〰️ Food is too valuable to waste
〰️ Food is too valuable to waste
Food Stash Foundation is a registered charity established in 2016 to prevent good food from going to waste while providing dignified food access that supports a thriving planet and a healthy community.
Each month, we rescue over 140,000 pounds of surplus perishable food from 35 local grocery stores and wholesalers. We distribute about 80% of this nutritious food to 51 community-serving partner organizations, with the remaining 20% provided directly to community members through weekly Rescued Food Box home deliveries, a Rescued Food Market serving an average of about 120 people per week, and a 24/7 open-access Community Fridge and Pantry.
Food Donors
35 surplus food donors in 2025
Most of the food we rescue comes from local grocery stores, along with a few wholesalers and farms that have surplus food. A less-talked-about service that Food Stash provides is public education. The food that we rescue is still good to eat but may go unsold because of small imperfections, overstocking, cancelled orders, or approaching best-before dates.
In 2025, our Operations and Food Recovery Manager visited many grocery stores to demonstrate and educate. To learn more about our relationship with our food donors, check this video out!
Community Partners
In 2025, Food Stash delivered fresh surplus food to 51 nonprofit Community Partner organizations across Vancouver.
This was a big increase from 38 partners in 2024. Together, these community partners used the food provided by Food Stash to nourish more than 13,500 people each week.
37% of Community Partners were Shelters or Housing Providers
Top 3 programs offered by Community Partners:
Community Meals
Community Fridge or Drop-In Snacks
Food Hampers
The Rescued Food Box Program remained one of our core programs in 2025. It helps reduce food waste while supporting people who face physical, financial, and systemic barriers to accessing healthy food. The program delivers weekly customized grocery boxes to Vancouver residents with low incomes who are also living with disabilities or long-term illness.
An average of 118 households received weekly grocery deliveries
Before our program, 76% of members reported being hungry because they couldn’t afford food. While receiving deliveries, that dropped to 27%
“I struggled to access food for our family because of disabilities. Food Stash has changed our lives. We cook more, eat better, and have more of a connection to the food we eat.”
An example of what Market Members take home each week
The Rescued Food Market is a weekly program that offers nutritious groceries in a welcoming, low-barrier, grocery store-style environment. In 2025, we served an average of 127 people per week, with up to 160 members in each three-month Market cycle. On average, each member took home about 28 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy or alternatives, meat or alternatives, and pantry staples per visit.
Top 3 reasons for visiting:
Affordability
The Market combats food waste
Food Stash offers a low barrier, judgement-free space
Volunteers
Our volunteers remained the heart of Food Stash in 2025, making our Rescued Food Box and Market programs possible. We also added new ways to volunteer beyond sorting, boxing, and market shifts. Volunteers could help lead school and corporate group sessions with staff. They also helped at community events like the Khatsahlano Street Party. Some supported us with social media design, software, and coding.
We are endlessly grateful for our community’s dedication, passion and care.
Through our in-house programs, volunteers helped sort and distribute
~ 300,000 lbs of food in 2025 = the weight of a blue whale 🐳