Construction is underway on East Wellington Rd. for a new distribution facility for Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, boosted Monday by news of $5 million in federal funding. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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New Loaves and Fishes Nanaimo warehouse finally receives federal funding

Dec 17, 2024 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — While not everything they asked for, a vitally important central Island food bank facility is finally receiving some long-requested federal backing.

The fall economic statement tabled Monday, Dec. 15 by the federal Liberal government included $5 million in funding for Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank and their under-construction warehouse facility on East Wellington Rd.

Executive director Peter Sinclair said the money, which is projected to come over two years between 2025 and 2027, is a great start, but at least $2.2 million more is needed to push the project over the finish line.

“A project of this scale costs a lot of money and the more support we get the more likely we are to complete this project and make sure that it has the benefit that it needs to have for people across Vancouver Island.”

Construction officially began on the new 30,000 square foot facility in early December, shortly after a building permit was approved by the City of Nanaimo.

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It was a gamble from Loaves and Fishes on whether additional funding would come through, or whether parts of the project would need to be scaled back.

Sinclair told NanaimoNewsNOW at the time under the then-funding shortfall, wish list items such as a commercial kitchen, pallet racking system and generator would have to be shelved.

It’s unclear how many of those items can be added back in as a result of the funding announcement.

Sinclair had also said borrowing some money to meet fundraising shortages was also an option, albeit not one they’re keen to explore.

He added advocacy from local politicians at all levels of government helped secure the money, as the project makes sense not only for Nanaimo but the wider Island community.

“Everyone who looks at from what it actually delivers on the ground to the support that it’s had from people across Vancouver Island, realize that it really is a great investment for our community.”

Sinclair admitted some nervousness based on the current instability of federal government, however all three main political parties have indicated their support for federal dollars to back the East Wellington Rd. project.

A significant $7 million contribution from the B.C. government was made in May 2023 toward the facility.

In late 2021 the City of Nanaimo bought the East Wellington Rd. Property for $1.3 million to lease to Loaves and Fishes to build on, while the Regional District of Nanaimo supplied about $275,000.

Loaves and Fishes serves roughly 3,500 people in the Nanaimo area alone on a monthly basis, and around 15,000 people across Vancouver Island.

It’s expected the food bank will source more than $10 million in food by the end of 2024, an approximately 50 per cent increase on pre-pandemic levels.

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