Food Security
Providing food security for women
and families in Greater Victoria
Supported by
OUR IMPACT
Food Rescue
Our dedicated Soroptimist members make weekly pickups of rescued food from the Food Share Network (FSN) in Victoria, B.C.
The Mustard Seed Church operate the Food Security Distribution Centre and the Food Share Network. They rescue and receive over 1.1 million lbs/year of edible surplus food rescued from 32 grocery and farm partners. and then share it regionally.
Items suitable for distribution are shared with the Mustard Seed Food Bank and 62 partner agencies as noted in their 2025 Impact Report. Soroptimist is one of many partnering organizations.
The Soroptimist volunteers carefully sort the food and decide which of the following Soroptimist avenues to best use the food to serve women and their families in our community.
1.
Soroptimist Food Boxes for Families & Seniors
Community food boxes are assembled for more than 30-35 families and seniors each month. Individuals who do not have the means to attend Food Banks during regular hours. For instance, a working-poor family;
a working-single-parent family; a single-parent family with several small children and no vehicle, making accessibility to the Food Bank on public transit, while handling the children and a large food box, next to impossible; or seniors with mobility issues.
Food Boxes contain rescued fresh and frozen food, and we purchase additional proteins, toiletries and school snacks.
2.
Cooking & Preparing Meals
Our talented and certified Food Safe Soroptimist members prepare more than 70 meals per month for seniors facing food insecurity, using the rescued food and purchasing additional food items to create balanced, healthy meals. The meals are frozen, ready for distribution. Quite frequently, we exceed the allotted amount of meals prepared, up to 150 meals per month, depending on what food is provided during the weekly Food Share Network pickups.
In partnership with Better @ Homes Langford and Pacific Centre for Family Services, the seniors in need are identified and frozen meals are distributed.
Partially funded by:
3.
Stella’s Lunches
Stella’s Lunches (previously Stella’s Suppers) are held 3-4 times per year.
The events provide a healthy, nutritious meal, musical entertainment, and an opportunity to connect and visit for many isolated seniors. We also provide transportation to and from the event to seniors as needed.
Our talented and certified Food Safe Soroptimist members cook and prepare food that is provided during the weekly Food Share Network pickups.
Partially funded by:
4.
Supported with a grant from
SIster’s Preserves
The volunteer team behind SIster’s Preserves work year-round to pickle and preserve rescued fruit and vegetables through our relationship with The Mustard Seed’s Food Share Network.
Starting in the Spring, the team attends local markets to sell the preserved goods by donation.
This fundraising vehicle, through SIster's Preserves, allows Soroptimist to purchase diapers, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, shampoo & conditioner, canned goods, school snacks, proteins, and turkeys with all the fixings to create holiday dinners for our food box recipients.
Our Impact
In 2025, Soroptimist Victoria Westshore rescued
15,296 lbs
of food through the Food Share Network, and we turned it into food boxes. fresh meals, preserves, and more.
According to Food Banks Canada, the approx value equals
$55,677
In addition, we received a portion of the general upfront giveaway of 662,935 lbs from Food Share Network.