Langley, B.C. May 5-9 marks Hunger Awareness Week in Canada and as food banks across the country host events next week to raise awareness of the work they do and tell the stories of the thousands of Canadians who rely on their services, one Envision Financial employee shares her personal story about why it is so important to her to give back in support of hunger awareness in our communities.
When The Full Cupboard launched one year ago, Mehran Masoodi, a commercial account manager at Envision Financial jumped at the chance to join its community ambassador team. The Full Cupboard is a community investment program created by Envision Financial aimed at raising food, funds and awareness for food banks throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland. For Masoodi, the decision to help give back to our local food banks was both personal and obvious.
"My family and I immigrated to Canada from Iran about 23 years ago with $100 in our pockets and our luggage," says Masoodi. "By far the biggest challenge we faced after we arrived was the pressure to learn English, because without it we werent able to find any jobs. Despite having earned my BA back in Iran, I had to start all over again with my education so I enrolled in an ESL class and hospitality course at a local college."
Masoodi continues, "For the first year while we were trying to find work, my family and I relied on the food bank to help supplement the financial support we were receiving from the Government of Canada. Back then, we were receiving $900 per month for our family of three of which $600 went towards rent. With only $300 left over for everything else, it was very difficult to get by. Our local food bank really helped us during that time otherwise it would have been extremely hard to feed my family, especially with a three-year old child."
Since then, Masoodi has gone on to complete her education in accounting, which enabled her to get a job in the financial services industry and work her way to her current role as commercial account manager. "The help I received from the food bank was life-changing and for the past 20 years, Ive been a strong supporter of food banks in our communities. Over the past few years, Ive volunteered at the Surrey Food Bank, the SHARE Community program in Coquitlam and at the Iranian Immigrant and Refugee Society of BC, bringing awareness of the services that food banks offer to new immigrants coming into Canada. Ive also been involved with the PoCo Womens Centre to deliver food for single moms and am also currently a member of the board of the Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society."
"Im a prime example that you cant stereotype who might need the services of a food bank," says Masoodi. "It may be someone whos struggling to get back on their feet, or a single-parent trying to provide food for their family on one income or families who are new to the country. There are many people struggling in our communities, which is why its so important to get involved and give back to help our neighbours in need."
Recently, The Full Cupboard celebrated its one-year anniversary and has already generate tremendous results, raising more than $95,000 and collecting more than 11,600 pounds of food thanks to the efforts of Envision Financial employees, members and community partners. The funds and donations will be dispersed in support of the 11 food banks that operate in the communities served by Envision Financial.
"As a local credit union, one of our core beliefs is to give back to the community," says Masoodi. "Its how people know us and why many choose to do business with us, and its why I personally chose to work in a credit union and not a bank. To me, supporting our local communities through programs like The Full Cupboard goes hand in hand with what it means to be a credit union. I believe that its our responsibility as a member-owned cooperative to get involved because together, we can make a big difference in helping local families when they need it most."
Community members can support The Full Cupboard program by donating non-perishable food items or making cash donations at their nearest Envision Financial branch. All donations of more than $20 are tax-deductible. For more information or to make a donation to The Full Cupboard, visit
http://www.foodbanksbc.com/get-involved/thefullcupboard/.
About Envision Financial
Envision Financial is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union, with 39 branches and 28 insurance offices throughout the province operating under the Envision Financial, Valley First and Enderby & District Financial brands. Led by Launi Skinner, First West has $7.7 billion in assets under administration, more than 177,000 members and close to 1,300 employees. For its extensive community involvement, Envision Financial is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada. For more information on Envision Financial, visit
www.envisionfinancial.ca.
Langley, B.C. May 5-9 marks Hunger Awareness Week in Canada and as food banks across the country host events next week to raise awareness of the work they do and tell the stories of the thousands of Canadians who rely on their services, one Envision Financial employee shares her personal story about why it is so important to her to give back in support of hunger awareness in our communities.
When The Full Cupboard launched one year ago, Mehran Masoodi, a commercial account manager at Envision Financial jumped at the chance to join its community ambassador team. The Full Cupboard is a community investment program created by Envision Financial aimed at raising food, funds and awareness for food banks throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland. For Masoodi, the decision to help give back to our local food banks was both personal and obvious.
"My family and I immigrated to Canada from Iran about 23 years ago with $100 in our pockets and our luggage," says Masoodi. "By far the biggest challenge we faced after we arrived was the pressure to learn English, because without it we werent able to find any jobs. Despite having earned my BA back in Iran, I had to start all over again with my education so I enrolled in an ESL class and hospitality course at a local college."
Masoodi continues, "For the first year while we were trying to find work, my family and I relied on the food bank to help supplement the financial support we were receiving from the Government of Canada. Back then, we were receiving $900 per month for our family of three of which $600 went towards rent. With only $300 left over for everything else, it was very difficult to get by. Our local food bank really helped us during that time otherwise it would have been extremely hard to feed my family, especially with a three-year old child."
Since then, Masoodi has gone on to complete her education in accounting, which enabled her to get a job in the financial services industry and work her way to her current role as commercial account manager. "The help I received from the food bank was life-changing and for the past 20 years, Ive been a strong supporter of food banks in our communities. Over the past few years, Ive volunteered at the Surrey Food Bank, the SHARE Community program in Coquitlam and at the Iranian Immigrant and Refugee Society of BC, bringing awareness of the services that food banks offer to new immigrants coming into Canada. Ive also been involved with the PoCo Womens Centre to deliver food for single moms and am also currently a member of the board of the Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society."
"Im a prime example that you cant stereotype who might need the services of a food bank," says Masoodi. "It may be someone whos struggling to get back on their feet, or a single-parent trying to provide food for their family on one income or families who are new to the country. There are many people struggling in our communities, which is why its so important to get involved and give back to help our neighbours in need."
Recently, The Full Cupboard celebrated its one-year anniversary and has already generate tremendous results, raising more than $95,000 and collecting more than 11,600 pounds of food thanks to the efforts of Envision Financial employees, members and community partners. The funds and donations will be dispersed in support of the 11 food banks that operate in the communities served by Envision Financial.
"As a local credit union, one of our core beliefs is to give back to the community," says Masoodi. "Its how people know us and why many choose to do business with us, and its why I personally chose to work in a credit union and not a bank. To me, supporting our local communities through programs like The Full Cupboard goes hand in hand with what it means to be a credit union. I believe that its our responsibility as a member-owned cooperative to get involved because together, we can make a big difference in helping local families when they need it most."
Community members can support The Full Cupboard program by donating non-perishable food items or making cash donations at their nearest Envision Financial branch. All donations of more than $20 are tax-deductible. For more information or to make a donation to The Full Cupboard, visit http://www.foodbanksbc.com/get-involved/thefullcupboard/.
About Envision Financial
Envision Financial is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union, with 39 branches and 28 insurance offices throughout the province operating under the Envision Financial, Valley First and Enderby & District Financial brands. Led by Launi Skinner, First West has $7.7 billion in assets under administration, more than 177,000 members and close to 1,300 employees. For its extensive community involvement, Envision Financial is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada. For more information on Envision Financial, visit www.envisionfinancial.ca.