Food for Thought Blog

Fresh Approaches: Winter 2025

January 23^rd, 2025Fresh Approaches Newsletter

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Letter from Kim

Dear Neighbour,

You’re amazing! Thank you for giving so generously to help those in our community who are having difficulty making ends meet—a group that unfortunately only keeps growing as the cost of living continues to rise.

More than 73,600 people in Waterloo region accessed food assistance this year—representing a 25 per cent increase over last year. That’s 25 per cent more food needed to meet the need… and counting.

While food banks were meant as a temporary solution, it’s clear that The Food Bank will continue to be vital to our community for the foreseeable future. With your help, we can be here to support the 1 in 8 households locally who now rely on food assistance.

Approximately a third of food assistance recipients in our community are children, with roughly 25,000 kids in Waterloo region living in a food-insecure household. Your kindness is improving the lives of people of all ages, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Please know your compassion does not go unnoticed!

My heart is filled with gratitude for you as we work together to create a Waterloo region where no one experiences hunger.

Warmly,

Kim Wilhelm

CEO

A family gets their footing

How you’re helping Karina start a new chapter

Karina moved to Kitchener from Mexico in 2023 with her husband Jose and their two sons, ages 9 and 12. With warm memories of Canada from a youth exchange she participated in as a teenager, Karina hoped her children would have a similarly positive experience.

While Jose had secured a three year work permit for a landscaping job, winter proved challenging for Karina and her family. His hours were reduced, Karina struggled to find a job, and keeping up with the cost of food and rent proved difficult.

Fortunately, a kind neighbour told Karina about food hamper programs offered through the Community Food Assistance Network. The worried mom felt tremendous relief to know her children would have the food they needed to grow and thrive.

As she reflects on the support she received, Karina is grateful for the crucial boost the hamper program offered at a difficult time. “That initial jump or visit is like the first push off a trampoline. It gives you the momentum to rise and regain your footing,” she explains.

Karina’s sons were excited to see the hampers she brought home – and, she laughs, they were particularly enthusiastic to have ketchup in the home.

Thankful for the help of the hamper program and wanting to do her part for the community, Karina began volunteering regularly at House of Friendship, one of the 54 organizations supported by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “I don’t know everyone’s story or history, but I do see the necessity,” she shares.

Karina is particularly thankful for supporters like you, who ensure there is enough food to distribute. “The thank you we hear… it’s for the donors.”

Today, Karina works part-time delivering medication and continues to volunteer at House of Friendship. She’s happy to give back to the community that has helped her family find its footing.

Your generosity ensures people like Karina can find help in moments of hardship. Thank you for your support!

Flexible food assistance: you’re making it easier for our neighbours to get help

With your support and an Access Grant from Food Banks Canada, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region has launched an evening hamper pickup service in Kitchener.

We’ve installed six refrigerated lockers in a City of Kitchener community centre to ensure food stays fresh and safe for pick-up. Each week, households will be able to access food hampers containing fresh, frozen, and nonperishable items.

This new initiative is designed to support individuals with fixed work schedules or other commitments that make it challenging to access food assistance during regular hours. By offering after-hours access, the refrigerated lockers provide a contactless and convenient experience for those seeking food support.

“We’re excited to offer this new service to better meet the needs of our community,” says Kim Wilhelm, CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “This program helps remove barriers for individuals and households in need of emergency food assistance.” Priority will be given to households that are unable to access food hampers during regular hours. Once their hamper is delivered, participants will receive a personal access code to unlock their assigned locker. Thank you for ensuring fresh nutritious food is available whenever our neighbours need it.

“I continue to be amazed and inspired by the power of working together. Our impact goes beyond the food we provide; it’s also about the overall health and well being of our communities.” — Rebecca Jeschke, capacity building specialist

OpenText supports GivingTuesday efforts

Giving Tuesday took place on December 3, 2024, raising an incredible $352,000 in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. That’s thanks to amazing supporters like you — and the generosity of our match sponsor, OpenText.

As part of their annual Holiday Food Bank Campaign where they support 67 food banks worldwide. When OpenText stepped up to match donations up to $40,000. Normally, every dollar donated to The Food Bank provides two meals for someone in need. Thanks to their matching gift, every dollar donated on Giving Tuesday has gone twice as far — turning two meals into four.

Although they have offices and clients all over the world, OpenText still feels a deep connection to Waterloo region, where the company was founded in 1991.

“We’re very proud of our local roots and we remain committed to giving back to the community where it all began and where many of us live and work,” says Julie Millard, the vice president of corporate citizenship at OpenText.

Giving Tuesday donations helped pack The Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry with a variety of fresh, frozen, and nonperishable food, just in time for the holidays. Last year, the Mobile Pantry helped over 3,000 people and distributed more than 7,800 food hampers.

We are deeply grateful to OpenText – and to you! – for helping to reduce hunger in our community.

The Food Bank receives $756,000 boost from Regional Council

Starting in 2025, the Region of Waterloo’s annual grant to The Food Bank will increase to $1.5 million. This funding helps meet the growing demand for food assistance and supports the Community Food Assistance Network. As in past years, 90 per cent of the grant is shared with the Cambridge Food Bank, House of Friendship, Salvation Army (Kitchener), The Working Centre, Wilmot Family Resource Centre, and Woolwich Community Services — organizations that serve city or township residents and operate five to seven days a week. This funding helps cover their buildings and staff. The remaining 10 per cent supports The Food Bank’s work sourcing, storing, and distributing food across the Network. While this increase is appreciated, it’s not enough to meet all community needs. Your support this year is vital to ensure we can support individuals and families in need.