Increased need and operations met by donation of two new vehicles

Cranbrook Food Bank has just acquired two new vehicles to support its efforts in collecting and getting food to those who need it.

Cranbrook area’s 2,000+ Food Bank users will directly benefit, thanks to some recent grants applied for and awarded to the Food Bank.

A Dodge Ram cubed van and Mitsubishi hybrid SUV have replaced the Food Bank’s one old van, which was no longer meeting increased need and operations.

“The two vehicles are absolutely a double blessing!  We are incredibly grateful for the support of two of our biggest financial supporters, Food Banks BC and Columbia Basin Trust.  Our current building would also not have been possible without their generous support,” said Deanna Kemperman, Executive Director, at Cranbrook Food Bank.

“The Food Banks BC Perishable Food Refrigeration Grant, made possible through support from the Province of British Columbia, allowed us to purchase the new van which will soon have a much-needed refrigeration unit installed. Steve Mercandelli and local Cranbrook Dodge team were amazing with finding the van for us, pricing and service” said Kemperman.

“Columbia Basin Trust’s Electric Vehicle Support Grant and a much-appreciated top-off donation from our Cranbrook Rotary, made the SUV purchase possible. It is important to us to shop locally whenever we can. Cranbrook Mitsubishi’s Tom Burgess and team helped us choose the Hybrid Outlander SUV, allowing us to reap both the environmental and financial benefits of running solely on electric energy while picking up and delivering food in town.

“Shoutouts to our local Canadian Tire who donated a second set of tires and Arthur Tank at Wolfpack Signs and Printing who did a great job at a great price on the logo decal applications, Kemperman added.”

“Our board, staff and volunteer drivers are thrilled with the new vehicles and generosity of donors. Both vehicles have made us that much more efficient at doing our food recovery and purchases, picking up donations and delivering food to our immobile clients and to our hunger-relief partner agencies,” said Julie Rose, the Food Bank’s Operations Manager.

For more information on the Cranbrook Food Bank’s services, click on their website here or check out their Facebook page.

Cranbrook Food Bank collects and distributes rescued, donated and purchased food to those who need it. Two part time paid Staff and 90 volunteers-strong, they are currently feeding 150+ people per day, through food hampers, a 24/7 bread shed, food shares and sharing food with other local hunger-relief agencies.

They believe in a strengthened community where food is not wasted, no one goes hungry and everyone is inspired to give back.  Cranbrook Food Bank values integrity, respect, and compassion and sharing resources while working collaboratively with other hunger-relief partners to help create longer term solutions.

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