Board member spotlight: Mike Verhoeve

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region—from supporting day-to-day operations to lending a hand at community events. But their impact doesn’t stop there. Volunteers also help lead the organization at the highest level, serving on The Food Bank’s Board of Directors.  

One of those dedicated volunteers is Mike Verhoeve, who joined the Board in November 2023. 

“Our family has long been supporters of The Food Bank and believers in the impact it has in the community,” Mike says. “When I found myself in a position where I could take on a more active role in giving back to the community, The Food Bank was one of my primary interests and I was fortunate that I was a fit for a vacancy on the Board of Directors.” 

The Food Bank’s volunteer Board of Directors plays a critical role in guiding the organization’s mission and impact. Meeting throughout the year, Board members provide strategic oversight, governance, and financial stewardship, ensuring The Food Bank remains accountable and effective in its work to address food insecurity. Mike currently serves as a director. 

“Each member of the Board has some level of experience or background in one or more areas that are relevant to decisions and considerations that The Food Bank faces on a regular basis,” Mike explains. “That experience and background becomes very valuable to the Board as it looks to provide guidance and oversight to the CEO and senior management team of The Food Bank.” 

With three decades of experience as a corporate lawyer, Mike brings a strong legal and governance perspective to the Board’s work. 

“I am hopeful that my 30 years of experience as a corporate lawyer and member of the management teams at several local companies has made a valuable contribution to some of the more complex issues The Food Bank and its Board have been addressing over the past few years,” he says. 

Mike Verhoeve.

Since joining the Board, Mike has gained a deeper understanding of the scale and complexity of The Food Bank’s operations. Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, The Food Bank distributed a record-breaking 9.6 million pounds of food to the 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. 

“The Food Bank is a large organization—much bigger than many people realize,” he says. “It handles huge volumes of food and supports dozens of programs, and it’s seen demand for its services grow consistently year over year. Because of this, it deals with a lot of complex issues, just like any business of its size would—warehousing, distribution, logistics, staffing, fundraising, capital investments, insurance, government relations—just to name a few.” 

While Mike is grateful to serve his community in this way, he’s also mindful of the growing need. 

“It’s a bit of a paradox,” he shares. “You get a real sense of accomplishment knowing you are part of a team tasked with addressing such a big and growing issue, but you sure wish you could do more to try to make it a smaller and declining issue.” 

Despite the challenges, Mike remains encouraged by the community’s response. 

“The level of support that The Food Bank receives from both individual and corporate donors makes me proud of the community and its commitment to take care of its own,” he says. “The Food Bank has an excellent team, and has tremendous community support. This combination provides a strong foundation to continue evolving how community food insecurity is addressed.” 

For Mike, serving on the Board is deeply meaningful. 

He says, “It has been an honour and a privilege to have visibility to the breadth of the need and impact of The Food Bank in the community and to be part of the group of generous and considerate individuals who volunteer their own time and knowledge to help make sure The Food Bank can execute on its mission.” 

If Mike’s story inspires you, there are many ways to get involved. Visit our Volunteer page to explore opportunities and discover how you can make a difference for people facing hunger in Waterloo region.