For many people, the holiday season is a magical time of year. For others, it can be a stressful time. More than 58,600 people in Waterloo region accessed food assistance this year—a 45 per cent increase over the 40,500 residents supported last year. For these individuals and families, it’s hard enough to cover the rising costs of food and housing, let alone have money left over to buy gifts for loved ones and food for festive meals.

With the demand for food assistance skyrocketing, there’s never been a more important time to reduce food insecurity and support our neighbours in need. If you’re interested in joining The Food Bank of Waterloo Region in the fight against hunger, here are seven ways you can get involved this holiday season.

Donate funds

For those who can afford to give, please consider donating funds this month. Financial donations allow us to fill gaps in our inventory, buy food to meet diverse cultural and dietary needs, and keep delivery trucks on the road. You can donate online or drop off a financial donation to our distribution centre located at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener. Every dollar donated can help provide two meals for someone facing hunger. Plus, if you donate by the end of the year, you’ll get a tax receipt for 2023.

Donate non-perishable food

If you have room in your grocery budget to buy some extra food, non-perishable food donations are always welcome and appreciated. These donations keep our shelves stocked and help us ensure that there’s safe, healthy, and nutritious food for the 1 in 10 households in Waterloo region struggling to afford to put food on the table. You can drop off a non-perishable food item to any grocery store or police, fire, or paramedic station in Kitchener-Waterloo or to our distribution centre.

While we’re grateful for all food donations we receive, we would appreciate it immensely if you could donate foods that are on our most needed items list. This month, we need:

• Pull-tab cans (soup, stew)
• Rice
• Tomato sauce

Participate in our Reverse Advent Calendar

Want to donate more food? Throughout the month of December, we’ll be sharing our Holiday Food Drive Reverse Advent Calendar across our social media channels. Watch our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for each day’s suggested item to donate. On the last day, pack up a box with all the most-needed items and drop it in a donation bin at your local grocery store or any Kitchener or Waterloo police, fire, or paramedic station or bring it to our distribution centre.

Host a food and fund drive

Are you hosting a dinner or holiday party this year? Ask your friends and family members to bring funds or a non-perishable food item for The Food Bank! Be sure to register your food and fund drive at thefoodbank.ca/ffd so we can provide you with boxes, bags, and posters paid for by our sponsors, as well as step-by-step instructions for setting up your own custom online donation page.

Volunteer in our distribution centre

If you have some spare time this month, we invite you to volunteer in our distribution centre. Volunteers in our distribution centre accept donations from community members, inspect, sort, and organize non-perishable food items, and pack food hampers for our agency partners in the Community Food Assistance Network. Visit our website to learn more about volunteering in our distribution centre.

Volunteer at a fundraising event

We’re also always looking for volunteers to help at community fundraising events. Volunteers at community fundraising events collect food and financial donations from community members and help them understand the impact of their generosity. Visit our website to learn more about being an event volunteer.

Attend a fundraising event

Did you know? There are so many exciting events happening in our community this month that support The Food Bank! Visit our website to discover fun events like Christmas markets, hockey games, music contests, and more that raise food and funds for The Food Bank.

No gesture or action is too small. How will you support The Food Bank this month?