Salvation Army opens foodbank in Vic West
The Salvation Army is expanding its community services, including a foodbank for residents living in Vic West and Esquimalt.
The new facilities will be operated at its Highpoint Community Church location at the corner of Fullerton and Raynor avenues in the Vic West area.
The Salvation Army hopes the new facility will bridge the gap for foodbank services in the region.
"Having this program space available is going to be a game changer for residents in Vic West and Esquimalt," said Salvation Army community ministries director Patrick Humble.
"Families are struggling and new families [and] all demographics are looking for help from the foodbank, especially since COVID," he said.
"It's a growing need, so the foodbank’s been able to support and help families in that way," he added.
In addition to the foodbank, the Salvation Army has partnered with Backpack Buddies to provide a bag of groceries for every child in a registered foodbank program family every Friday.
"It helps get the family through when the children are home a little more and not in school," said Humble.
The Salvation Army has also opened new space for programs and services in a former home on the church property. It plans to start its community outreach programs by offering a coffee drop-in meeting on Tuesday afternoons between from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
"We’re going to be learning from the community what’s needed,” said Humble. "We will then grow our program base as we move along."
Humble says the Salvation Army has been operating a foodbank on a small scale for the past three years. He says the agency saw the need to increase its foodbank capacity due to an increase in demand from people in the community.
"We know that the need is great for people living in this community and this has been a good resource," said Humble.
"People are excited to know it is finally here because there’s not many services in Vic West."
The foodbank at the Salvation Army Highpoint Community Church, located at 949 Fullerton Ave., is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
Oilers' Henrique, Stars' Hintz out for Game 1 of West final
Top-line Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz will still be out of the lineup for the Western Conference Final opener Thursday night against Edmonton, which is still without forward Adam Henrique.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.