A new refrigerated truck and a dedicated protein initiative are helping JFS bring more nutritious food to families, seniors and individuals across Metro Vancouver.
What happens when fresh, nutritious food is available but cannot reach the people who need it? And what happens when families can afford to put food on the table, but not necessarily the food they need to stay healthy?
At Jewish Family Services (JFS), we see both challenges every day. As food prices continue to rise, more families, seniors and individuals are struggling to afford essentials such as fresh produce, dairy and protein. Meanwhile, farms and food distributors often have surplus nutritious food that could help fill this gap—if it can be collected, transported and distributed safely.
Thanks to two significant community investments, JFS is taking important steps to address both challenges.
More Food Recovered. More People Reached.
Our new refrigerated delivery truck is already making a difference. It allows JFS to collect larger quantities of fresh food from local farms, growers and distributors and deliver it safely to our eight community food hubs and partner organizations across Metro Vancouver.
This means more fresh produce reaching families, less good food going to waste and stronger connections between local food producers and the communities they serve.
The truck was made possible through the generous support of the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, Jewish Community Foundation and Moishe's Farm Project.
Putting Better Nutrition on the Table
Having enough food is only part of the equation. Having access to nutritious, balanced meals is equally important.
Protein is one of the most expensive and difficult food categories for many households to afford. For growing children, older adults and people managing health challenges, access to adequate nutrition can make a significant difference.
Through a generous gift from the Transformation Foundation, JFS has launched a dedicated protein initiative that allows us to purchase protein when donations are unavailable. This helps ensure that the grocery hampers we distribute offer not just food, but better nutrition, greater choice and dignity.
Building a Healthier, More Connected Community
Together, these investments strengthen a food security network that supports more than 2,500 people monthly, operates eight community food hubs and helps distribute more than 6,000 meals each month through community partnerships.
As we celebrate 90 years of serving our community, these initiatives reflect something that has always been at the heart of JFS: when we work together, we can turn community resources into meaningful, lasting impact.
We are deeply grateful to our funding partners for helping us build a healthier, more resilient community—one delivery and one nutritious meal at a time.
