Tri-City mayors raise more than $17K in food bank challenge

More than $17K raised by Tri-City mayors for local food banks

The 2022 mayors challenge saw nine civic leaders combine for nearly $314,000 from May, with a Port Moody non-profit as one of the beneficiaries.

CoquitlamRichardStewartPortCoquitlamBradWestPortMoodyRobVagramov

[From left to right] Tri-City mayors Richard Stewart (Coquitlam), Brad West (Port Coquitlam) and Rob Vagramov (Port Moody) raised a combined $17,143 for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank during the 2022 mayors challenge.Richard Stewart/File photo/Rob Vagramov/Edited by Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News

Mayors of the Tri-Cities' big three communities contributed in whatever way they could to feed more families in need.

Richard Stewart (Coquitlam), Brad West (Port Coquitlam) and Rob Vagramov (Port Moody) raised a combined $17,143 in funds through the 2022 Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) mayors challenge, which took place virtually throughout the month of May.

In total, along with six other regional civic leaders, the event brought in $313,728 for the GVFB and three other non-profit organizations, including Port Moody-based SHARE Family and Community Services.

According to the organization, that money can help purchase 653,600 pounds of apples or more than 184,500 litres of milk.

City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan was declared the winner for a second consecutive year after raising $55,840, equating to $0.9608 per capita.

Final results are tallied on value per capita as the GVFB explains it combines cash raised with food value ($2.62 for each pound of food collected), and is then dividing by the 2016 Census population data for each city.

"The generosity of the public has blown us away again," says GVFB CEO David Long in a news release, noting, each year, the challenge aims to create awareness on food insecurity across the Lower Mainland due to high living costs.

"The Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge was a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and tell our story. Thank you, everyone, for helping us feed over 11,000 people each month."

Stewart collected the most donations of the Tri-Cities municipalities at a rate of $0.10 per capita. Census 2016 stated nearly 20 per cent of Coquitlam residents were considered low income; 24 per cent of that total were children and 12 per cent were seniors.

President of the Coquitlam Legion, Bob Chapman, presenting a cheque of $10,000.00 to support Richard Stewart in the Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge. pic.twitter.com/63i3uJxSoQ
— Coquitlam Legion 263 (@CoquitlamLegion) June 6, 2022