“[People] are supposed to be able to afford food – no matter the level of their income,” says Godwin Ude, KAF’s executive director.

He adds that the average family accessing KAF’s services has six household members. These services allow them to save, on average, 500 dollars per month.

Expanding definitions

Food insecurity does not just affect citizens from highly vulnerable groups. KAF’s data shows that even supposed high earners – those with an annual income of seventy thousand dollars – struggle to afford food.

“Since Covid, food insecurity is now a national security problem,” Ude points out.

The executive director advocates for a movement away from the “food bank” system when considering food insecurity. He says many of KAF’s clients are nurses, accountants, engineers or other professionals.

“Right now, we are dealing with a situation where no matter how hard some of these new immigrants work, no matter how much money they make, they do not have the foundation to sustain themselves,” says Ude.

Ude is a trained pharmacist with experience working in social services. After moving from Ontario to B.C. in 2010, he was struck by the “level of homelessness” in Surrey’s Whalley area. He then started buying pizzas and hosting barbeques for the community – eventually partnering with COBS Bread in Ladner to source food.

“We’ve been doing that for nine years; we never miss a pickup,” says Ude. “People keep coming Friday morning [to our facility] to pick up bread.”

KAF has since expanded to sourcing food from other businesses, including warehouses, grocery stores and even farmers. They “rescue” products that have been deemed non-sellable.

“By creating spaces rooted in care, KAF transforms the act of receiving food into an experience of empowerment and shared humanity,” adds Lenya Wilks, director of community inclusion, health and equity at DIVERSEcity.

KAF’s work is not just focused on food insecurity – the organization is working towards innovative ways to achieve food justice and sovereignty.

“We created [our food security] system from the ground up, we contextualize it to meet [the community’s] needs…we are thinking outside of the box,” Ude says. “This is not a job: this is a vision.”

They have also extended their service hours. Their clientele includes those from all over the province. According to Ude, KAF is also a lifeline for families travelling from remote areas in B.C. to access medical services in the city.

“We allow people to pick up as much food as they need in their family,” Ude shares, adding they serve over fourteen thousand clients per month. “We don’t discriminate; we don’t tell people they are not qualified.”

Creating new systems

Ude defines food justice through four pillars: availability, accessibility, affordability and adaptability.

“The government must make sure these food items are available,” he adds. “And that we have enough in times of emergency.”

For Ude, KAF’s work is a vision for innovative systematic changes leading to food justice. His vision for food justice also includes the availability of products, such as rice, adapted to different cuisines.

“When we talk about food accessibility, can people access the type of food they need culturally?” the executive director questions. “How long does it take an Indigenous person to access food? How long does it take an immigrant to access food?”

Ude acknowledges the importance of having food standards, including those pertaining to expiration dates and importation policies. For him, there is a “thin line” between maintaining safety standards and supporting cultural communities in accessing their food products.

“Multiculturalism comes with a lot of challenges,” the executive director adds. “It means you have to open up and allow people to have access to the food they are used to and the systems they are used to.”

KAF has also advocated for restructuring the province’s food security architecture. Ude adds that not every city has well-established food security policies for emergencies.

“If there is a disaster and no way to bring in food, do we have a food security policy in place?” he asks. “Food is about survival…food is a social determinant of health.”

The best way to support KAF is through donations via their website or by donating food. Their team is willing to pick up donated food.

For more information on DIVERSEcity’s Awards of Impact, see www.dcrs.ca/about-us/organizational-impact/awards

For more information, see www.kingdomactsfoundation.com