Who We Are and What We Do......
Oliver Food Bank (OFB) is a 100% volunteer-based society with no paid staff. We comprise 30 volunteers whose functions range from a few hours to 40 hours each month to keep the flow of food to those in need.
We rely on donations from our generous community members: financial donations help us harness cost-effective buying power of wholesale items and annual food drives from individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations provide us with generously donated food. Local farmers donate fresh produce. We are grateful for their continued support!
Three Wednesdays each month OFB operates from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. On those days we help feed our community with 3 days of supplemental food per person following OFB’s guidelines. Food hampers are based on family size: singles, couples, small families (3 or 4 family members) and large families (5 and up family members). We serve the communities of Oliver (in town and rural), and Okanagan Falls, and proof of residency is required when clients register. In the growing season we also help migrant workers with a small hamper suitable for those who may not have access to a stove or refrigeration.
Across Canada, food bank attendance is steadily increasing as food prices, food insecurity and living expenses continue to rise. In 2020 OFB served 8,700 people; in 2024 that number rose to 10,200. More people with jobs are using food banks as are an increasing number of seniors.
It is Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. The doors to Oliver Food Bank are opening and the line-up is beginning. Some people have arrived early and secured their place in line by placing a bag in the chain-link fence. What happens behind the scenes in getting those hampers ready looks like this:
Thursday: 2 volunteers take 1 to 2 hours to divide frozen meat in preparation for distribution; 2 volunteers take 3 hours to pull stock from inventory for packing hampers on Friday.
Friday: 3 to 4 volunteers take 2 to 3 hours to fill hampers with dry goods according to 3 different menus; another volunteer spends 3 hours to stock donations; drivers pick up donations from local organizations and deliver to the food bank.
Tuesday: 3 to 4 volunteers work for 3 to 4 hours to label, divide and package items such as coffee, tea, sugar, flour, rice, and perishables (eggs, margarine, cheese slices); drivers are on the road by 8:00 a.m. picking up produce from our local grocers and fruit donated by local farmers, for delivery to the food bank by 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday: DISTRIBUTION DAY 3 to 4 volunteers arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. to add perishable items to the hampers; by 8:30 opening, there are 7 or 8 volunteers on hand to ensure a smooth-running operation; tables are placed inside and outside for sweets and bread as well as first-come first-served items that are not packed in our hampers.
Additional hours are spent by: the purchaser (5 to 7 hours weekly to count and organize stock, price groceries in stores, and order product); the stockroom person shelves incoming groceries; and monthly board of directors’ meetings and operations meetings are held to deal with the ongoing business of the food bank.
We have been fortunate to have a representative from the BC Ministry of Social Development in attendance during our operating hours. He is available to clients to discuss resources, including assistance applying for income and disability aid, funding for urgent needs such as food or clothing, housing and/or health support referrals.
We hope this information has been useful to you and invite any questions, suggestions, or comments you may have.
Oliver Food Bank (OFB) is a 100% volunteer-based society with no paid staff. We comprise 30 volunteers whose functions range from a few hours to 40 hours each month to keep the flow of food to those in need.
We rely on donations from our generous community members: financial donations help us harness cost-effective buying power of wholesale items and annual food drives from individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations provide us with generously donated food. Local farmers donate fresh produce. We are grateful for their continued support!
Three Wednesdays each month OFB operates from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. On those days we help feed our community with 3 days of supplemental food per person following OFB’s guidelines. Food hampers are based on family size: singles, couples, small families (3 or 4 family members) and large families (5 and up family members). We serve the communities of Oliver (in town and rural), and Okanagan Falls, and proof of residency is required when clients register. In the growing season we also help migrant workers with a small hamper suitable for those who may not have access to a stove or refrigeration.
Across Canada, food bank attendance is steadily increasing as food prices, food insecurity and living expenses continue to rise. In 2020 OFB served 8,700 people; in 2024 that number rose to 10,200. More people with jobs are using food banks as are an increasing number of seniors.
It is Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. The doors to Oliver Food Bank are opening and the line-up is beginning. Some people have arrived early and secured their place in line by placing a bag in the chain-link fence. What happens behind the scenes in getting those hampers ready looks like this:
Thursday: 2 volunteers take 1 to 2 hours to divide frozen meat in preparation for distribution; 2 volunteers take 3 hours to pull stock from inventory for packing hampers on Friday.
Friday: 3 to 4 volunteers take 2 to 3 hours to fill hampers with dry goods according to 3 different menus; another volunteer spends 3 hours to stock donations; drivers pick up donations from local organizations and deliver to the food bank.
Tuesday: 3 to 4 volunteers work for 3 to 4 hours to label, divide and package items such as coffee, tea, sugar, flour, rice, and perishables (eggs, margarine, cheese slices); drivers are on the road by 8:00 a.m. picking up produce from our local grocers and fruit donated by local farmers, for delivery to the food bank by 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday: DISTRIBUTION DAY 3 to 4 volunteers arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. to add perishable items to the hampers; by 8:30 opening, there are 7 or 8 volunteers on hand to ensure a smooth-running operation; tables are placed inside and outside for sweets and bread as well as first-come first-served items that are not packed in our hampers.
Additional hours are spent by: the purchaser (5 to 7 hours weekly to count and organize stock, price groceries in stores, and order product); the stockroom person shelves incoming groceries; and monthly board of directors’ meetings and operations meetings are held to deal with the ongoing business of the food bank.
We have been fortunate to have a representative from the BC Ministry of Social Development in attendance during our operating hours. He is available to clients to discuss resources, including assistance applying for income and disability aid, funding for urgent needs such as food or clothing, housing and/or health support referrals.
We hope this information has been useful to you and invite any questions, suggestions, or comments you may have.
