Because of you, this year we...
pounds of nutritious food to food banks across Ontario
people across Ontario put food on the table
organizations fighting hunger in their communities
new donors to the fight against hunger
into innovative local programs and capacity-building
impressions with our Hunger Report
What do we do?
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.
You’re feeding change through nutrition
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
You're delivering millions of healthy meals
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!
servings of chicken
THANK YOU
servings of milk
THANK YOU
servings of pork
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
servings of beef
THANK YOU
servings of turkey
THANK YOU
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.
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:
Food (including much-needed milk, eggs and meat) is donated by agricultural partners, farmers, and the food industry.
Food offers are sent out to OAFB members via SNAP (Smarter Needs Allocation Program). Food banks then make requests for the amount they need.
With the help of the OAFB's transportation partners, donated food is transported to food banks in every corner of the province.
OAFB member food banks in 130 communities across Ontario receive the donated food and send it to where it's needed.
Dedicated staff and volunteers at over 1,200 hunger-relief organizations across Ontario share the food with people in need.
You’re feeding change on a local level
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
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
Capacity Building Program
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
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):
You’re feeding hearts and minds
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.
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
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
How we’re feeding the future
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.
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.
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
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’re making your dollar go further
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!
is spent on programs & services, including food transportation, grants, training, and support
is provided to people in need
Revenue
Expenses
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
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