Great Food Sort Challenge raises 168,570 meals for people in need

Allianz Global Assistance in Kitchener took home the coveted Most Meals Raised title (food and funds raised), raising 18,260 meals at the 2026 Great Food Sort Challenge.

Waterloo Region, Ont., January 30, 2026 – At a time when food banks are seeing sustained demand well beyond the holidays, Great Food Sort Challenge continues to play a critical role in ensuring food reaches people quickly and efficiently.

This year’s Great Food Sort Challenge, presented by BMO Financial Group Fischer-Hallman & Bleams Branch and hosted by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, delivered a knockout blow to hunger—raising an incredible 168,570 meals for people struggling to put food on the table in Waterloo region!

The 10th annual event took place January 22, 23, and 26 at The Food Bank’s distribution centre in Kitchener, bringing together 30 teams of ultimate hunger fighters for some friendly competition to sort the most food and raise the most meals in support of The Food Bank.

While the event is known for its energy and teamwork, its impact extends far beyond the warehouse walls. The food sorted during the Challenge goes directly into the community, helping ensure timely access to food at a time when demand remains high and household budgets are under pressure.

Over the three days, 300 people stepped into the ring to sort through 71,223 pounds of non-perishable food. Together, the teams—representing 27 local businesses—raised $54,608.80. Since 2014, the event has helped raise 1,112,898 meals for people in need in Waterloo region.

2026 champions

• Most Food Sorted: McIntyre Group, as first-time ultimate hunger fighters, brought the power and speed needed to sort the most food (3,086 pounds) and win the Rookie Award.
• Most Stylish Food Sorters: MTE Consultants suited up in style, wearing matching grey racing suits.
• Most Spirited Food Sorters: Unifor Local 1106 displayed their enthusiasm with creative chants and cheers that echoed across the sorting room.
• Most Meals Raised (food sorted and funds raised): Allianz delivered a knockout performance against hunger, raising an impressive 18,260 meals.

“We’re thrilled by the incredible energy and generosity everyone brought to this year’s event,” says Kim Wilhelm, CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “Great Food Sort Challenge is a vital part of how food moves through our system. By sorting donations quickly and accurately, teams help ensure food gets to community agencies faster—when people need it most. Not only does the Challenge helps us manage the holiday surge of donations, it also directly puts food on the tables of people in our community.”

Sorting food is a critical step in the food assistance system. Without this work, donated food cannot be distributed efficiently to community organizations—creating delays at a time when families are already facing difficult choices.

The food sorted during the event will now be distributed to 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network, supporting the nearly 73,000 people—or one in nine households—accessing food assistance in Waterloo region.

This year’s event was made possible thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of sponsors BMO Financial Group Fischer-Hallman & Bleams Branch, Clean & Tidy, Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, Blendtek, Challenger, CJ Brubacher, Henry Walser Funeral Home, Steed and Evans, and Travers Law.

For more information about Great Food Sort Challenge, visit thefoodbank.ca/gfsc.

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-one 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 9.6 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food to 61 organizations within the Community Food Assistance Network.

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Media contact

Michelle Rickard
Manager, Marketing and Communications
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
micheller@thefoodbank.ca