How you can support The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and our neighbours in need this holiday season

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s 2025 Community Impact report, released last month, paints a sobering picture. Between July 2024 and June 2025, visits to food hamper programs reached nearly 622,000—the highest we’ve ever seen. Even more troubling, 7,066 households accessed a hamper program more than eight times, a 21 per cent increase over the pervious year.

With the holiday season upon us, these numbers sit heavy with me. Behind every statistic is a person—a story. A single mother quietly skipping dinner so her child can eat. A family with two working parents still struggling as grocery prices rise. A senior trying to stretch every dollar of limited social assistance just to get through the month. For many of our neighbours, putting food on the table is a daily challenge—let alone making room in the budget for special holiday meals and gifts.

This month, you can help change that. By supporting The Food Bank, you’ll help ensure everyone in our community has food to share, traditions to enjoy, and moments to celebrate.

Even the smallest gift can make a powerful difference. Every dollar donated helps provide two healthy, nutritious meals—meals that help families celebrate the holidays with dignity. You can donate online at thefoodbank.ca/holidaygiving or drop off a financial gift at our distribution centre at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener. Donations made by December 31 qualify for a 2025 tax receipt.

Non-perishable food donations are also deeply appreciated. The next time you’re at a grocery store in Kitchener-Waterloo, consider picking up an extra non-perishable item—a can of vegetables, a box of pasta, a bag of rice—and dropping it in the donation bin at the front of the store. These donations support the 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network and the nearly 73,000 people—or one in nine households—experiencing food insecurity in Waterloo region. That extra can or bag could become part of someone’s festive meal—and a reminder that their community cares.

Hosting a food and fund drive is another wonderful way to give back. It can be as simple as asking friends and family to bring a non-perishable item to your next holiday gathering or as creative as offering gift-wrapping services in exchange for donations. Every dollar and every food item collected helps our Network partners support individuals and families facing hunger—and helps raise awareness so more people are inspired to get involved. You can register your food and fund drive at thefoodbank.ca/ffd.

If money is tight but you have time to give, volunteering is a meaningful way to help. Volunteers sort food, pack hampers, deliver orders to our Network partners, and collect donations at community fundraising events. Visit thefoodbank.ca/volunteer to learn more about how you can get involved.

Together, we can ensure that families and individuals in need feel the warmth, joy, and magic of the season—and have access to nourishing meals not just during the holidays, but all year long.

And finally, a gentle reminder: there is no shame in reaching out for help. There is no typical food assistance recipient, and there are many reasons someone might need support. If you or someone you know needs emergency food or more information, please call our Centralized Food Assistance Outreach line at 519-743-5576, extension 340, chat with us online at thefoodbank.ca (just click the chat icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the homepage), or visit thefoodbank.ca/network/map for an up-to-date listing of programs, supports, and services available across Waterloo region.

Kim Wilhelm, CEO, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region