Good

food

should

never

be

wasted

✶

Good food should never be wasted ✶

Who We Are

The Vancouver Food Recovery Network is an effective collaboration of four nonprofit organizations—Food Stash Foundation, Vancouver Food Runners, CityReach Care Society, and Quest Non-profit Grocery Markets—that recover edible surplus food and redistribute it to community-serving organizations or directly to individuals.

Collectively, we represent the backbone of community-led food recovery in Vancouver.

Together, we pick up surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, producers, farms, and caterers, and redistribute it through markets, home delivery programs, food hubs, community fridges, and partner organizations.

While our program delivery models differ, we are unified by a commitment to dignified, efficient, and low-barrier access to healthy food in the neighbourhoods where people live—particularly for those experiencing food insecurity, poverty, and marginalization.

Delivering to 230+ organizations—60,000+ individuals served weekly across Metro Van

∞

A Circular, Just Food System

We believe in a future where no good food goes to waste and no one in our community goes hungry. Our mission is rooted in equity, sustainability, and the belief that food is a right—not a privilege.

Our Philosophy

❋

Collaboration

Systemic challenges require collective solutions. The Network is built on a foundation of trust and collaboration, not competition or scarcity. Together, we can do more for our communities.

❤︎

Strengthening Local Community Partners

By connecting surplus food with frontline organizations, we help nonprofits stretch their resources and deepen their impact. The Network exists to support those doing vital, on-the-ground work in our communities every day.

ꕤ

Food Recovery Is Not the Final Answer

We acknowledge that food recovery is a bandaid and not a solution to food waste or food insecurity. But it’s an essential, immediate response that meets people where they are and keeps good food out of landfills.

Our Goals

Provide professional, consistent surplus food collection and redistribution services (7 days/week) across Vancouver (and adjacent municipalities) to divert edible surplus from the waste stream.
Enhance coordination among the four member organizations (and other partners), so that infrastructure, food donors, volunteers, and flows of surplus food are shared and optimized
Prioritize the redistribution of fresh, high quality, and nutritious rescued food directly to community members and partner agencies.
Develop and maintain standardized unified data collection and reporting systems (e.g., pounds rescued, equivalent meals, greenhouse gas emissions averted) to demonstrate joint impact, improve programs, support fundraising, and prevent food waste.
Leverage the collective voice of the Network to advance public awareness, policy advocacy, and fundraising toward broader systemic change, including food waste prevention and improved food equity.
Cultivate diversified funding, risk management, capacity building, and succession planning, so the Network endures beyond individual organizations or leaders.

Our Values

We work with trust, respect, and shared purpose, centering the voices and needs of the communities we serve
By upholding food justice, ensuring fair, inclusive, and dignified food access to nutritious food for all
Building resilient systems by advocating for food security and protection of the planet by preventing food waste
Uphold transparency and accountability, while embracing creativity, humility, and continuous learning to improve the Network’s impact.

Hear From Our Food Business Donors

“DoorDash is committed to empowering local communities; and reducing food insecurity is a core aspect of this mission. Our partnership with Vancouver Food Runners creates tangible and meaningful impacts in nearby neighbourhoods, stemming from DashMart locations across the region. Redirecting quality grocery essentials is not only the right thing to do, it’s also something our employees are passionate about!"
- Umair Khan, Head of Dashmart, DoorDash Canada
“Food Stash has been an outstanding organization to collaborate with through our Grocery Rescue program and Nourishing Our Neighborhoods. It is great to be a part of their effort to reduce food waste and support members of the community affected by food insecurity. We appreciate their level of communication and professionalism. Their dedication to not only reducing food waste but striving for long-term solutions is inspiring.”
- Melissa Pasquarelli, Associate Store Team Leader, Whole Foods Market Burnaby
Windset Farms is proud to partner with CityReach in building food security across BC. Their innovative and compassionate approach ensures families have access to fresh, nutritious food year-round. By sharing our greenhouse grown tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, we’re helping fill fridges and strengthen communities. CityReach’s inspiring work sets an example for all, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership.
- John Newell, Owner and COO, Windset Farms