In early 2024, Food Banks Canada introduced a new National Standards of Excellence program, designed to uphold best practices in areas like client service, safe food handling, financial management and transparency, and to help food banks strengthen their sustainability, resilience, and consistency in care across the country.
Feed Ontario received accreditation under the National Standards of Excellence in April 2024, illustrating our commitment to best practices and delivering impactful programs to food banks and communities across the province.
Over the next year, the food banks in our network who have not already received their accreditation under the standards will also be working toward this achievement as a part of the wider Food Banks Canada network. As a provincial leader, we’re providing support to our network as they undertake this process, building on the success of our own accreditation.
Creating ARC
Pelham Cares Food Bank with their National Standards of Excellence accreditation certificate.
To support our members’ success in becoming accredited, we created the “Accreditation Readiness Circuit” (ARC) training program – a space for peer learning and to offer practical tools that help food banks work toward their accreditation.
The program runs for 8 weeks, and each study cohort takes part in an extensive program designed to cover each section of the National Standards of Excellence. Topics covered include governance and administration, financial, legal, and management standards, client service, public engagement and fundraising, and food operations.
After completing the program, one member food bank told us:
“The lessons were incredibly insightful and provided me with the tools and knowledge I needed to help my food bank achieve the Standards of Excellence accreditation. The Feed Ontario Team’s approach was clear, supportive, and tailored to the unique challenges of running a food bank. They taught me not only about the specific steps needed for accreditation but also about best practices in general food bank management. I learned how to streamline operations, improve communication, and ensure we meet the needs of those we serve, all while adhering to high standards of accountability and efficiency.
The training has been invaluable in building my confidence and understanding of the broader scope of food bank operations. Thanks to their expertise, my food bank is now on track to meet the accreditation standards, and I feel much more equipped to lead our team toward continued success. I’m extremely grateful for Feed Ontario’s guidance and look forward to applying everything I’ve learned to make a lasting impact on our community.”
Feed Ontario has also begun offering ARC sessions “on demand” to allow our network to access the resources of the program on a flexible schedule, so they can more easily work towards accreditation while continuing to provide access to food and support to their communities.
Leading the way
Ryan Daw of Salvation Army Fort Frances with their Food Banks Canada National Standards of Excellence trophy.
So far, ARC has helped 24 food banks achieve their accreditation under the National Standards of Excellence, by offering a space where food banks share resources and support one another through the process. Across Canada, Ontario is leading the way in accreditation rates, with our network having the most accredited food banks of any province so far.
With this success, ARC is also serving as a model for other provincial food bank networks to begin developing their own training program to help their network achieve accreditation.
We’re proud to support food banks in our network as they work toward their accreditation, and ARC has been instrumental to the process of meeting the National Standards of Excellence for Ontario food banks.
Want to learn more about how we support our network? Read our 2024-25 Impact Report to find out how we’re keeping food bank shelves stocked and building resilience for our members.