Waterloo Region, Ont., September 27, 2023 – Fall is here and so is The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s 6^th annual Harvest Food Drive.

On September 30, from noon to 4 p.m., The Food Bank invites the community to visit any Sobeys or Zehrs location in Kitchener-Waterloo to buy and donate fresh produce such as carrots, onions, and potatoes.

“The Harvest Food Drive is a wonderful way for our community to help replenish The Food Bank’s supply of fresh produce—allowing us to provide more healthy and nutritious options to local food assistance programs supported by The Food Bank,” says Kim Wilhelm, interim CEO, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

Last year, The Food Bank distributed more than 5.4 million pounds of food including 2.5 million pounds of fresh food to the Community Food Assistance Network, a system of more than 120 community programs and agency partners working together to provide food, support, and services to people in need in Waterloo region.

“It’s because of our caring community and grocery retail partners like Sobeys and Zehrs that 46 per cent of the food we distribute each year is fresh,” Wilhelm adds.

In addition to produce, people can donate cash during the Harvest Food Drive. Thanks to a generous Thanksgiving match by Conestoga Meats, for every $1 donated during the food drive, The Food Bank can provide four meals. Normally, $1 provides two meals.

Food and funds collected during the Harvest Food Drive will support the more than 24,000 households in Waterloo region experiencing food insecurity.

This year’s goal is to collect enough food and funds to provide 13,000 meals for people struggling to afford to put food on the table. Since 2018, the Harvest Food Drive has provided more than 58,000 meals.

Harvest Food Drive locations

• Sobeys Bridgeport
• Sobeys Columbia
• Sobeys Fischer-Hallman
• Sobeys Highland
• Sobeys Ira Needles
• Sobeys Northfield (aka: Parkside)
• Zehrs Beechwood
• Zehrs Conestoga
• Zehrs Glenridge
• Zehrs Hiway Centre
• Zehrs Laurentian
• Zehrs Pioneer
• Zehrs Stanley

About The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

Founded in 1984, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (The Food Bank) was the first organization of its kind in Ontario dedicated to providing emergency food. Thirty-nine years later, The Food Bank continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community, ensuring no one goes hungry. Each year, The Food Bank acquires and distributes more than five million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food to 120+ community programs and agency partners throughout Waterloo region. Learn more at thefoodbank.ca.

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Media contact

Michelle Rickard
Manager, Marketing and Communications
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
micheller@thefoodbank.ca