Food Recovery program

Our Food Recovery program helps reduce food waste and fight hunger by redirecting good, surplus food from farmers, retailers, restaurants, and others to people in need across Waterloo region.

Donate food

Food loss and waste in Canada

Nearly 60 per cent of food produced in Canada is lost or wasted every year, which amounts to about 35.5 million tonnes of food. Of that, around 11.2 million tonnes could be rescued and redirected to help feed people in need. 

Our impact

It’s concerning that so much edible food is being wasted when it could help people in our community who are struggling with hunger. That’s why reducing food waste is a top priority at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, our Food Recovery program prevented over 2.6 million pounds of food from being thrown away! What’s even more remarkable is that all this recovered food helped feed more than 73,600 people in Waterloo region who rely on food assistance.

Donation Criteria
All donations must include a full ingredient list. We can’t accept moldy or rotten fruits and vegetables, or severely dented or damaged products. Products must have a best before date within a year of the donation date.

We make donating easy!

  • We provide reliable, scheduled pick up and drop off services for local businesses supporting food recovery.
  • With our fleet of refrigerated vehicles, we ensure your donation is transported and stored at the right temperature, maintaining the cold chain every step of the way.
  • Plus, we take care of distribution, making sure your donation reaches the 54 organizations within the Community Food Assistance Network.

Donation Criteria
All donations must include a full ingredient list. We can’t accept moldy or rotten fruits and vegetables, or severely dented or damaged products. Products must have a best before date within a year of the donation date.

Questions?

Give us a call at 519.743.5576 or email Nicole at nicolem@thefoodbank.ca to find out how you can get involved! We’d love to hear from you.

  • Bakery

    All bread and bread product with no visible spoilage or opened packages.

  • Dairy

    All dairy product must be received before the best before date.

  • Frozen

    All frozen fruits, vegetables, meals and desserts with no visible spoilage or opened packages.

  • General Grocery – Shelf Stable Items

    All canned, jarred, bottled, boxed and bagged products with no visible spoilage or opened packages.

  • Grocery & Household Items

    Non-perishable items with minimal damage and interior seals still intact. 

  • Meat & Seafood

    All frozen, bulk, and packaged meat, seafood and deli meat with no visible spoilage or opened packages.

  • Produce

    All fruits and vegetables, bags of produce with minimal mold. Must have a minimum shelf-life of 2-3 days.

The Food Bank adheres to the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA), Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and provincial regulations, making it easy for you to donate to us with confidence.

Saving Fresh. Feeding Community. Information Sheet
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Guidelines for Distribution Past Best Before Date
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Donation Guidelines
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Food Banks Canada Guidelines for Food Shelf Life
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Food Banks Canada Ethical Food Banking Code
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Saving fresh. Feeding community. programs

Fresh Approaches Food Centre

In the Fresh Approaches Food Centre, our volunteers and staff work together to safely repack and freeze large fresh food donations from farmers, restaurants, retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. This helps reduce food waste, maximize donations, and ensure more nutritious food gets to those who need it most.

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Mobile Pantry

The Mobile Pantry brings food directly to neighbourhoods across Waterloo region, making it easier for individuals and families to access fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food from the Community Food Assistance Network. It’s all about meeting people where they are and ensuring everyone has access to the food they need.

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Perishable hamper line

Volunteers keep things moving on an efficient assembly line, packing hampers with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. These hampers go to our partners in the Community Food Assistance Network, ensuring that people accessing food programs receive nutritious options.

Learn more