Canada’s food bank network is committed to continuous evolution and improvement, and if you need proof, look no further than this: 100 food banks and organizations across Canada have now been officially accredited in Food Banks Canada’s Standards of Excellence!
These standards are a strong baseline to which the national food bank network holds itself accountable in:
- governance and administration
- people management
- financial and legal matters
- client service and care
- public engagement and fundraising
- food operations
- food safety
Accreditation helps the network advance its capabilities, solidify best practices, and grow more agile and resilient in the face of today’s challenges. It also demonstrates to clients, volunteers, staff, donors, supporters, and the public that food banks are committed to becoming the best-run organizations they can be.
Although the Standards of Excellence tend to make operations smoother and more efficient in the long run, the accreditation process can represent a lot of work for organizations that often have plenty to do already. Food Banks Canada doesn’t expect them to take this journey without extra resources. We provide manuals, training videos, consultations, answers to questions, funds and anything else they might need along the way. Last fiscal year alone, we awarded $3.75 million in financial support through our Standards of Excellence grants. We also welcome food banks to support one another by exchanging experiences, tips, learnings and encouragement. Here’s what some of them have recently shared:
Hajira Hussain, executive director of the Richmond Food Bank Society in British Columbia initially felt daunted by the idea of pursuing Standards of Excellence accreditation. She thought she would hate the process, but now says, “Don’t let fear stand in the way of your journey. It has transformed our food bank for the better. Everyone is happier.” For Hussain, another unexpected gain was the expertise that now makes her a valuable resource to other nonprofit leaders.
Susan Pascoe, executive director of Clarington East Food Bank in Newcastle, Ontario, has seen extra donations, easier decision-making and enhanced community trust arising from her organization’s accreditation. “[The Standards of Excellence] make food banks more transparent, and that’s healthy,” she says. “It’s good for our neighbours, because they’re vulnerable when they walk in. Trust is something that they often lack in their lives.”
All the accredited organizations are setting a new benchmark for safety, dignity and operational excellence in food banking. And this is just the beginning: together, we’re building a stronger food banking system with a greater collective ability to relieve and prevent hunger. Congratulations to the first 100+ organizations leading the way!
| Airdrie Food Bank |
| Ashcroft and Area Food Bank |
| Banque Alimentaire Coup d’Pouce |
| Banques alimentaires du Québec |
| Barrhead & District Foodbank |
| Barrie Food Bank |
| Barriere & District Food Bank Society |
| Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre |
| Berwick Food Bank |
| Burin Area Food Pantry |
| Cambridge Food Bank |
| Campbell River and District Food Bank |
| Centre Communautaire Pro-Santé |
| Centre de Bénévolat de la Vallée-de-l’Or |
| Chatham Outreach for Hunger |
| Clarington East Food Bank |
| Cochrane Food Bank |
| Colchester Community Support Society |
| Cortes Island Food Bank |
| Daily Bread Food Bank |
| East Wellington Community Services |
| Edson Food Bank Society |
| Evergreen Basic Needs |
| Feed Nourrir NB |
| Feed Nova Scotia |
| Feed Ontario |
| Food Banks Alberta |
| Food Banks British Columbia |
| Food Banks Mississauga |
| Food Banks of Saskatchewan |
| Fredericton Community Kitchens |
| Gander & Area Food Bank |
| Guysborough And Area Food Bank Society |
| Hagersville Food Bank |
| Harvest House Atlantic |
| Helping Hand Food Bank – Tillsonburg |
| Helping Hands Family Aid |
| Hope Community Services |
| Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre |
| Just Friends Food Bank |
| Kamloops Food Bank Society |
| Kawartha Lakes Food Source |
| Lakeland Resource Center |
| Loaves & Fishes Resource Centre |
| Marine Communities Food Bank Society |
| Mattawa & Area Food Bank |
| Moisson Beauce |
| Moisson Estrie |
| Moisson Lanaudière |
| Moisson Montréal |
| Moisson Outaouais |
| Moisson Rive-Sud |
| Moosomin Food Share |
| North Sydney Community Food Bank |
| North York Harvest Food Bank |
| Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank |
| Pelham Cares |
| Pender Island Food Bank |
| People For A Healthy Community on Gabriola Society |
| Petawawa Pantry |
| Pictou County Foodbank East |
| Powell River Action Centre Society |
| Regina Food Bank |
| Regional Food Distribution Association |
| Richmond Food Bank Society |
| Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub |
| Sackville and District Assistance Centre |
| Saint John North Food Bank |
| Salvation Army – Carbonear |
| Salvation Army – Dunnville |
| Salvation Army – Listowel |
| Salvation Army – Mount Arrowsmith / Parksville |
| Salvation Army – Owen Sound |
| Salvation Army – Prince George |
| Salvation Army – Prince Rupert |
| Salvation Army – St. John’s Food Bank |
| Salvation Army – Wetaskiwin |
| Salvation Army – Weyburn |
| Salvation Army – Williams Lake |
| Salvation Army Community and Family Services – Grand Falls-Windsor |
| Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre |
| Seven Hills Community Pantry |
| Slocan Valley Food Cupboard |
| SOS Dépannage / Moisson Granby |
| Strathcona Food Bank |
| Sunshine Coast Community Services |
| Sydney Mines Food Bank Society |
| The Food Bank Network of the Bay of Islands Ministerial Association, Inc. |
| The Salvation Army – Community and Family Services Halifax |
| The Salvation Army – Fort Frances |
| The Salvation Army – Milton |
| The Salvation Army – Truro |
| The Salvation Army East Kootenay Circuit – Fernie |
| The Salvation Army Foothills Church & Community Ministries |
| The Salvation Army Fort Erie Community & Family Services |
| The Salvation Army Huntsville Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Sydney Community Church |
| The Salvation Army Vernon Food Bank |
| The Sharing Place Food Centre |
| The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry/PEI Food Banks |
| Vestiaire St-Joseph Inc. |
| Volunteer Family Services / Valley Food Bank |
| Walkerton & District Food Bank |
| Wheatland County Food Bank |
| Wynyard & District Food Bank |
