Food security and meaningful employment are deeply connected milestones on the journey to settlement. When newcomers arrive in British Columbia, they often face unique challenges, including language barriers, financial instability, and adjusting to a new cultural landscape. Since 2025, ISSofBC has proudly partnered with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) through the FRESH Start program to provide wrap-around services that address these exact needs.
This collaboration goes well beyond immediate hunger relief; the presence of the ISSofBC NSP Employment program within FRESH Start provides individuals facing employment barriers the opportunity to develop into job-ready candidates.
Equipping Clients for Success
Through targeted appointments, our employment specialists assist clients in elevating their resumes and cover letters to a standard that stands out to hiring managers. Crucially, the program’s interview preparation has been essential in removing the stigma and difficulty often attached to job interviews.
The results of this hands-on support speak for themselves:
- Between July 2025 and July 2026, the ISSofBC NSP Employment program conducted 78 appointments.
- These appointments resulted in 73 successful referrals, achieving an overall success rate of 94%.
- There is a noticeable, positive movement toward stability, with many clients successfully securing employment and significantly reducing their reliance on food bank services.
A Real-Life Impact
The true value of this partnership is best seen in the lives of the people we support.
- One client, who had relocated internationally with refugee status, initially experienced significant difficulty finding employment and relied on the food bank to meet his basic needs.
- On May 1st, he attended an appointment with the ISSofBC NSP Employment program.
- By May 15th, he had successfully secured a job, marking his final visit to the GVFB.
- He directly attributed his rapid transition toward self-sufficiency to the resume, cover letter, and interview preparation assistance he received from our team.
Building Confidence Through Community Action
The partnership is a dynamic, two-way street. Clients from our Solid Start 360 Employment and BCNSP Safe Haven programs actively volunteer with the GVFB, applying essential soft skills like punctuality, teamwork, and adherence to workplace expectations in a real-world environment. This hands-on experience builds their confidence and motivation, allowing them to learn new skills while proudly giving back to their community.
Our own ISSofBC team members are also deeply invested in this mission. This past August, a team of four ISSofBC staff members spent an afternoon volunteering at the GVFB’s Burnaby Warehouse, getting a firsthand look at the operational flow and deepening our connection to the organization.
Looking Ahead
In August, we were thrilled to welcome Lukas and Arif from GVFB’s FRESH Start program to our offices. Led by Ricardo Reyes Lao from our BC SAFE HAVEN employment team, this visit strengthened our ongoing relationship and opened the door to future collaborations integrating ISSofBC’s LINC English classes and the ISS Language and Career College of BC (LCC).
As the FRESH Start office expansion reaches completion, there is a shared goal to explore opportunities that will increase clinic capacity, allowing even more clients to access these life-changing services.
When organizations share knowledge, resources, and expertise, we create a stronger community where everyone has access to the support they need on their path toward employment, stability, and belonging.
