SHEILA Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, this week accompanied by Surrey MLA Jinny Sims and Guru Nanak Food Bank (GNFB) board members visited the food bank’s Surrey branch where the bank’s secretary, Neeraj Walia, explained about the GNFB’s operations. Walia told her that the food bank has been able to sustain itself with the tremendous support received from the community. The food bank operates solely through community contributions and serves the people from two locations, seven days a week.

Walia also brought up the pending matter of GNFB attaining full access membership with Food Bank BC. Currently, Food Bank BC only offers non-member funding opportunities when they become available, which poses a challenge for GNFB. The membership with Food Bank BC would open up avenues for networking, educational programs, and various other benefits, which would greatly enhance GNFB’s capabilities to serve the community, he explained.

Malcolmson assured Walia that she will personally look into the matter and promised to support the GNFB’s application. Sims wholeheartedly supported the application during the meeting. GNFB also received support for its application from Labour Minister Harry Bains, MP Sukh Dhaliwal, MP John Aldag and MP Randeep Sarai, the GNFB said in a press statement.