On May 21, something special happened at Surrey Food Bank.
For the first time, we opened our warehouse doors and invited the community inside for Fill the Bay, an afternoon dedicated to helping local families access good food through the summer months.
What followed was an incredible display of generosity.
Neighbours dropped off food donations. Volunteers jumped in wherever they were needed. Community partners stopped by to show their support. Families took time out of their day to learn more about the growing need in our community and the role they can play in helping.
By the end of the afternoon, together we had raised $166,064.80.
More importantly, we were reminded of something we see every day at Surrey Food Bank: when our community sees a need, people step up.
Summer can be one of the most difficult times of year for families. School meal programs pause, grocery costs remain high, and many parents face the challenge of stretching already tight budgets even further while children are home for the summer.
That’s why events like Fill the Bay matter.
Every dollar raised will help ensure local families continue to have access to fresh food, pantry staples, produce, dairy, and other essentials in the months ahead.
The afternoon also included some memorable moments.
We were honoured to welcome Mayor Brenda Locke, who encouraged the community to continue supporting local families, especially babies and children who rely on food bank services.
We were also thrilled to celebrate alongside Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society as they announced the purchase of a new 5-ton truck for Surrey Food Bank. This generous gift will increase our food collection and transportation capacity by approximately 40%, helping us bring even more food into the community.
A huge thank you goes to our hosts, Mark Madryga and Howard Blank, whose energy and enthusiasm helped bring the event to life.
And of course, none of this would have been possible without our volunteers, sponsors, community partners, staff, food vendors, donors, and attendees.
Fill the Bay may have been our first event of its kind, but one thing was clear from the moment the doors opened: this community believes that nobody should have to face hunger alone.
To everyone who helped make the day possible, thank you.
We hope you enjoy looking back on some of our favourite moments from the day.
Interested in helping local families this summer?
Learn more about Surrey’s Summer Stock-Up, a partnership between Surrey Food Bank, Sources Community Resources Society, and Storehouse Community Hub.
