Last Updated:
April 1, 2023
by
Francesca de Freitas
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Vancouver Food Rescue Boxes
Our co-op is participating on the Vancouver Food Rescue mystery box distribution.
A mystery box costs $40, and contains a variety of food is being discarded by a variety of stores (mostly Costco.)
There are 4 box types:
- Box with MEAT (beef, pork, chicken OR turkey)
- Box with FISH (fish OR seafood)
- Vegetarian Box with CHEESE
- VEGAN Box
We put in a weekly joint order, to be delivered to our co-op on a Wednesday or a Saturday, depending on availability.
If you would like to be part of the weekly order, please do the following:
- Make sure you are registered with Vancouver Food Rescue - you only have to do this once (https://forms.gle/NmSGZSSx1zx 2teZBA)
- Send an etransfer for $40 to francesca.defreitas@gmail.com (please specify Meat, Fish, Cheese or Vegan)
Francesca will process the etransfers on Tuesday at 9am, submit the group order, and email everyone who made an etransfer to confirm.
If there are enough co-op volunteers available, they will deliver your box to your unit, if not Francesca will email to let you know you can pick your box up in the garage.
Note: Please collapse your box and dispose of it in the compost or cardboard recycling bin. Do not leave it in the garage, as it may attract pests.
If you have any questions, please email Francesca at francesca.defreitas@gmail.com
Volunteering!
The Food Rescue badly needs volunteers, especially to divy up the food into boxes, and to which usually happens on Wed and Saturdays between 12-2pm. They are currently using our garage for this work, so it is convenient to us! We also need volunteers to bring tables to and from the garage, and to deliver the boxes ordered by co-op members.
If you are interested in volunteering, please let Deb Cooper know, at dlcooper217@gmail.com
More information
More information on Vancouver Food Rescue: https://www.vanecovillage.com/food-rescue
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) emailed Feb 27 (info in strikethrough does not apply to the co-op order)
What does a mystery box look like?
Here is what a $40 box (more or less) looks like. Each box is accompanied by a variety of baked goods (such as bread, croissants, bagels, ciabatta, muffins, pies and pastries).
Box with MEAT (beef, pork, chicken OR turkey)
Box with FISH (fish OR seafood)
Vegetarian Box with CHEESE
VEGAN Box
What if there is food in my box I don't want?
Any food from your box (ie. bread) can be left at the same place you picked up your box (or feel free to compost if it can't be shared).
CO-OP INFO: You can leave food that does not need to be refrigerated on the sharing table in the lobby
How can I contact you?
Message us on Whatsapp if you have questions or to offer help - 236-558-5318 - You will be added to our Whatsapp group for essential info, daily specials and free giveaways.
How can I sign up for a food box?
Sign up here - ONE time only.
Where do I send the money?
Send $40/box order via etransfer to vfr@vanecovillage.com
(Extra proteins like steak, chicken, pork, turkey, fish, cheese and Halal meats are available for 35% off label price - book in advance)
What do I say in the etransfer message?
2) Pick up date if you can only receive a box on a specific date
3) Where you're picking up (or address for home delivery)
4) Your phone number
Will I get my box on the day that I request?
You will get your box either on the Wednesday or Saturday of the same week depending on food availability.
How will I know when to pick up my box?
You will be contacted via whatsapp or text to let you know when your box will be ready.
Where can I pick-up?
Mt Pleasant - 4:00-7:00 pm - whatsapp for location
West End (free home delivery)
Can I get home delivery?
Delivery to your home, office, or vehicle is available for $20 extra (Vancouver only). We will call or text to make sure you're available before coming.
What can I do to volunteer? (Times may change slightly each week)
10:00 am - 11:00 am - Load van with food
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Sort food and clean up
Help on our Facebook or spread the word to people you know
What can I expect from a food box?
- The stores donate items they can't sell such as perishables, ugly fruit or slightly damaged vegetables which are still perfectly edible. Expect to find a small portion of your box that is unusable like a few squashed bananas or spotted apples.
- These boxes are not supposed to replace your weekly grocery shopping. They are something additional to add to what you usually buy.
- Everyone gets the same items in their boxes with very few differences.
- We can't guarantee you will receive meat or fresh vegetables each week because it depends on what we receive.
- Expect the unexpected.
Are you taking away food that should be going to help the poor?
NO. We ONLY pick up food that is diverted to landfill, and we're not in competition with any food bank or other program that serves the poor.
How much food is thrown into the trash?
It's a simple fact that one third of all food produced in Canada is sent to the landfill. We rescue less than 1% of the food that is thrown in the trash every day. Food waste is a problem we all need to engage in to prevent excess CO2/ methane poisoning.
Why isn't the food given away free?
We operate a cost recovery by charging a fee per box. Your $40 goes towards operational costs like transport, insurance, storage, and refrigeration, but the food is free.
Why did I get less food this week than last time?
You may receive less food in your box than on other weeks, depending on the donations we receive. We try to balance the variety of food in your box and may have difficulty when we get a large quantity of one item ie. tomatoes. Therefore, you may get a heaping box of food on some weeks and an even box on others.
Why can't I get a tax receipt for my $40?
A tax receipt cannot be given when you receive goods in exchange for your money. But a tax receipt can be given for donations over $100.
Will you charge sales tax?
No. Sale of rescued food is not eligible for sales tax like GST/PST.
How can I unsubscribe?Email back with "remove" and we will erase all your data from our systems. Please Do NOT Spam our email.
Thank you for joining our food rescue efforts to clean up our environment. Remember that one third of all food produced in Canada ends up in the landfill, creating more poisonous gases than all the vehicles and factories combined.
You're making an important difference by helping to save this food – thank you!
You're making an important difference by helping to save this food – thank you!
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