrier free and welcoming as possible.

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Holiday Hours 2022

Holiday Hours 2022

Holiday Hours 2022

Holiday Hours

Saturday December 24th – Closed
Monday December 26th – Closed
Tuesday, December 27th – Closed
Wednesday, December 28th – 10am-2pm
Thursday, December 29th – 10am-2pm
Friday, December 30th  – 10am-2pm
Saturday, December 31st – 10am-2pm
Monday, January 2nd – Closed

Truck full of donations

Reflecting on the fall of 2021

Amid an unprecedented pandemic, the Fraser Valley experienced unprecedented flooding in November 2021. Residents watched helplessly as their residences and businesses filled with water. As thousands of residents were suddenly evacuated and cut off from their workplaces and loved ones, hundreds turned to the Archway Food Bank for basic provisions and non-perishable food items.

With the flooding came disruptions to supply chains which caused food shortages. For those already accessing the Food Bank anxieties were running high as reserves of food and resources to travel to other towns to purchase supplies are often out of reach.

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Flood Response

We’re very fortunate that our Food Bank building was not negatively impacted by flooding.. But we are very concerned about possible disruptions to our supply chain. As you know, thousands of people rely on us to access essential food service each month. During this local emergency we are also supporting some displaced individuals including approximately 200 temporary farm workers. 

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More to the Story

More to the Story

By Rebecca Thuro & Food Justice Team

“Mom, can I go my friend’s birthday at the rec centre on Friday?” says Katrina to her mother Tricia. Tricia wants with all her heart for her daughter to be able to experience the joy of celebrating her friend, but she has a dilemma. The car ride to the rec centre is across town, and a birthday gift is out of the question. The last she checked, there was $20 in the bank, gas in the car was on empty and the fridge was looking bare. Friday’s pay day felt very far away.

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Mom and daughter

A Mom’s Difficult Decision

(3 Minute Read)
By Meghan Kellington & Rebecca Thuro

Jennifer has a lot of people depending on her. She is a single parent who deeply loves her three daughters – ages 13, 10, and 7. She is also tirelessly caring for her elderly mother who has been battling illness. Jennifer has been unable to work due to a disability and depends solely on the disability income to provide for her family. To make ends meet, Jennifer has been accessing food at the Food Bank.

 

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Volunteers are the best

Volunteer Week 2021

Since July of 2020 Archway Food Bank has had 300 people raise their hand to say “yes, I want to use these hands to help.” We would have never survived this pandemic without the courageous help of our current and new volunteers. The diversity of volunteers that stepped up has enriched our pandemic experience. Meeting new faces and saying, let’s lean on each other (figuratively!) through this tough year, has lifted our spirits when we all needed it most.

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Connecting during Christmas

Connecting During a COVID Christmas

by Tracy Rahn (Christmas Bureau Coordinator) and Rebecca Thuro

If there is one thing that connects us all as human beings, it’s the deep desire to be seen. To be known. To feel that we belong. It is, in the simplest terms, the need for connection – this has been especially highlighted in a year where isolation is necessary. I (Tracy Rahn) experienced some of the most profound moments of connection, of empathy and understanding at this year’s Christmas Bureau. I found it peeking out from behind masked faces, passing sets of eyes that we sometimes may not even recognize as our neighbour or old acquaintance.

 

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The Impact of Delivery

At Thanksgiving we shared how the Archway Food Bank is breaking the stereotype and distributing fresh food every day.

When the cost of transportation to and from the Food Bank can cost $12 by taxi, transportation was a barrier to accessing food. Now with home delivery – this means that people like Mary-Margaret can have nutritious food delivered directly to her door.

We’d like you to meet Mary-Margaret.

You can hear directly from Mary-Margaret about the impact that fresh food from the Food Bank has made to her.

 

Tammy’s Story

by Lucas Driediger

I was first introduced to Tammy earlier this Fall. Although she had used the Food Bank off and on in the past, the pandemic and changed things. With some newly diagnosed health issues, contracting any new sickness has created new challenges.

Thankfully, the combination of her positive attitude, strong demeanor, and community support have helped her get by in this time.

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Toys for Tots Response

Toys For Tots Response

From the beginning of the planning process to the eventual cancellation of Toys for Tots Drive Thru, nothing could have prepared us for this year. Planning an event during a pandemic is not for the faint of heart! Knowing that the event was a huge driving force in making Christmas possible for 1,500 children was all the motivation we needed to continue to adjust the plans as guidelines changed. It was this fact that united the volunteers, sponsors, partners, and community.

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