CFKR Celebrates New Cranbrook Food Bank Society Legacy Fund
Cranbrook, BC (February 4, 2025) – The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is thrilled to announce the establishment of its newest endowment fund: the Cranbrook Food Bank Society Legacy Fund.
By contributing to this permanently invested endowment fund, donors have a unique opportunity to support the Cranbrook Food Bank in perpetuity, with the interest from this fund providing an annual grant to support the Cranbrook Food Bank’s operations and programming.
According to Cranbrook Food Bank Executive Director, Julie Rose, “The Cranbrook Food Bank is so pleased to establish this new endowment fund as another positive step towards enhancing our financial sustainability. The need in Cranbrook continues to grow, and we’re here to support our community.”
Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director, said “The Cranbrook Food Bank is a food-security leader in our community, collaborating with multiple non-profit organizations to provide the best possible support to people in need; CFKR is honoured to support the vital service they provide to our community.”
Each year, the Cranbrook Food Bank feeds over 2,600 people, one-third of whom are children, with a total of over 19,000 visits to the food bank.
The Cranbrook Food Bank is a non-profit society that operates independent of core government funding, relying on the generosity of donations, grants, community fundraisers, and this newly established endowment fund, to support its programs and cover operating expenses each year.
Rose added, “Our community’s invaluable support is essential to our work; without it, our mission would not be possible.”
The Food Bank started in Cranbrook in 1982 in the basement of the Labour Centre, following the collapse in the economy, particularly in the forest industry, and was meant to provide a temporary service. The Food Bank soon moved to a heritage house on 8th Avenue, which was provided by the Steelworkers Local 1–405 and BCGEU to house the growing clientele; this location was generously donated to the Food Bank in 2018. This donation, the sale of the previous warehouse, and several amazing construction and equipment grants from the Government of BC, Columbia Basin Trust, Food Banks BC, and Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies facilitated the construction of current distribution/warehouse facility.
Established as a CRA-registered charity in 1987, the Cranbrook Food Bank Society has evolved significantly over the years, from a volunteer-only organization to the current model, with two key paid staff, supported by an amazing team of volunteers, in a modern and well-organized facility.
The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies invites community members to support food security in Cranbrook by making a tax-receiptable charitable donation to CFKR’s Cranbrook Food Bank Society Legacy Fund via the following means, all of which have zero processing fees:
- Online credit card donations via a safe and secure link: https://give.vancouverfoundation.ca/s/give?ID=a0eN300000GcRPNIA3
- E-transfer to [email protected] (including “Food Bank Fund” in the notes, as well as the donor’s contact information)
- Cheque: made out to “CFKR”, noting “Food Bank Fund” in the memo, mailed to CFKR at Box 242, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 4H8 or delivered to the CFKR office in the Ground Floor Coworking Space at 131 7th Ave. S., Cranbrook
- Cash: delivered to the CFKR office in the Ground Floor Coworking Space at 131 7th Ave. S.