‘Access more food than ever before:’ new Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes HQ nears completion

In addition to the immediate funding, the Tom Harris Community Foundation is also looking to raise an additional $750,000 over the next two years through community contributions.

Sinclair said the relationship between Loaves and Fishes and the Tom Harris Foundation dates back to 2012, when Harris helped the food bank buy their first five-tonne truck.

Regular contributions to Loaves and Fishes have followed in the years since.

The 24,000 square foot warehouse facility is poised to ensure the long-term future of the non-profit organization, by acting as their headquarters and primary food recovery, storage and distribution centre.

Construction is nearing completion on the project, seen as a transformative moment for the growing non-profit. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Thousands of people in the Nanaimo area, and well over 15,000 people throughout Vancouver Island access food and services provided by Loaves and Fishes each month.

Sinclair told NanaimoNewsNOW they are on track to open the facility by the fall.

“The construction crews are working super hard right now, and we anticipate taking possession of it end of July, potentially beginning of August, so we’re looking at the month of August as when we’ll be moving our operations over there. It will be a staged process, where we first move our empties program over, then we’ll be moving all our food operations over as the second phase of that move.”

Having a huge space to centralize all their efforts is a game-changer for the organization, Sinclair added.

“This is going to enable us to access more food than ever before and get that food out to more communities and more organizations. We’re super excited about all the opportunities this presents to us. It’s going to allow us to streamline our operations and be more efficient in what we’re doing.”

It will also help create a more comfortable environment for their 400+ monthly volunteers, who presently work in either very hot, or very cold conditions, depending on the time of year.

Sinclair said more volunteers are needed, and donating some time is the quickest way to see the inside of the new East Wellington Rd. facility.

The City of Nanaimo bought the East Wellington Rd. lot late in 2021 to allow Loaves and Fishes to advance the project.

It’s located immediately next to a Canada Post office and sorting facility.

The provincial government made a $7 million contribution to the project in 2023, while federal funding to the tune of $5 million was confirmed earlier this year.

Tony Harris with the Foundation said the innovation displayed by Loaves and Fishes under Sinclair’s leadership will have a positive impact for generations to come.

“We believe firmly that model is scalable and will disrupt the way that food security is approached across the country,” Harris said.

The Tom Harris Charity Classic recently held its seventh annual golf tournament, which Harris said generated just over $800,000 for a combined total of just under $5 million to support a range of regional health, education, youth services, sport and food security causes.

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘Access more food than ever before:’ new Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes HQ nears completion

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