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www.feedontario.ca

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS
(Now operating as Feed Ontario)

Feed Ontario Impact Report 2017-18

Because of you, this year we...

Delivered over
Million
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pounds of nutritious food to food banks across Ontario

Helped
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people across Ontario put food on the table

Supported
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organizations fighting hunger in their communities

Welcomed
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new donors to the fight against hunger

Invested
$
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into innovative local programs and capacity-building

Generated
Million
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impressions with our Hunger Report

Thank you for feeding change with us

"Last year the Ontario Association of Food Banks marked 25 years of feeding change in Ontario. While we've evolved to meet the changing needs of our food banks and the people we serve, our vision of a hunger-free Ontario remains."

What do we do?

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Provide Food Across Ontario

We distribute millions of meals every year through our FeedON network to nearly half a million people in need in Ontario.

Create Local Opportunities

We provide food banks with food, resources, and solutions to address both short and long-term food insecurity.

Conduct Province-Wide Research

We conduct research and analysis on food bank use, trends and the inter-connected challenges of poverty and hunger.

Connect Communities

We connect local food banks. Working together, we can feed more Ontarians, more effectively.

Raymond has a number of food allergies, so he can’t eat many of the cheaper, heavily-processed foods available in grocery stores. That’s where the food bank has made a huge difference.

"Receiving milk and fresh vegetables [from the food bank] allows me to buy more fresh vegetables...some of them are expensive but they make such a difference in what you’re cooking, so they’re worthwhile to me to buy them. That way I can afford to, I’m not going without."

RAYMOND, THE MISSISSAUGA FOOD BANK

You’re feeding change through nutrition

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Your support provides people in need with nutritious food. In 2017-18, you helped us increase the amount of fresh and frozen food to over 63% of the total amount of food distributed! This included fresh meat, eggs, dairy, fruit, and vegetables and equates to millions of healthy meals! By improving access to healthy food, we are helping to prevent disease and give people the energy and vitality they need to not only survive, but succeed.

You're providing more fresh food

  • This year

    0%

  • Last year

    0%

You're delivering millions of healthy meals

A multicolored donut chart with eight segments in purple, green, red, yellow, blue, and orange.
Circular icons and percentage breakdowns: Produce (14%), Protein (11%), Pantry (30%), Prepared (7%), Dairy (38%), and Household Items (2%).

You’re making Ontario stronger

Protein is essential for a healthy diet, and that is why it is consistently one of the most-requested items by our food banks. Thanks to the support of our Fresh Food Program partners, we're able to provide a variety of healthy sources of protein that food banks might not otherwise be able to access.

Learn more about their incredible work and support below!

Image of a chicken

servings of chicken

THANK YOU

CFO Cares logo with a red and orange flourish design above 'CFO' in orange and 'cares' in red text.
An image of a milk jug and a glass of milk

servings of milk

THANK YOU

Dairy Farmers of Ontario logo
Ontario Dairy Council Logo
ontario milk transport association logo
Image of a carton of eggs

servings of eggs

THANK YOU

Egg Farmers of Ontario logo

Burnbrae Farms and Gray Ridge Eggs

Image of a pig

servings of pork

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

Logo of Ontario Pork featuring a stylized pig's head in gold profile on a blue circle, with the words "ONTARIO PORK" below in black text.
Image of a cow

servings of beef

THANK YOU

Beef Farmers Logo
Image of a turkey

servings of turkey

THANK YOU

Ontario Turkey logo
Three people stand in front of Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Ontario Food Banks banners at an event, with a cow displayed on the left.

Thank you to the Dairy Farmers of Ontario for a generous donation of $150,000 in celebration of Canada 150!

In addition to their contributions through the Ontario Milk Program, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario are donating $150,000 over five years to the Ontario Association of Food Banks for the purchase of milk and dairy products for Ontario families in need. Dairy Farmers of Ontario has partnered with Gay Lea Foods, who will provide products at-cost over the next five years, to maximize this generous gift.

“I appreciate being a farmer and the fact that I feed people. As such I am pleased to be able to donate and give back to the community to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy the chickens I produce.”

MURRAY OPSTEEN, CHICKEN FARMER AND CHAIR OF CFO CARES WORKING GROUP

You’re feeding change across Ontario

Your support connects 130 communities in every corner of the province. This year, through the Ontario Association of Food Banks' FeedON program, we were able to distribute over 5 million pounds of food across Ontario into the hands of those who need it most. That's the equivalent of 4.5 million meals! This was only possible because of you.

Here’s how the FeedON network connects communities:

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DONATE

Food (including much-needed milk, eggs and meat) is donated by agricultural partners, farmers, and the food industry.

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COORDINATE

Food offers are sent out to OAFB members via SNAP (Smarter Needs Allocation Program). Food banks then make requests for the amount they need.

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TRANSPORT

With the help of the OAFB's transportation partners, donated food is transported to food banks in every corner of the province.

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RECEIVE

OAFB member food banks in 130 communities across Ontario receive the donated food and send it to where it's needed.

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SHARE

Dedicated staff and volunteers at over 1,200 hunger-relief organizations across Ontario share the food with people in need.

"We feel we make a difference in helping food to get to families that are in need through our partnership with the Ontario Association of Food Banks. We also like to do what we can to ensure less and less food makes it to a landfill. So with this partnership we feel we strive our best at doing this."

PHIL, ERB GROUP

You’re feeding change on a local level

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Your support helps to provide local programs that meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve. These programs provide communities with resources and support to address their unique challenges and provide fresh food to the different people they serve.

This year alone, we provided $195,000 in support to local food banks and programs to improve access to fresh, healthy food.

Feeding Fresh! Sysco Gardening Program

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Helps grow community, skills, and access to fresh food by supporting the creation and expansion of community gardens

Food Banks Helped: 11

People Impacted: 16,000

Total Amount Provided:: $50,000

 

Sysco logo

Capacity Building Program

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Improves food banks' ability to store and distribute fresh, healthy food with capital improvements to fridges, freezers and forklifts

Food Banks Helped: 12

People Impacted: 58,000

Total Amount Provided:: $45,000

Rural Kids Program

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Increases access to healthy food for children in rural areas by providing support to snack programs, breakfast clubs, and cooking classes

Food Banks Helped: 18

Children Impacted: 12,000

Total Amount Provided:: $100,000

Listen to excerpts from a radio interview with Marilynne from the Minden Food Bank about the impact their Rural Kids funding made (3.5 min):

“I learned knife safety and little, healthy meals I can cook at home instead of packaged food. After this I was able to cook by myself and make meals.”

KATY, GRADE 8

You’re feeding hearts and minds

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Food insecurity is a complex issue and we can all play a role in addressing the root causes. Your support helps change the conversation on hunger in Ontario. Through participation in Hunger Action Month, the conducting of province-wide research on food bank use and poverty in the province, and our annual food bank conference, you’re helping us build long-term solutions to hunger and poverty.

Two people scanning a box in a warehouse environment, with others working in the background. One is holding a scanner, and the other is assisting.

HUNGER ACTION MONTH

September 2017 was our second annual Hunger Action Month, where we encourage Ontarians to take action on hunger and poverty in their communities by educating, advocating, volunteering and donating.

  • Educate: Our infographics on key hunger issues were shared thousands of times on social media, resulting in 131,000 impressions
  • Advocate: Our postcard campaign engaged food bank clients in contacting their MPPs about why affordable housing matters to them
  • Volunteer: Food banks held 19 food sorts with their local elected officials and 24 events to engage the public in their work
  • Donate: Thank you to Cargill, the Toronto Star, and Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) for supporting this campaign!

HUNGER REPORT

The 2017 Hunger Report highlighted the high number of children and single-person households using food banks and focused on the need for more affordable housing options in Ontario.

  • Making History: This was our first report to evaluate a full year of data on food bank use across the province, allowing us to identify new trends across time and demographics
  • Housing Unaffordability: Our analysis revealed that safe, affordable housing was out of reach for most of the people our food banks serve
  • Creating Dialogue: Hunger Report generated 26 million impressions and sparked conversations on hunger and housing at Queen's Park
Infographic showing food bank use by Ontario seniors: 10.4% for food bank seniors, 3.8% for general Ontario seniors. Text reads "#HUNGERREPORT".
A group of people in a conference room, standing and raising their arms, appearing to participate in an interactive activity.

CONFERENCE

During this conference, we took the opportunity to recognize the passion and hard work of food bank staff, volunteers and donors over the last 25 years. Hundreds of food bankers gathered in Toronto to build relationships, share knowledge, and renew their dedication to fighting hunger in their communities.

  • Guest Speakers: Mayor John Tory, Senator Art Eggleton, Maple Leaf Center for Action on Food Security leader Sarah Stern, Fibernetic co-founder John Stix
  • Topics Included: Aquaponics and growing your own food, client counselling and referrals, communications and data visualization, engaging elected representatives, innovation and efficiency

“I wanted to donate to an organization that would direct funds where it was most needed in Ontario, and to support and address capacity building and food sustainability throughout the province. The Ontario Association of Food Banks does that.”

FRANKIE, MONTHLY DONOR

How we’re feeding the future

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In 2018-19 we begin a new, three-year strategic plan to ensure your support feeds lasting change in Ontario. We’ve set ambitious nutrition targets, are focusing on building up food bank capacity, and will increase research and education to create long-term solutions to hunger.

We hope you’ll join us again on this journey, because together, we can end hunger.

Tomato plants with ripe and unripe tomatoes growing on stakes in a garden, surrounded by blooming orange flowers.

Providing 77% Fresh Food

We believe everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food. Because of your support, we can make that happen.

Based on the Canada Food Guide’s recommendations, we’ve set nutrition growth targets to provide our food banks and clients with more healthy food.

Over the next three years, we aim to grow the amount of fresh and frozen food we distribute by 14%, with a special focus on increasing the amount of produce we provide.

Industrial storage room with crates and pallets on shelves and stacked on the floor, filled with various goods including boxes and containers.

Building Up Our Food Banks

We are putting a renewed focus on building up our food banks' capacity to affect change in their communities. Our plans include:

• Evaluating our members' capacity to set a baseline for future growth

• Creating an emergency preparedness plan for the province so food banks are ready to respond to disasters

• Setting standards of care to ensure everyone who walks through the door of one of our food banks is given a high level of service

Two children smiling and holding up fruits, surrounded by various fruits and vegetables on a kitchen counter.

Better Understanding Hunger

By looking more closely at the trends leading people to seek support from food banks, we can better understand the root causes of hunger and work to build lasting food security solutions.

Building on the success of our annual Hunger Report, we will be releasing quarterly research updates based on the real-time, province-wide data on food bank use we gather, to feed change in hearts and minds in Ontario.

"We are honoured to be able to partner with OAFB again and help by donating over 150,000 meals this year. The Sub of the Day program continues to grow and with its success, it is reassuring to know that we are also able to help in these efforts to provide meals so that no one goes hungry. I have personally attended an OAFB facility and seen the great work that is done there and the continued work that we will do in the future with OAFB."

GAURAV NIJHAWAN, SUBWAY RESTAURANTS OF CANADA

We’re making your dollar go further

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Thank you to all the incredible people and organizations who give their time, money, products and services to the Ontario Association of Food Banks. You make feeding the change possible!

For every dollar donated
¢
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is spent on programs & services, including food transportation, grants, training, and support

The equivalent of
Meals
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is provided to people in need

Revenue

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Infographic showing a list with hearts next to entries, labeled: Donations, Grants, Gift-In-Kind, Food Drives, Food Programs, Membership Dues, National Programs, Conference, Interest.

Expenses

A donut chart shows a large yellow section, a small red segment, and an even smaller green portion. The yellow section dominates most of the chart.
Flowchart with three categories: Support Services (green), Member Services (red), and Food & Distribution (yellow). Each has a heart icon.

We steward every dollar we receive, ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of programs and services to our network.

Our partners in feeding change

Meet our network

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Our networked is fuelled by many extraordinary professionals and volunteers that are comittted to a healtheir future for all Ontarians. Each day, these passionate individuals deliver innovative solutions to address hunger in their communities.

STAFF

Carolyn Stewart
Executive Director

Ashley Quan
Manager, Marketing and Events

Adelaide Wimpenny
Coordinator, Member Relations and Programs

Amanda King
Director, Communications and Research

Rachel Dixon
Manager, Corporate and Foundation Partnerships

Claire Ward-Beveridge
Coordinator, Office and Programs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marta M. Haley – Chair
Independent

Michael Maidment – Vice-Chair
Executive Director, The Ottawa Food Bank

Jyoti Saggar – Treasurer
Independent

Susan Stauth – Secretary
Retired, Regional Vice-President, Greater Toronto Region, RBC

Sheetal Jaitly
Founder & CEO – TribalScale

Heather Vanner
Executive Director, Community Resource Service

Volker Kromm
Executive Director, Regional Food Distribution Association

Geoffrey Lougheed
Vice-President, Operations – Lougheed’s Limited

Rob O’Neil
Food Security Services Manager, Food 4 All Northumberland

June Muir
President & CEO, Unemployed Help Centre/WEFBA

Wesley Isaacs
Partner – Torkin Manes LLP

David Iacobelli
Vice-President, Sales – The Clorox Company of Canada

Nitin Jaitly
Head of Project Management Office – CIBC

Peter Gould
Advisor, Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Laura Wright
Senior Marketing Manager, Royal Bank of Canada

Thank you for joining with us to feed Ontario and help build a healthier province!

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