Registration allows us to know what is happening in the community and when. It give us an indication of the amount of food that will be coming in from the community so we can shift resources as necessary. It lets us support your Food & Fund Drive with information, promotions and other resources to ensure your work translates directly into the greatest amount of assistance for our community. Finally it allows us to acknowledge the work of individuals and organizations like yours, making a difference in our community, and inspire others to do what they can to help.

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region accepts any non-perishable food items. The following is an up-to-date list of our Most Needed Items:

• Individually packaged snacks (granola bars, apple sauce, pudding cups)
• Dry beans
• Juice boxes
• Canned fruit
• Canned meat and fish
• Rice

Donations can be dropped off to the customer service door at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (50 Alpine Court, Kitchener), or at designated food bank bins located in many grocery stores across Waterloo region.

Yes. Financial donations can be made online, mailed or dropped off at our on-site mailbox at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (50 Alpine Court, Kitchener). For credit card donations, please complete the online form or call 519.743.5576.

$1 = 2 meals. Your gift of $20 will feed a family for four days.

The food and funds you donate to The Food Bank allow us to fill gaps in our inventory, buy food to meet diverse dietary and cultural needs, keep our delivery vehicles on the road and support the Community Food Assistance Network, a system of 120+ community programs and agency partners throughout Waterloo region providing access to food and other vital supports. These community programs and agency partners include the House of Friendship, Woolwich Community Services, Cambridge Food Bank, The Working Centre – St. John’s Kitchen, and more.

Financial donations can be made online, mailed or dropped off at our on-site mailbox at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (50 Alpine Court, Kitchener). For credit card donations, please complete the online form or call 519.743.5576.

Non-perishable food donations can donated at the customer service (yellow) door at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (50 Alpine Court, Kitchener) between 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. or drop them in the designated food bank collection bins located in many grocery stores throughout Waterloo region.

Yes. Financial donations of any denomination are eligible for a tax receipt. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, and phone number with any donation so a tax receipt can be issued to you.

Note: Raising funds online, using a custom donation page, allows for tax receipts to be issued quickly and easily. If you plan to raise funds and require tax receipts, please complete, and submit a donation tracking sheet.

Non-perishable food donations are not eligible for tax receipts unless they accompany a grocery store receipt. For more information please call The Food Bank at 519.743.5576.

Tax receipts are issued in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. For more information refer click here.

Both food and funds are important to The Food Bank.

Due to strong partnerships with food industry partners, we are able to stretch the impact of financial donations. For every $1 donated, we can provide two meals. Financial donations also allow us the flexibility to fill gaps in inventory, keep our coolers and freezers operating and purchase fuel for our vehicles to ensure the continued delivery of essential services throughout the Community Food Assistance Network.

Food donations help fill gaps in our inventory – when donations are low – and provide variety in the type of food acquired, coordinated, and distributed to the 120+ community programs and agency partners we work with.

If you are planning to collect food as part of your Food & Fund Drive, visit: thefoodbank.ca/mostneeded for an up-to-date list of our Most Needed Items.

Whether you are raising food, funds, or both during your Food & Fund Drive, we encourage you to set a meal goal! This shows the direct impact of your efforts. Remember $1 = 2 meals and 1.28 pounds = 1 meal!

There is a consistent need for emergency food assistance in Waterloo region. That means it is always a good time to host a Food & Fund Drive.

Send an email, do a funny video, share on social media or if you are able, post signage at your workplace. Make sure to let everyone know the details: who, what, where, when, and how to support your initiative. Tag us @FoodBankWatReg or email us the photos at info@foodbank.ca so we can share as well!

If you can, we always appreciate donations being dropped off at The Food Bank distribution warehouse at 50 Alpine Court., Kitchener; however, we know that may not always be possible. If you require a pick-up, please email us in advance to arrange prior to the completion of your event.

Congratulations! And thank you!

Once you have made your donation, we will calculate the total number of meals and share it with you! We encourage you to share this number with everyone who participated and celebrate your impact!

Now that your Food & Fund Drive is complete, it’s a great time to start planning for next time.