Operations at the Food Bank.
Located at 625 Queens Ave, The Mustard Seed Food Bank plays a large role in regional food security throughout greater Victoria. Not only do we serve an average of 7,000 individuals each month (2,000 + food hampers), we are working collaboratively with 50+ other agencies in Victoria to provide fresh, nutritious food and dairy products to their respective neighbourhoods. This impacts 35,000 individuals each month.
Operations in Food Rescue.
In 2019, with the help of Victoria Foundation, VanCity and the B.C. Governent, The Mustard Seed acquired our additional 13,500 sq. foot Esquimalt warehouse. The Food Security Distribution Centre is devoted to storing non-perishable food as well as sorting, cleaning, and gleaning "rescued" perishable food from Save-On-Foods, Thrifty Foods, Whole Foods and other local grocers. As part of the Food Rescue Project, The Mustard Seed takes in more than 4000 pounds of produce and dairy products six days a week. This food is redirected from going into the waste stream.
The Mustard Seed's commercial processing kitchen further reduces food waste in our community by taking items that are not easily redistributed and turning them into prepared hot meals for our Queens Avenue location. Our intention is for The Mustard Seed to eventually run Food Security programs at zero waste.
