From donor to destination: How Kyle Strong helps keep food moving across Waterloo region

At The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, our staff work tirelessly behind the scenes every day, securing and processing donations, organizing fundraising events and campaigns, sorting and storing food, and delivering orders to the 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. They also support our volunteers and collaborate with Network partners, all with one clear goal: ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.

One of our dedicated team members is Kyle Strong, who joined The Food Bank in 2019. As manager of transportation and logistics, Kyle oversees all transportation activities across the organization. He coordinates schedules for seven staff drivers and 60 transportation volunteers, works directly with donors to arrange food pick-ups, and plans deliveries to Network partners throughout Waterloo region.

“A key part of my role is optimizing routes to ensure pick-ups and deliveries are completed on time while maximizing efficiency and making the best use of our resources,” Kyle explains. “In addition, I manage the maintenance and compliance of our fleet of 10 trucks and two trailers, ensuring all vehicles receive regular servicing and mandatory safety inspections to meet and exceed Ministry of Transportation regulations and operate safely.”

Kyle Strong in The Food Bank’s distribution centre.

Moving more food than ever before

One of the biggest challenges Kyle faces is managing transportation operations in a facility that has seen demand grow dramatically over the years.

In 2000, when The Food Bank first moved to our current location at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener, we distributed 2.8 million pounds of food to 40 food programs, helping 26,000 people in need. Now, 26 years later, that same space is busier than ever. From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, The Food Bank distributed 9.6 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food, more than three times the amount distributed when we first moved in, to more than 120 food assistance programs in the Network, supporting nearly 73,000 people.

“With 10 trucks, seven drivers, multiple volunteer teams, and only three loading docks, it can be a significant challenge to keep trucks loaded and unloaded efficiently while minimizing downtime,” Kyle says. “It requires the entire team to work together to get trucks in and out of the doors as quickly as possible and keep operations running smoothly.”

While there is rarely a quiet period in transportation and logistics, the holiday season brings an added level of intensity.

“There really isn’t a slow period, as every day involves a full schedule of pick-ups and deliveries,” Kyle explains. “Things become exponentially busier between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, as there are many community events, food drives, and fundraisers that require transportation support. Whether it’s a truck participating in the KW Santa Claus Parade, supplies being delivered and donations collected at Oktoberfest festivities, or food collected from a school food drive, transportation is essential. This is all in addition to our ongoing delivery commitments to our agency partners, whose needs also increase during this time of year.”

Despite the growing demands placed on the transportation team, Kyle remains focused on the reason behind the work.

“Knowing that, at the end of the day, we are making a positive impact on our community makes all the challenges worth it,” he shares.

Kyle Strong with The Food Bank’s staff drivers.

Celebrating our transportation team

September 6 to 12 was National Trucking Week in Canada, a time to recognize the vital role professional drivers play in keeping communities connected and essential goods moving. For Kyle, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the work of The Food Bank’s transportation team.

“Our drivers and transportation volunteers play a vital role in The Food Bank’s mission,” Kyle says. “They are the link between food donors, our warehouse, and our Network partners, ensuring that food reaches the people who need it most. Every pick-up and delivery they complete helps reduce food waste and provide essential support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across the region. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to safety allow us to serve our community reliably every day. Quite simply, without their efforts, much of the food we distribute would never make it to the tables of our neighbours in need.”

We extend our sincere thanks to Kyle, our drivers, and our transportation volunteers for the essential role they play in moving food from donors to our warehouse, from our warehouse to Network partners, and ultimately to the tables of neighbours across Waterloo region.

Like Kyle and his team, you can help ensure food reaches those who need it most. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more about supporting The Food Bank and our neighbours in need.