Our Mission and vision

We nourish our community by providing low-barrier access to food in an atmosphere of dignity and respect, while collaborating with community partners to work towards food security.

We connect people with food, creating positive change for a hunger free community.

 

Our Team

The Golden Food Bank is operated by a small team of paid staff, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and supported day to day by a dedicated group of volunteers from the community.

 
  • Liz Lavin

    Admin Coordinator
    info@goldenfoodbank.ca

  • Karen Temple-Beamish

    Volunteer & Education Coordinator
    karen@goldenfoodbank.ca

  • Operations Support Team (Casual)

    Wade Bilton
    Amanda MacTavish
    Emily Watts
    Emma Swan

  • Julia Newbury

    Executive Director
    julia@goldenfoodbank.ca

  • Melissa Hemphill

    Procurement Network Coordinator
    melissa@goldenfoodbank.ca

  • Sheniz Wilkie

    Board Director, Chair
    board@goldenfoodbank.ca

  • John Manuel

    Board Director

  • Heather Barrett

    Board Director, Vice-Chair

  • Nadia Bokhammas

    Board Director, Treasurer

  • Mare McConnell

    Community Ambassador (Volunteer)

  • Jessica Barrera

    Board Director, Secretary

Our partners, affiliates and core supporters.

Food Banks BC
We are proud to be a member of Food Banks BC and work in support of their mission ‘To Alleviate Hunger Today and to Prevent Hunger Tomorrow for All British Columbians’. Click here to read Food Banks BC 2023-2024 Impact Report.

Food Banks Canada
We are affiliate member with Food Banks Canada. Aggregate data from our community is shared with Food Banks Canada to inform the national Hunger Count. Click here to read Food Banks Canada Hunger Count 2024 Report.

Town of Golden 
The Town of Golden provides use of the building and land that houses our organization through a nominal lease, an important part of our stability.

Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD)
The CSRD has provided Grant In Aid contributions to support our core program through the years, and for 2024-25 we are recipients of an allocation from the Economic Opportunity Fund jointly-administered by the Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District to support food purchasing from local farmers and producers.

British Columbia Community Gaming Grants 

Anonymous Donor

Columbia Basin Trust

Annual reports & financials

 

We are hiring! Program Manager (Deputy Director)
Application period open until January 8, 2025.

The Program Manager (Deputy Director) will oversee and ensure effective implementation of the Golden Food Bank’s core services including Food Access, Food Recovery, and Education & Food Literacy programs. This position will coordinate program activities, manage and supervise operations staff and volunteers, and collaborate closely with the Executive Director to support the organization’s administrative, strategic, and operational objectives. The Program Manager (Deputy Director) plays a crucial role in expanding our impact within the community, fostering partnerships, and advancing our mission to provide equitable access to nutritious food and foster food literacy and food security. This position works with a team of colleagues, volunteers, and community partners to implement and continually improve GFB programs, find innovative ways to impact the community, and maintain organizational sustainability.

Training and mentorship for this role will be specifically directed toward succession into the Executive Director position, providing interim leadership during a planned family leave of absence. Click here for the full job description, desired qualifications, and compensation.

Apply with your resume and cover letter to hr@goldenfoodbank.ca, with your name and the job title in the subject line. Hiring interviews for this position will begin in January.

Work with us

Join our Board of Directors

We accept applications to join the Board of Directors at the Golden Food Bank on an ongoing basis. Our directors provide governance and oversight to the organization, help set strategic direction, and serve as ambassadors and advocates for its mission.

This position requires a minimum commitment of 5 hours per month. This includes monthly Board meetings and preparation, email correspondence, and potential committee work. Board members in executive positions can expect to contribute an average of 10-15 hours per month, depending on the activities of the Board. For the full volunteer job description, please click here. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact the Chair, Board of Directors at board@goldenfoodbank.ca.

Become a member

What is a Golden Food Bank membership?

In BC, non-profit organizations are known as societies. Societies are independent, democratic organizations that are required to comply with the Societies Act and their own constitution and bylaws. Societies do not earn any profits for its members, as all money goes towards furthering the organization’s cause or goal. Having an active membership is an important piece to receiving funding from community gaming grants and for our status as a charitable organization with the CRA. We are accountable to our members for our mission, activities, finances, accomplishments, and decision-making processes.

Members of our society include people who access our programs, volunteers, staff, past and current Board Directors, and caring community members who support our mission. If interested, we would love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below.