Farmers Fresh Mushrooms, in partnership with Second Harvest, generously donated 1,500 pounds of fresh mushrooms to Food Link Society. This contribution helped provide nutritious food to families and students through several of our partner locations, including Edmonds Community School, Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Coquitlam, and Riverside Secondary School. Through the generosity of Farmers Fresh Mushrooms and the coordination of Second Harvest, this donation supported our efforts to distribute fresh, healthy food to the community. Partnerships like these are an important part of Food Link’s mission to connect surplus food with people who need it most while also helping reduce food waste and strengthen community welbeing.
Appreciate Jiyeon and Unsang
Jiyeon and Unsang have been volunteering with Food Link Society at Vancouver Korean Full Gospel Church for the past two to three years. Both are passionate about helping others and giving back to the community. Unsang was inspired by his own difficult experience as a student in Canada, as well as by the happiness he sees on clients’ faces, while Jiyeon is motivated by the joy and appreciation she observes in people’s expressions. They both find a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work and encourage others to try volunteering and experience the difference it can make.
Appreciate Tracey Schaeffer
Tracey Schaeffer has lived in the Tri Cities for eight years and works from home as a writer. After her son needed more care at age three, she chose to focus on her family.
She has been volunteering with Food Link Society for six months and says it has been a meaningful experience. Inspired by a friend, Tracy now helps with early morning food pickups and deliveries, making sure surplus food reaches people instead of going to waste.
She believes Food Link’s mission is simple. Good food should feed people, not go to landfill. Recently, someone approached her to ask how to volunteer, reminding her that this work helps both those in need and those who want to give back.
Bringing Warm Meals to Families in Need Through Saputo’s Support
Saputo Inc. is one of the world’s largest dairy processors, proudly based in Canada and renowned for its high-quality dairy products. With a strong commitment to community support and sustainability, the company continues to make a positive impact.
Recently, Saputo donated 200 trays of macaroni and cheese to Food Link Society, helping provide warm and nutritious meals to individuals and families in need across the community. These meals were distributed throughout various communities supported by Food Link Society, ensuring that more people have access to ready-to-eat food while making a meaningful difference.
Supporting Stronger Communities Through a $10,000 Grant
We’re proud to share that Food Link Society has received a $10,000 Health, Social and Safety Grant from the City of Richmond in 2026. This support will help us continue our food distribution program and expand access to nutritious food for communities in need. Thank you to the City of Richmond for investing in stronger, healthier communities.
5 Tons Recovered, Communities Strengthened
At the Grocery & Specialty Food West Show 2026, Food Link Society, in partnership with Second Harvest, collected approximately 5 tons of surplus food from the food sector. This effort helped redirect quality food to support School Districts 43 and 44, improving access for students and local communities. The initiative highlights how collaboration within the food industry can reduce waste while supporting families in need.
Food Link Society’s Perspective Presented at the Senate of Canada
Board Member Zara Haeri joined the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to represent Food Link and contribute to an important national conversation. Moments like this reflect the growing importance of food recovery and the role it plays in strengthening communities across Canada.
Zara Haeri, Engineering Group Manager at General Motors Canada and a board member of Food Link Society, participated in the committee meeting where she shared key insights on food access challenges across the country. In her remarks, she emphasized that Canada does not face a food shortage, but rather a distribution and coordination challenge. She noted that large volumes of perfectly good food are wasted every day, not because there is no need, but because it does not reach people in time.
Haeri highlighted Food Link Society as a practical and effective solution to this issue. The organization currently operates across 11 cities with more than 400 volunteers, building an efficient network for rapid food recovery and redistribution.
According to the figures presented, in 2025 alone, Food Link Society rescued over 2.5 million pounds of food, delivered 1.8 million meals, supported more than 184,000 food access visits, and prevented over 6 million pounds of CO₂ emissions.
She stressed that these results show the real issue is not a lack of resources, but a lack of infrastructure to effectively connect supply and demand. Food Link Society focuses on the last mile, the critical step that ensures food reaches those who need it.
Haeri also highlighted the lack of consistent funding opportunities for food recovery infrastructure at the community distribution level, noting that despite its significant impact, the system remains fragmented and underfunded.
She concluded by outlining key recommendations, including establishing a dedicated federal fund for food recovery infrastructure, providing direct support to local food recovery organizations, and integrating food recovery into national food security, climate, and supply chain strategies.
Expanding Access to Healthy Food in Our Communities
At Food Link Society, we are committed to supporting communities and improving access to healthy and nutritious food. On April 11, we expanded our food distribution programs to another Metro Vancouver Housing location in Surrey. This new site is an important step in our efforts to reduce food insecurity and food waste across the region. We are proud to support more families and individuals by providing nutritious and sustainable food options in each neighbourhood.
