A Legacy of Compassion and Service
Rooted in community. Grown through compassion. Serving with dignity.
Food Support With Dignity and Compassion
Access to food is a basic human right. At St. Mark’s Food Bank, we provide emergency food support to individuals and families—ensuring no one in our community faces hunger alone.
Mission
We provide food to individuals and families in need—including singles, seniors, and unsheltered community members—with the goal of eliminating hunger.
Vision
We envision a community where no one goes hungry, and where food security and poverty are understood and addressed through awareness and action.
Our Story
How It All Began
St. Mark’s Food Bank has deep roots in the Dawson Creek community, beginning around 1986 as a modest “food cupboard.” Created to respond to weekend emergencies, it was established by local church members who noticed an increasing number of people in need—particularly when other services were unavailable.
By the late 1990s, calls for food assistance were becoming more frequent. In response, a more structured food bank began operating around 1998. With the support of dedicated community volunteers and financial contributions from local churches such as South Peace United, Grace Lutheran, Notre Dame, and St. Mark’s Anglican Church, the service steadily expanded.
What started as a small cupboard grew into a full-time food support program, offering groceries and emergency assistance multiple days a week. Over time, volunteers and donors have remained at the heart of the food bank’s operations, making regular contributions of time, funds, and food.
While there was once consideration of merging with the local Salvation Army’s food services, it was ultimately decided that operating independently would allow both organizations to better address a wider range of community needs. Though our policies and approaches may differ, we share a common mission: to serve those facing food insecurity with compassion and respect.
At St. Mark’s Food Bank, we prioritize dignity and discretion. Our growth has largely been through word-of-mouth and trusted community relationships, rather than widespread promotion. Everyone who walks through our doors is treated with care and kindness.
Today, we continue to serve Dawson Creek with:
- Monthly food hampers tailored to household size
- Flexible access for emergency food needs
- Written records to help ensure fairness and consistency
- Operate independently yet remain deeply connected to the community
In addition, our food bank includes a soup kitchen that provides hot meals to those in need. This service is supported by generous donations from local businesses, restaurants, community members, and organizations such as the Ovintiv Events Centre. The food bank also shares dry goods, meat, and produce with the soup kitchen, and purchases essential supplies like take-out containers to keep the program running smoothly.
St. Mark’s Food Bank stands as a testament to what community can do when compassion leads. With continued support from volunteers, donors, and the people of Dawson Creek, we remain committed to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
This history is based in part on a letter written by A. Sones, Chair of the St. Mark’s Ecumenical Food Bank, dated October 20, 2005.