Rescuing Food, Restoring Dignity: Inside Surrey’s Harvest for Hope
Surrey, B.C. — Every week, Harvest for Hope Society of BC recovers surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it through community partners serving people facing food insecurity.
According to the organization, it currently rescues approximately 3,000 pounds of surplus food each week—enough for about 2,500 meals—and works with eight partner organizations across Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam.
The food reaches veterans, seniors, newcomers, people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic abuse, and families under financial pressure.
How the Organization Began
The organization was founded in January 2025 by Noemi Victorino after she learned that a local food program was about to close. Instead of accepting the end of the initiative, she chose to keep the work going and expand it.
“I could not stand by and watch good food go to waste while people in our community were going without,” Victorino said. “I kept thinking about the contrast: good, nutritious food being thrown away while families, seniors and individuals were struggling to put food on their tables.”
Eighteen months later, the effort has grown into a regular weekly network that links recovered food with existing community organizations.
Dignity and Practical Support
Victorino and her team treat food insecurity as more than a simple shortage of groceries. Rising costs of food, housing and transportation leave many households with little margin. Some people hesitate to seek help because of shame or uncertainty about where to turn.
“We don’t want anyone to feel judged because they need help,” she said. “We want people to feel seen, valued and supported. Sometimes a box of food is more than a box of food. It is relief. It is hope. It is one less thing to worry about.”
Filipino Community Connections
Food insecurity affects people across cultures. Within the Filipino community, the work draws on the value of bayanihan—the tradition of coming together so that no one is left behind. Food itself is a common expression of care and connection.
Through a partnership with Philippine Historama, Harvest for Hope helps provide food support to Filipino seniors in New Westminster. The collaboration aims to remind seniors that their community remains present and that support is available.
Looking Ahead
Victorino describes the mission as restoring both meals and dignity. The longer-term hope is that support can move in both directions. Someone who once received help may later return as a volunteer, mentor or neighbour offering support to others.
“That is what community looks like,” she said. “Harvest for Hope is about more than rescuing surplus food. It is about rescuing hope, restoring dignity and making sure people don’t fall through the cracks.”
The organization continues to be guided by a simple question: If good food is available, why should anyone in the community go hungry?
Residents who want to volunteer, donate, or ask about support can reach the organization at info@harvestforhope.ca or 604 781 4424.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
