Why Give Back?
Life with kids is definitely a blessing...
It can open your eyes to what's really important and perhaps, inspire you to "share the wealth" with others and make your local community a better place for all.
If you have either the time and/or the means to give back to the local community, this page will help you and your family give as much as you can.
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region obtains and distributes approximately 3 million pounds of emergency food each year. From the beginning the Food Bank has been a community based organization striving to build effective partnerships within Waterloo Region. The Food Bank works collaboratively with 65 member agencies and community food programs to help provide food for the less fortunate.
The Food Bank was initiated in 1982 when the recession began to take its toll on our community. Local non-profit organizations such as the House of Friendship, Salvation Army, Anselma House and St. John's Soup Kitchen were faced with unprecedented requests for food.
After several community meetings these non-profit groups decided to work on forming a "Food Bank". They thought a system could be initiated to access the vast amounts of food discarded by the food industry every day. Perfectly good food was being discarded due to overproduction, mislabeling, damaged packaging or approaching expiry dates. These groups believed that if the food could be picked up, it could be passed on to the relief agencies, which would in turn distribute the food to the people who needed it.
The community response to this initiative was encouraging. Many local food suppliers were willing to see their products go to a worthy cause rather than be wasted. The non-profit groups were able to spend less time and resources searching for food donations and were able to focus their energy on program delivery and prevention. And community volunteers came forward in abundance.
Shortly thereafter, in 1984, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region was founded as a non-profit, registered charitable organization.
Here is a list of items most needed by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, with the top 5 currently in the greatest demand:
1. Peanut Butter
2. Canned Stews
3. Canned Meat and Fish
4. Beans in Sauce
5. Canned Pasta
6. Canned Fruit
7. Hot Cereal
8. Rice
9. Macaroni and Cheese
10. Dry Soup
For upcoming events in Waterloo Region, please go to the Food Bank website.
Clothing Donations
Please remember those less fortunate and consider donating your gently-used clothing (esp. winter wear!) to one of the following organizations.
Guelph & Area
|
The Drop-In Centre Guelph Food Bank Guelph YMCA Teenage Parents Program (TAPPS) Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis - Marianne's Place East Wellington Community Services
|
Michael House Pregnancy Care Centre Royal City Christian Life Centre St. Vincent de Paul Store Canadian Diabetes Association |
Cambridge
|
|
|
Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region - Haven House (Cambridge) |
Goodwill Industries Canadian Diabetes Association
|
Kitchener-Waterloo |
|
|
The Foodbank of Waterloo Region Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region - Anselma House (Kitchener) |
House of Friendship Marillac Place |
|
|
Visit the 
Looking for a Gift Idea?
Can't think of a gift for the person who has everything? Wanting to honour the birth of a child in a special way? Consider making a donation to a charity in their name.
If you don't know the favourite cause of the recipient, Charity Gift Cards allow them to choose for themselves.
More Information
The Canada Revenue Agency has launched a section on its website called Giving to Charity: Information for donors, which offers information on:
- finding and researching registered charities
- the regulation of charities
- donation receipts and tax savings
- protecting yourself against fraudulent fundraising
