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Need Food?

1 in 20 Households Need Food Assistance

Here’s How We Help

We are at the Centre of a Network of 100+ Agencies & Programs

The Community Food Assistance Network provides essential meals, shelter, nutrition outreach, counselling and connection to many other services.

More than 68% of the food we acquire and distribute to the Community Food Assistance Network is fresh or frozen.

Our fleet of refrigerated trucks, large cooler and freezer make it possible to safely transport and store thousands of pounds of fresh, frozen and non-perishable food.

We are a source of reliable information about hunger and food assistance in Waterloo Region.

Last year, 34,552 individuals were served by the community Food Assistance Network of Waterloo Region.

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The Food Assistance Network

The Community Food Assistance Network is a system of more than 100 community agencies and food programs, providing food and connection to other vital supports needed by children, seniors, families and individuals–every day. The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and Cambridge Self Help Food Bank are at the centre of this Network, actively sourcing fresh, frozen and non-perishable food for distribution.

Initiated in the 1980’s by a group of local social service agencies, this incredible food system has grown and evolved with our changing community and food industry to help alleviate food insecurity. It has taken years to construct and be recognized with a national food bank innovation award.

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  • "Thank you for caring about your hungry neighbours. Your support is sincerely appreciated."

    Wendi Campbell
    Chief Executive Officer, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
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  • "Laurie Cowell and Rose Startek started the local instance of Empty Bowls nineteen years ago to support The Food Bank of Waterloo Region to get people fed. It is very much a hands-on effort: each year Waterloo Potters’ Workshop members shape clay bowls by the hundreds with their own hands."

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  • "“Brock Solutions has a long history of supporting The Food Bank. They’ve provided food for more than 162,200 meals since 2006. Always creative, the Brock Solutions team has shown their support through food & fund drives, volunteering, and competing in the Great Food Sort Challenge. This year they have raised their support of food banks to even greater levels, by engaging all remote offices. Brock Solutions is truly leading by example and helping the community in which they live and work.""

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  • "“The amount of food that moves through this place is astounding. It’s not what you think it is." "

    Vince Ryan
    Volunteer, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
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  • "When I can't fill an order; I feel so bad. But there's nothing I can do when we just don't have the food."

    Juergen Wetteskind
    Volunteer, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
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Our Mission

Through community partnerships, we obtain and distribute emergency food from our neighbours for our neighbours.

Our Vision

To channel our community’s energy so no one goes hungry.

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