About Loaves & Fishes
Who We Are
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank is a Nanaimo-based non-profit serving communities across Vancouver Island and Coastal BC.
What began as neighbours coming together to share food has grown into a regional organization supporting over 15,000 people each year. Today, our work goes beyond distributing food, we recover, store, and share it across a network of partner agencies and community programs.
We believe food security is a community issue, and that the solution is a collective effort. Every day, we work alongside volunteers, donors, and partners to ensure people have access to healthy, reliable food.
We are proud to be accredited through the Standards of Excellence program, and affiliated with Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada.
Our Story
Loaves & Fishes began in the mid-1990s when two Anglican churches, St. Paul’s and St. James, came together to share food with their community.
By 1998, the food bank was growing quickly. That same year, our first Executive Director was hired, and we purchased 1009 Farquhar Street to support our expanding work. It became the heart of Loaves & Fishes, a place where volunteers gathered, food was sorted, hampers were packed, and connections were built.
In 2007, we partnered with Brechin United Church to open our first satellite food depot, now known as a Free Food Market. This marked the beginning of our expansion beyond Nanaimo, creating a model that allowed us to better serve communities across Vancouver Island and Coastal BC.
In 2011, it became clear that our Farquhar building needed significant renovation. What began as a small project turned into a full rebuild. The renewed space allowed us to grow our operations, and in 2012 we launch our Food Recovery Program. Starting with a single partner, Thrifty Foods Port Place, our first pickup brought back just three items. In 2025, we recovered 44,656 kg of food from that location alone. With the growth of the Food Recovery Program it became clear that we needed a new warehouse and in 2015 we purchased 210 Fry Street, this space allowed us to recover more food, and grow our Free Food Markets.
In 2019, Food Banks BC approached us about expanding services to the North Island, and in 2023, we officially took over the Port Hardy Harvest Food Bank, extending our reach to serve even more communities.
By 2020, we had once again outgrown our space. Through a partnership with the City of Nanaimo, land was secured at 1861 East Wellington Road for a new facility. Construction began in 2024, and we look forward to moving into our new home in fall 2026.
What started in a 500-square-foot building later grew into a 6,000-square-foot operation, and in fall 2026, we will move into a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse.
From a small, community-based effort to a regional organization, our growth has always been guided by the same goal: ensuring people have access to the food they need. We are grateful to our volunteers, donors, and partners who continue to be part of this work.
Our Impact
2025 Impact
Get Involved
There are many ways to be part of what we are doing. Whether you give your time, donate food, or contribute financially, every action helps us reach more people across Vancouver Island and Coastal BC.