FEED THE PEOPLE FOOD BANK
PROCESS
Food Bank card distribution happens once a month (usually mid-month). Dates and times are on our dedicated food bank message line:
250-559-4100
To register for our monthly food card subsidy program, please call 250-559-4100 and leave your name, number of people in your household, contact number, and specify the community where you would like to pick up your card (Daajing Giids or Skidegate).
Pick-up Times and locations (on designated Food Bank Days only): Islands Wellness Society in Daajing Giids, 10am-12pm. Skidegate United Church in Skidegate, 12pm-1pm.
DONATIONS
We are always very grateful to receive donations. Please contact our Food Bank coordinator, Haley, at 250-882-0367 to arrange your donation.
Cash donations are always appreciated and needed. Food donations are appreciated and accepted based on storage space availability. Please ensure that any non-perishable food donations are not past their Best Before or Expiry date. Haawa!
BACKGROUND
Islands Wellness Society adopted the food bank during the summer of 2013. It has been a tremendous undertaking and we want to acknowledge all the people who have worked tirelessly to make it a viable service to the communities of Haida Gwaii. Our mission is to “Feed the People” by supporting barrier-free access to grocery subsidies and emergency food hampers in a supportive and inclusive environment.
We work with the Haida Gwaii Co-op, and City Centre stores, as well as other local food programs and gardeners to provide as much fresh food and produce as we can.
A very big Haawa to all of our funders, donors, and volunteers. This Food Bank is made possible by the collaborative efforts of our communities. We would also like to offer gratitude to Bonnie Olsen and Shani Sparrow for the many years of work they have poured into running this program “off the side of their desks”. Bonnie is greatly missed, and her legacy lives on through all of us as we work to uphold the spirit and passion with which she cared for her community.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
My name is Haley Fields and I am the Coordinator for the Feed the People Food Bank.
The first time I visited Haida Gwaii in 2014, my partner and I were gifted salmon by Bob Crooks. We were camping at Misty Meadows and Bob was doing daily morning walks there at the time. One morning, he arrived at our campsite with a huge piece of salmon to gift to us. What may have felt like a small act to Bob became a pivotal experience for us. When we made the move to Haida Gwaii permanently in 2016, it became abundantly clear that sharing food and caring for your neighbours is a way of life here on Haida Gwaii. Years later, I am honoured to be serving the good people of Haida Gwaii and working in community to promote and protect food security for all.
When I am not working as the Food Bank Coordinator, you can find me spending time with my partner, our son and two dogs, or in my art studio. I enjoy weaving, print making, and pretty much any form of visual art expression. I am also a sign language interpreter by trade and fluent in American Sign Language.
Please feel free to connect with me via phone (250-882-0367) or email (foodbank@islandswellness.com).
