The Ottawa Food Bank is the main emergency food provider in the National Capital Region and has been serving the community since 1984. We work in partnership with a network of almost 100 community food programs that include community food banks, food cupboards, meal programs, multi-service programs, kids’ summer nutrition programs, and after-school snack programs. Our mission is to work in partnership to create a healthier city by empowering people, increasing access to healthy food, and advocating for systemic changes that reduce food insecurity. 

Your donation will provide nutritious food to families and individuals across the city. Your gift will also provide essential baby items, like formula, diapers and baby food, to new parents and their babies.

Because we purchase food items in such large quantities and have amazing food industry partners and donors, we are able to take your dollar and stretch it further, meaning more food delivered to the community.

The Ottawa Food Bank has been providing food to those in need since 1984. We work with 71 agencies, operating 98 food programs to provide food and support for over 580,000 visits to food programs in Ottawa each year. 

Agencies include shelters, community food banks, and meal programs right across the national capital region. The Ottawa Food Bank also provides food to after-school programs and summer day camp lunches as well as providing basic baby supplies, such as diapers and formula to mothers. Sadly, 37% of the people we serve are children.

Low income coupled with fixed expenses like rent and utilities leave little left for good food. The result is skipped meals or buying cheaper, less nutritious foods. The cycle ultimately leads to food insecurity, which leads to difficulty learning or working, poor mental health and increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Healthy food is a top priority for the Ottawa Food Bank. Our goal is to ensure that all food we acquire, purchase and deliver is of the best quality and nutritional value. Our neighbours deserve that.

The Ottawa Food Bank is committed to having a significant portion of the food we distribute be fresh. In fact, 43% of the food we distribute is fresh food. Nutritious foods like milk, fruit and vegetables, eggs, meat and poultry. We even have a farm on donated land near Stittsville. Over 150,000 lbs of fresh fruit and vegetables are grown on our Community Harvest Farm each year. 

Many people don’t realize that the Ottawa Food Bank spends millions of dollars on food purchasing. In 2022, we spent $6 million dollars on food purchases. This number jumped to over $9 million in 2023. 

The Ottawa Food Bank is dedicated to distributing food to our neighbours facing hunger across Ottawa. With less than 2% of funding from government sources, the Ottawa Food Bank is truly by the community and for the community.