Free Food Program

​Discover free food programs within Metro Vancouver Housing

At Metro Vancouver Housing, our mission is to ensure that every resident has reliable access to nutritious food. We are committed to ensuring access to free meals, fresh groceries, and essential resources for individuals and families in need. Through a partnership with Food Link Society, we help reduce food waste by redistributing rescued groceries.

The program is available only to Metro Vancouver Housing residents, and there is no cost to apply or participate. ​

How the program works

Food Link Society collects perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, bread, pastries, and prepared foods from local grocery stores before their “best before” dates. These items are delivered to participating housing sites every two weeks.

Resident volunteers sort the food into boxes based on household size. You’re encouraged to take what you want and leave what you don’t — ensuring food is shared fairly and minimizing waste. If extra food remains at the end of the distribution, it is donated to community partners such as shelters, farms, and other organizations.

Eligibility

• Only Metro Vancouver Housing residents may participate.
• Households of any size are welcome; however, only individuals listed on your tenancy agreement can be included.
• Residents may only participate at their own site or the designated location for their site.

How to apply

• Paper application: Available at your housing site (or the designated site if yours participates through another location)
• ​Online request form​: Submit an application request through the Food Link Society website. Food Link Society will confirm your residency with Metro Vancouver Housing

Applications include a section for dietary preferences or restrictions, and volunteers will accommodate these as much as possible when preparing boxes.

Disclaimer: The Free Food Program and its registration process is organized and managed by Food Link Society. This program is being offered only to residents of Metro Vancouver Housing. As part of the registration application process, Food Link Society will share with Metro Vancouver Housing the applicant’s name, housing site and unit address provided on the application for the purposes of confirming residency. By disclosing your personal information to Food Link Society, you consent to be a part of the Food Link Society program and for Metro Vancouver Housing to verify your tenancy as part of the approval process. Food Link Society, will not share the information to other third parties except for the purpose delivering the Free Food Program.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a meaningful way to meet neighbours, support your community, and understand how the program works. Volunteers in the Free Food Program help with:

• Receiving rescued food deliveries
• Sorting and distributing food into participant boxes
• Assisting participants during pickup
• Cleaning the community room
• Transporting leftover food to shelters, farms, or other organizations
  

To sign up, email us by clicking the button below to ask for a volunteer application form.

Volunteer application request​

Program schedules and additional resources​

​​Common​ly asked questions​