DUNCAN, B.C. — Island Savings, a division of Tru Cooperative Bank, has reached a significant milestone, raising more than $1 million through The Full Cupboard, its signature cause supporting local food banks across Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Since launching in 2016, The Full Cupboard has brought together Island Savings members, employees and community partners to raise food, funds and awareness in support of local food banks. Since 2020 alone, the program has contributed more than 36,573.78] to Chemainus Harvest House Food Bank helping support local individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and affordability challenges.
To mark the milestone, Island Savings branch teams visited food bank partners in their local communities to celebrate the staff, volunteers and donors whose efforts helped make the achievement possible.
"Reaching $1 million raised is an incredible milestone, but what means the most is the impact behind that number," said Kendall Gross, President of Island Savings. "Behind every dollar raised are stories of families putting food on the table, seniors receiving support during difficult times, and neighbours stepping up to support one another when it matters most.”
According to Food Banks BC, nearly one in four British Columbians experiences food insecurity, one in three food bank clients is a child, and food bank visits have increased significantly since 2019.
"Food banks across British Columbia are seeing unprecedented demand from people struggling to make ends meet," said Dan Huang-Taylor, Executive Director of Food Banks BC. "Support from community partners like Island Savings helps food banks meet growing needs close to home. The $1 million raised through The Full Cupboard is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the impact communities can have when they come together to support one another."
The Full Cupboard traces its roots to Feed the Valley, an initiative created by Valley First to raise food, funds and awareness for food banks across B.C.'s Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson regions. Building on its success, Tru Cooperative Bank expanded the model through its other regions, Island Savings and Envision Financial, to support local food banks in communities throughout British Columbia.
Today, The Full Cupboard supports 12 food bank partners across Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, ensuring donations stay local and help address the unique needs of each community.
"We're incredibly grateful to our food bank partners, whose teams and volunteers show up every day to serve their communities with compassion and dignity," says Gross. "While we're proud of what The Full Cupboard has achieved, our work is far from over. Our ultimate goal is to help create a future where no one in our communities has to worry about where their next meal will come from. Until then, we'll continue standing alongside our food bank partners and the communities they serve."
