Feb 22: Vancity Contributes to Food Bank
Vancity Contributes to Food Bank Distribution Warehouse
Vancouver, February 22, 2002 - The Daily Bread Food Bank and the Canadian Association of Food Banks are demonstrating commitment to communities across Canada with the grand opening of their new food distribution warehouse, made possible with the help of credit unions from across the country including, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
The facility will function as the hub of food distribution to local food banks throughout the country.
The credit union consortium provided the Daily Bread Food Bank with a $500,000 interest-free mortgage. The consortium includes: Vancity; two Toronto-based credit unions, HEPCOE Credit Union and Metro Credit Union; Co-operative Trust Company of Canada; Credit Union Central of Ontario; and the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation.
"Credit unions can, and will, help," said Harry Joosten, Chair of the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation. "This new warehouse will benefit communities all across Canada through their local food banks, and as community-based financial institutions, we are pleased to do what we can."
Sue Cox, executive director of the Daily Bread Food Bank, thanked the consortium for its support of the new warehouse, noting that credit unions are uniquely positioned to help at the local level: "Their community base gives them an understanding of the needs in every city and town.
"This is a day of mixed feelings for us," Cox added. "By buying a permanent home, we're acknowledging the permanency of food banks despite the wealth of this country. At the same time, we are pleased that this new facility will help us feed hungry people."