Grant: Operating Grant: Population Health Intervention Research

Canadians living in poverty have higher risks of nutrition-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Over a million Canadians also experience hunger, stress, and poor health because they cannot afford healthy food. Each week, 28,000 people rely on food from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (GVFBS) to help feed their families. Yet, we do not know much about people who come to food banks, including what health issues they face, what makes it difficult for them to eat a healthy diet or how food banks can help them improve their health. GVFBS is now changing how they work by providing food that is more nutritious and inviting members to choose their own foods, instead of handing out a set basket of foods. They are moving programs into larger, brighter and more convenient spaces called community food hubs where members can buy fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables while picking up other free foods and household items. GVFBS is also partnering with community organizations to provide nutrition education and health screenings like blood pressure testing and will help connect members to other services (such as housing and mental health). This research project will test how well the new community food hub programs work. The main goals are to see if food hubs help members get more fruits and vegetables and less salt in their diet or reduce hunger by linking members with more reliable sources of healthy food. We will conduct focus groups and surveys to learn how food hubs can help people access healthy foods and improve their overall health. This project will make important changes that benefit Canadians with high risks of chronic diseases. We will share lessons with other food banks, policy makers and researchers across the country. This project will build on the strong relationships food banks have in their communities to improve access to healthy food and services that promote good health, provided with dignity and respect.