Comox Valley Food Bank expands cold storage – Comox Valley Record
New shipping container combats hunger with improved ability to save fresh food
As food insecurity continues to rise in the Comox Valley, the Comox Valley Food Bank Society is taking steps to meet the growing demand.
With more than 4,000 monthly visits from individuals and families in need—and 7,800 registered users—the Society is expanding its capacity to safely store perishable foods with the installation of a new refrigerated container.
The Food Bank has doubled its cold storage space by installing a 20-foot refrigerated shipping container at its McPhee Avenue location. This vital upgrade immediately increased food rescue capacity adding 2,000 pounds of nutritious food every month. It enhances the Food Bank’s ability to save, distribute, and serve its direct clients and a network of 25 community partners and food bank affiliates who face similar challenges. The partners include a home delivery project, local schools, soup kitchens, and more.
“This project is about more than storage—it’s about delivering dignity, nutrition, and hope to thousands of people,” said David Reynolds, executive director of the Comox Valley Food Bank. “Refrigeration is the heart of our food rescue program, and this expansion couldn’t come at a more critical time.”
Food rescue accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the fresh food distributed by the Food Bank, much of which includes perishable items like fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and meat alternatives.
Each week, drivers pick up food from farms, grocery stores, and vendors. Volunteers and kitchen staff freeze what they can and make 500 to 600 meals a week turning some of the diverted food into soups, chillis and prepared food. But with only 200 square feet of cold storage, the organization has been operating at capacity—limiting its ability to accept and store rescued food.
“Fresh food allows people to make more healthy choices – rather than just shelf stable items which are also important,” said Reynolds. “Without increased fresh food storage, so much food in the Comox Valley would go to waste.”
The new unit is plug-and-play ready, fully secure, and capable of functioning as either a refrigerator or freezer.
Beyond preventing thousands of pounds of nutritious food from ending up in landfills, the expanded storage will help prepare for an anticipated 30 per cent increase in new users in the next fiscal year.
“With 110 new clients signing up each month, we’re facing a perfect storm of inflation, poverty, and rising food insecurity,” Reynolds said. “This project allows us to respond with efficiency and compassion, ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.”
To learn more about the Comox Valley Food Bank and how you can help, visit comoxvalleyfoodbank.ca.
Browse more stories and reports. This story, and many others, are featured in Stronger Together our 2025 impact report, supporting over $1 million in community grants to 53 organizations this year.
