Waterloo Region, Ont., November 7, 2024 – Starting Saturday, November 9, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region is extending its donation drop-off hours to better accommodate the community’s generosity and busy schedules.

Community members can now drop off donations on the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. Regular drop-off hours remain Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. People are encouraged to visit The Food Bank’s website, thefoodbank.ca, for holiday and summer hours. The Food Bank’s main telephone line, 519-743-5576, will also be available during these extended hours for financial donations made by phone.

The Food Bank is located at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener. Community members should use the yellow customer service door when dropping off donations. Donations can also be dropped off year-round at any grocery store or police, fire, or paramedic station in Kitchener-Waterloo.

“We know people want to support our work, but finding time during the workweek can be tough,” says Kim Wilhelm, CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “These extended hours make it easier for the community to donate food and help us continue providing critical assistance to families and individuals facing food insecurity.”

In Waterloo region, one in eight households accesses a food hamper program. Non-perishable food donations and monetary contributions enable The Food Bank to support the 54 partner organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network, which provide essential food to those in need throughout the region.

“Food donations are incredibly important because they give us immediate inventory and add variety to what we can offer. When people donate food, it helps fill our shelves with a range of items that can go directly to families and individuals in need,” says Wilhelm. “On the other hand, financial gifts are just as valuable because they allow us to be more flexible. With monetary donations, we can buy exactly what’s needed, including fresh foods or specific items that meet different dietary requirements, like halal, gluten-free, or low-sodium options. Together, food and financial donations help us provide well-rounded support to our community.”

This month’s most-needed food items are canned vegetables, tomato sauce, and soups, stews, and chili.

For every dollar donated, The Food Bank can provide two healthy and nutritious meals. To donate online, visit thefoodbank.ca/holidaygiving, or call 519-743-5576 to make a donation by phone.

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. Forty years after its incorporation, The Food Bank continues to evolve to meet the community’s needs, ensuring that no one in Waterloo region experiences hunger. As a distribution centre, The Food Bank distributes more than 8.9 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food to 54 organizations within the Community Food Assistance Network. 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