The Guru Nanak Modi Khana Food Bank in North Delta is scrambling to find a new location.
At the Nov. 4 council meeting, councillors discussed a letter from Neeraj Walia secretary/head of operations of the food distribution service, also known as the Guru Nanak Food Bank (GNFB), requesting a temporary space because its current location at a strip mall in the 11100-block of 84th Ave. will no longer be available.
Walia said they will need to vacate by February 2025 due to the property's proposed re-development.
“Our food bank plays a vital role in the community, serving over 20,000 recipients across our locations, with 4,700 of them being Delta residents. In addition, many of Delta's residents, including students from local schools, colleges, and universities, are actively participating in our volunteer programs, demonstrating the strong community involvement we have fostered. Given the volume of people relying on our services, it is critical that we find a new space to continue supporting Delta's vulnerable populations," said Walia.
The food bank is requesting to temporarily use a back portion of the Kennedy Seniors' Centre parking lot and is also seeking at least two portable containers to maintain the distribution services in North Delta until a more permanent location can be secured.
Mayor George Harvie put forward a motion for staff to investigate the request and report back to council.
Coun. Dylan Kruger said he also believes staff should examine what, if any, policy is in place for community groups that want to use municipal land for storage, noting the South Delta Food Bank is using private property at a church parking lot.
Kruger said he simply wants to ensure everyone is treated equitably, but Harvie countered those in need will end up having to go to Surrey.
Harvie argued a policy examination should be a separate report.
Council then agreed to proceed with having staff report back on the GNFB request.
The GNFB opened in 2022, the first full-time food bank in Delta.
The 6,500-square-foot space is run entirely by volunteers, open seven days a week.
According to the city’s Poverty Reduction Action Plan, current estimates show around 10,000 people in Delta live below the poverty line (about 10 per cent).
That number increases to 14 per cent for visible minority groups and 30 per cent for recent immigrants.
Those groups are especially vulnerable during high inflation and the rising cost of living.
