Two short ferry rides from Buckley Bay puts you on beautiful Hornby Island. It’s a tight-knit community of just a few thousand people, known for its beaches, its vibrant art scene, and a genuine habit of looking out for one another.

It’s also home to the Hornby Island Food Bank, and for the past year, the Comox Valley Food Bank has been proud to help keep it running strong.

How we got here

In July 2025, CVFB took on management and governance of food bank services on Hornby Island. Food security on the island has always been a team effort. The Hornby Island Educational Society (HIES) still runs The Kitchen, a hot meal and home delivery program, out of Joe King Ball Park, the same site as the food bank.

Handing food bank operations to CVFB let the Educational Society put its full attention into The Kitchen and other community programs, while CVFB brought its Food Banks Canada accreditation and grocery-support experience to the food bank side.

What that support looks like

We’ve spent the past year building up the island’s capacity. A second storage container now sits next to the original, joined by a newly built deck. It’s powered, lit, and set up for cooling, which means more room for fresh food instead of just non-perishables. An awning is next on the list.

Every two weeks, our team makes the trip over to help restock and support operations, working alongside Hornby’s own dedicated volunteers. Nobody knows this island’s needs better than they do. We’re mirroring what works in the Comox Valley while respecting what makes Hornby different: a community that leans local and seasonal, with growers ready to share extra harvest through Grow a Row.