Surrey's Muslim Food Bank sees refugee settlement demand triple
Muslim Food Bank offers integration services and kosher, halal and vegan food for immigrants and refugees
The Muslim Food Bank in Surrey, B.C. says demand for its services has almost tripled in the five years since it opened its doors.
Director Azim Dahya says the organization began as a short-term intervention for refugees and immigrants needing kosher, halal and vegan foods, but has since expanded to provide settlement services for 450 families.
That includes helping them get jobs, learn English and integrate into the community, he says.
With the planned arrival of hundreds of refugees from Syria, she now expects demand will increase even more.
"I wish it could be the other way around. We were actually expecting to get people more out of the requirement, get them sustainable and all that.
"But the thing is, we have refugees coming in all the time, so of course growth is inevitable."
The Muslim Food Bank recently found a bigger warehouse. It's also looking to add up to 200 case workers to the 80 it already has.
The food bank runs on private donations from individuals and businesses. Dahya says those will have to double or even triple to to keep up with the growing demand.
With files from Chad Pawson