Dawson Creek Food Bank Society (formerly known as St. Mark’s Food Bank)
We are proud members, as we have been the only official registered food bank under both Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada since 2012 (14 years).
Working toward full accreditation with Food Banks Canada meeting the National Standard of Excellence—targeted completion by 2026
What does this mean for our community?
· Accountability & trust: We meet Provincial and National standards for safe, ethical, and transparent food distribution.
· Food safety first: Strong policies for food handling, storage, and client safety.
· Consistent service: Reliable access to food support for individuals and families.
· Community confidence: Recognition as Dawson Creek’s official food bank.
· Continuous improvement: Ongoing work to meet and exceed National best practices.
St. Mark’s Food Bank has deep roots in the Dawson Creek community, beginning around 1986 as a modest “food cupboard.” Created to respond to weekend emergencies, it was established by local church members who noticed an increasing number of people in need—particularly when other services were unavailable.
By the late 1990s, calls for food assistance were becoming more frequent. In response, a more structured food bank began operating around 1998. With the support of dedicated community volunteers and financial contributions from local churches such as South Peace United, Grace Lutheran, Notre Dame, and St. Mark’s Anglican Church, the service steadily expanded.
What started as a small cupboard grew into a full-time food support program, offering groceries and emergency assistance multiple days a week. Over time, volunteers and donors have remained at the heart of the food bank’s operations, making regular donations of time, funds, and food.
While there was once consideration of merging with the local Salvation Army’s food services, it was ultimately decided that operating independently would allow both organizations to better address a wider range of community needs. Though our policies and approaches may differ, we share a common mission: to serve those facing food insecurity with compassion and respect.
At St. Mark’s Food Bank, we prioritize dignity and discretion. Our growth has largely been through word-of-mouth and trusted community relationships, rather than widespread promotion. We treat everyone who walks through our doors with care and kindness.
Today, we continue to serve Dawson Creek with the following:
· Monthly food hampers tailored to household size
· Flexible access for emergency food needs
· Written records to help ensure fairness and consistency
· Operate independently yet remain deeply connected to the community
In addition, our food bank includes a soup kitchen that provides hot meals to those in need. This service is supported by generous donations from local grocery stores, businesses, restaurants, farmers, schools, community members, and other organizations. The food bank also shares dry goods, meat, and produce with the soup kitchen and purchases essential supplies to keep the program running smoothly.
St. Mark’s Food Bank stands as a testament to what community can do when compassion leads. With continued support from volunteers, donors, and the people of Dawson Creek, we remain committed to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
This history is based in part on a letter written by A. Sones, Chair of the St. Mark’s Ecumenical Food Bank, dated October 20, 2005.
Dawson Creek Food Bank Society serves individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, citizenships, colours, religions, sexes (sexual orientations), income sources, and mental or physical abilities.
I could share countless stories of how we have impacted our clients, but one that
stands out is that of a mother with 5 children who came to us in tears, seeking
assistance. Her life had taken an unexpected turn, and she had no source of
income. Another memorable story is that of an elderly woman who was crying and
she felt ashamed when she approached us for help.
We urgently need a larger space to accommodate the continuous growth of our food bank. Our current location has stairs, which makes hauling food up and down difficult and physically demanding for our volunteers. Securing a new space with an accessible, single-floor layout is a priority. We share our food bank centre with the soup kitchen and dining area. Currently, our waiting room can only accommodate 15 people at a time, yet we serve up to 60 visitors in a single day. This overcrowding creates challenges for both our visitors and the handicapped, leading to the urgent need for a larger, more functional space. Once we have secured a suitable location, we plan to invest in essential equipment such as a floor scale and walk-in coolers and freezers to better store and manage our food supplies as well as a warehouse area.
Volunteers are essential for the smooth operation of our food bank, and we have a continuous need for their support. To better serve our community, we would like to extend our operating hours to accommodate individuals who need access to the food bank after 3 PM and possibly on Saturdays.
We rely on donations to sustain our efforts, as we procure all the items for our food hampers. Contributions help us provide essential food supplies to those in need.
