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The COVID-19 pandemic has sharply increased the need for food support for vulnerable community
members in Greater Victoria. The Shelbourne Community Kitchen is working quickly to respond to the
needs of our current program participants, as well as the additional individuals and families who are
contacting us daily for help. We are also responding to a request from Pacifica Housing to provide food
support to 100 households.


To support our work, we launched the COVID-19 Urgent Food Support Fund at the beginning of April,
and so far, over $10,600 has been raised toward our goal of $25,000 by May 31st! Thank you to everyone
who has donated to the fund and to those who are helping to spread the word.
Although our cooking and gardening programs are on pause, our Pantry program, a food support
program vital in distributing nutritious food to those who need it, has greatly expanded. Through this
program, the Kitchen is making fresh and healthy food available and accessible to community members
who are in need right now by:

 distributing food to people twice a month instead of once a month;
 increasing the amount of staple foods that we provide per visit;
 providing home delivery to our most vulnerable members who cannot leave their homes, many of
whom are seniors or individuals with chronic illness or disability (a community partner that used
to provide this service is not able to do so at this time);
 purchasing more produce directly from local farmers who have been impacted by the loss of
restaurant sales;
 and by sharing updates about programs and supports related to COVID-19.

We are very grateful to have received $20,000 from the Times Colonist/Victoria Foundation Rapid Relief
Fund. Due to COVID-19, many of our core volunteers are not available, and the number of people
accessing the Pantry, as well as the frequency of their access has increased. These funds will pay for
temporary support staff, and costs associated with the greatly increased demand and the delivery
program.

The COVID-19 Urgent Food Support Fund will help replace lost fundraising opportunities that support
our operational costs, such as our annual Garden Sale that takes place in May but has been canceled and
other ongoing fundraising activities, like our preserves and pie sales. It will also be used to purchase food,
since food drives held by businesses, schools and other groups, and food donations from individuals have
stopped due to COVID-19.

Please consider donating to our COVID-19 Urgent Food Support Fund today, so that we can continue to
provide much needed food distribution and support to our most vulnerable community members.

Your donation can be made online or be mailed to Shelbourne Community Kitchen at
3541 Shelbourne Street, Victoria V8P 4G6.
Thank you for your support!!!