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Standards of Excellence
Striving for Continuous Improvement
Setting national standards of excellence, accrediting food banks, and making investments that promote elevated service.
Setting the Bar High
Food Banks Canada works in collaboration with the network of over 5,500 food banks and community agencies to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for anyone who needs it within Canada.
To provide the highest levels of safety and dignity in food banking, Food Banks Canada has implemented a set of national food bank standards that cover all areas of food bank operations to ensure overall operational excellence across the entire network.
Designed as a baseline set of standards to which the food banking network holds itself accountable, the Standards of Excellence program provides a framework for food banks to identify opportunities for innovation and performance improvements in the areas of client service and care, food operations, safe food handling and more. The standards also reflect the food banking network’s thought leadership and commitment to continually enhance our collective capabilities to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow.
Program Impact
Successes since April 2024:
368 Food Banks
have achieved Standards of Excellence accreditation to date, with dozens more actively working towards this goal.
916 Individuals
completed Food Banks Canada’s Safe Food Handling course.
$5.9 Million
granted to food banks to meet the Standards of Excellence.
Hear from Accredited Food Banks
“[The Standards of Excellence] make food banks more transparent, and that's healthy… It's good for our [clients,] because they're vulnerable when they walk in. And if there's a consistency across the board, that builds trust [with food banks], and trust is something that [clients] often lack in their lives. I think that's what the standards are all about, always making things better.”
– Clarington East Food Bank, Newcastle Ontario
Richmond Food Bank Society, BC
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.
Clarington East Food Bank, ON
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. All the accredited organizations are setting a new benchmark for safety, dignity and operational excellence in food banking.
Accredited Organizations
*List of Accredited Organizations as of July 2026
| 100 Mile House Food Bank |
| Action Ministries of Grand Manan Food Bank |
| Agassiz-Harrison Food Bank |
| Agape Centre Food Bank |
| Airdrie Food Bank |
| Alliston Food Bank / Good Shepherd Food Bank |
| Antigonish Community Food Bank |
| Armstrong Food Bank- BC |
| Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services |
| Au Rayon d’Espoir Inc. |
| Aurora Food Pantry |
| 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 |
| Beacon House Interfaith Society |
| Beaverlodge Christmas Hamper & Food Banks |
| Berwick Food Bank |
| Biggar and District Food for Thought, Inc. |
| Blackfalds Food Bank |
| Bon Accord Gibbons Food Bank |
| Botwood Interfaith Goodwill Cenre |
| Boundary Community Food Bank |
| Bridges to Hope Food Aid Centre |
| Bridgetown and Area Food Bank Association |
| Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank |
| Brockville & Area Food Bank / Operation Harvest Sharing |
| Brooks & Area Food Bank |
| Brunswick Street Mission Food Bank |
| Burin Area Food Pantry |
| Burk’s Falls & District Food Bank |
| Burlington Food Bank |
| Caledon Community Services |
| Cambridge Food Bank |
| Campbell River and District Food Bank |
| Campus Food Bank |
| Camrose Neighbor Aid Center |
| Canadian Veterans Services Society |
| Canning Area Food Bank- NS |
| Carrefour communautaire de Chibougamau |
| Central Food Network |
| Central NB Self Help Group |
| Central Okanagan Food Bank |
| Centre Communautaire Pro-Santé |
| Centre d’Action Bénévole Minganie |
| Centre d’action bénévole de l’Estran |
| Centre de Bénévolat de la Vallée-de-l’Or |
| Centre d’Action Bénévole Ascension Escuminac |
| Centre Wellington Food Bank |
| Chase Hamper Society |
| Chatham Outreach for Hunger |
| Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society |
| Clarington East Food Bank |
| Clearwater and District Food Bank |
| Cochrane Food Bank |
| Colchester Community Support Society |
| Cold Lake Food Bank |
| Collectif Aliment-Terre |
| Columbia Valley Food Bank |
| Community Care, St. Catharines & Thorold |
| Community Connections Food Bank |
| Community Food Share DS – Morrisburg |
| Community Food Share DS – Winchester |
| Community Food Sharing Association |
| Community Kitchen Program of Calgary |
| Community Resources Centre (Minto) Inc. |
| Comox Valley Food Bank Society |
| Comptoir Alimentaire De Sept-Îles |
| Cortes Island Food Bank |
| Cowichan Valley Basket Society |
| Cranbrook Food Bank Society |
| Crowsnest Pass Food Bank Society |
| Daily Bread Food Bank |
| Dartmouth North Christian Food Bank |
| Deer Lake Regional Food Bank |
| Drayton Area Community Food Bank |
| Eagle Valley Community Support Society |
| East Wellington Community Services |
| Eastern Shore Food Bank |
| Edmonton’s Food Bank |
| Edson Food Bank Society |
| Eganville and District Community Food Bank |
| Entraide communautaire des Îles inc |
| Evergreen Basic Needs |
| Feed Enderby and District Food Bank |
| Feed Nourrir NB |
| Feed Nova Scotia |
| Feed Ontario |
| Feed the Need in Durham |
| Flagstaff Food Bank |
| Foam Lake and Area Food Bank Inc. |
| Food Banks Alberta |
| Food Banks British Columbia |
| Food Banks Mississauga |
| Food Banks of Saskatchewan Corporation |
| Food for All Food Bank |
| Food with Grace Waterdown Food Bank |
| Fort Saskatchewan Nourishment Centre |
| Fredericton Community Kitchens |
| Fundy Interchurch Food Bank |
| Gananoque Food Bank |
| Gander & Area Food Bank |
| Georgina Community Food Pantry |
| Glace Bay Food Bank Society |
| GLEANERS FOODBANK (QUINTE) INC. |
| Golden Food Bank Society |
| Goldstream Food Bank |
| Good Happenings Food Bank |
| Good Neighbours Food Centre |
| Good Samaritan Ministries Association |
| Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls Community Food Bank Inc |
| Greater Hamilton Food Share |
| Greener Village |
| Guysborough And Area Food Bank Society |
| Hagersville Food Bank |
| Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank Association |
| Hampton Food Basket and Clothing Center INC |
| Harvest House Atlantic |
| Harvest Manitoba |
| Harvest of Hope – Salvation Army Gibsons |
| Harvest Share Community Meal Program |
| Hawkesbury Food Bank |
| Helping Hand Food Bank |
| Helping Hand Food Bank – Tillsonburg |
| Helping Hands Family Aid |
| Helpline Inc (Oromocto Food Bank) |
| High Prairie & District Food Bank Society |
| Hinton Food Bank Association |
| Hope Community Services |
| House of Lazarus |
| Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre |
| Humboldt Food Bank |
| Hythe & District Food Bank |
| Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge |
| Just Friends Food Bank |
| Kamloops Food Bank Society |
| Kanata Food Cupboard |
| Kawartha Food Share |
| Kawartha Lakes Food Source |
| Kennebecasis Valley Food Bank |
| Kensington & Area Food Bank |
| Kimberley Helping Hands Food Bank |
| Kitimat Food Bank Society |
| Lac La Ronge |
| Ladysmith Resources Centre Association |
| Lake Country Food Assistance Society |
| Lake Echo Community Food Bank |
| Lakeland Resource Center |
| Lanark County Food Bank – The Hunger Stop |
| Lanigan & District Food Bank |
| Lethbridge Food Bank Society |
| Lighthouse Food Bank Society |
| Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank Society |
| Logan Lake Food Bank |
| Making a Difference Food Bank |
| Manitoulin Family Resources |
| Manning & Area Food Bank |
| Marine Communities Food Bank Society |
| Markham Food Bank |
| Mattawa & Area Food Bank |
| Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries INC/Meadow Lake Food Bank |
| Meaford Food Bank and Outreach |
| Minden Community Food Centre |
| Minnedosa and Area Food Bank |
| Miramichi Community Food Bank Inc |
| Moisson Beauce |
| Moisson Estrie |
| Moisson Kamouraska |
| Moisson Lanaudière |
| Moisson Laurentides |
| Moisson Laval |
| Moisson Mauricie / Centre-du-Québec |
| Moison Mitis |
| Moisson Montréal |
| Moisson Outaouais |
| Moisson Quebec |
| Moisson Rimouski Neigette Inc |
| Moisson Rive-Sud |
| Moisson Sud-Ouest |
| Moose Jaw & District Food Bank |
| Mustard Seed Food Bank |
| Neighbour Link Food Bank |
| New Denver & Area Community Hamper Society |
| New Waterford Food Bank |
| Newmarket Food Pantry |
| Nicola Valley Food Bank Society |
| North and Central Frontenac Food Bank |
| North Sydney Community Food Bank |
| North York Harvest Food Bank |
| Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank |
| Oilfields Food Bank / Turner Valley Food Bank |
| Okotoks Food Bank Association |
| Oliver Food Bank 2000 |
| Orangeville Food Bank |
| Ottawa Food Bank- ON |
| Outlook & District Food Bank Inc |
| Oxford & Area Food Bank Association |
| Parkland Food Bank |
| Partagence |
| Partners in Mission Food Bank |
| Peachland Food Bank- BC |
| Pelham Cares |
| Pender Island Food Bank |
| People For A Healthy Community on Gabriola Society |
| Peter McKee Community Food Centre |
| Petawawa Pantry |
| Pictou County Foodbank East |
| Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre |
| Port Cares Reach Out Centre |
| Powell River Action Centre Society |
| Project SHARE of Niagara Falls INC. |
| Pugwash Open Hamper Food Bank |
| Quadra Island Food Bank |
| Queens County Food Bank |
| Quinte Region Food Sharing Shelter |
| Red Deer Food Bank |
| Redwater Fellowship of Churches Food Bank |
| Regina Food Bank |
| Regional Food Distribution Association |
| Renfrew and District Food |
| Ressourcierie Bernard-Hamel |
| Richmond Food Bank Society |
| Richmond Hill Community Food Bank |
| Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub |
| Sackville and District Assistance Centre |
| Saint Mary’s University Community Food Room |
| Saint John North End Food Assistance Group Inc |
| Salisbury Helping Hands |
| Salvation Army – Carbonear |
| Salvation Army – Channel Port aux Basques |
| Salvation Army – Chatham-Kent Ministries Blenheim |
| Salvation Army – Chatham-Kent Ministries Ridgetown |
| Salvation Army – Chatham-Kent Ministries Wallaceburg |
| Salvation Army – Chilliwack |
| Salvation Army – Collingwood |
| Salvation Army – Dartmouth Encounter Church |
| Salvation Army – Dunnville |
| Salvation Army – Drumheller |
| Salvation Army – Estevan |
| Salvation Army – Fernie |
| Salvation Army – Fort Erie |
| Salvation Army – Fort Frances |
| Salvation Army – Fort Macleod |
| Salvation Army – Fort St. John |
| Salvation Army – Fredericton |
| Salvation Army – Gibsons – Harvest of Hope |
| Salvation Army – Grand Falls-Windsor |
| Salvation Army – Halifax |
| Salvation Army- Hanover |
| Salvation Army- Ingersoll |
| Salvation Army – Listowel |
| Salvation Army – Lloydminster |
| Salvation Army – Maple Creek |
| Salvation Army- Marystown |
| Salvation Army – Midland |
| Salvation Army – Miltion |
| Salvation Army – Mount Arrowsmith/Parksville |
| Salvation Army – Napanee |
| Salvation Army – Neepawa |
| Salvation Army – Nipawin |
| Salvation Army – Owen Sound |
| Salvation Army – Paris |
| Salvation Army – Penticton |
| Salvation Army- Portage La Prairie |
| Salvation Army – Listowel |
| Salvation Army – Mount Arrowsmith / Parksville |
| Salvation Army – Port Alberni |
| Salvation Army – Portage La Prairie |
| Salvation Army – Weyburn |
| Salvation Army- Salmon Arm |
| Salvation Army- Sault Ste Marie |
| Salvation Army – Simcoe |
| Salvation Army – St. John’s Food Bank |
| Salvation Army – Summerside |
| Salvation Army – Sussex |
| Salvation Army – Salvation Army Swiss Current |
| Salvation Army – Sydney |
| Salvation Army – Tisdale |
| Salvation Army – Truro |
| Salvation Army – Vernon |
| Salvation Army – West Kootenay Circuit (Trail/Nelson) |
| Salvation Army – Wetaskiwin |
| Salvation Army – Weyburn |
| Salvation Army – Wiarton – Bruce Peninsula Community Food Bank |
| Salvation Army – Williams Lake |
| Salvation Army – Woodstock |
| Salvation Army – Yellowknife |
| Samaritan House Ministries |
| Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre |
| Sea to Sky Community Services |
| Secours Amitie Inc. |
| Seven Hills Community Pantry |
| Share Family & Community Services |
| Shumilacke Food Bank |
| Single Parent Association of Newfoundland |
| Slocan Valley Community Service Society |
| Smiths Falls Community Foodbank |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Carbonear Food Bank |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Goderich |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Harbour Grace |
| Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Clements |
| Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Teresa’s Conference |
| SOS Dépannage / Moisson Granby |
| Source alimentaire Bonavignon |
| Sources Langley Food Bank |
| Souris Food Bank |
| South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society / Ashcroft and Area Food Bank |
| South Delta Food Bank |
| South East Rocky View Food Bank |
| Southeast HealthAbility Society Inc (Moosomin Food Share) |
| Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank / Montague Food Bank |
| Sparwood Food Bank |
| Squamish Helping Hands Society |
| St Andrews and Area Open Door Program |
| St. Joseph’s Food Bank (BC) |
| St. Joseph’s Food Bank (ON) |
| St. Margaret’s Bay Food Bank |
| St. Mark’s Food Bank |
| St. Martin de Porres / Timmins Food Bank |
| St. Paul’s Family Resource Institute |
| St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank |
| Stettler & District Food Bank |
| Stratford House of Blessing |
| Strathcona Food Bank |
| Stratford House of Blessing |
| Summerland Community Food Bank |
| Sunshine Coast Community Services |
| Surrey Food Bank |
| Sussex Sharing Club Inc |
| Sydney Mines Food Bank Society |
| The Food Bank Network of the Bay of Islands Ministerial Association, Inc. |
| The Food Bank of Waterloo Region |
| The Food Bank of York Region |
| The Inn of The Good Shepherd |
| The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank Inc. |
| The Link Food Centre |
| The Olive Tree Lloyd |
| The Salvation Army Foothills Church & Community Ministries |
| The Sharing Place Food Centre |
| The Sooke Food Bank |
| The Terrace Church’s Food Bank |
| Tofield-Ryley and Area Food Bank |
| Turtle River Food Bank |
| Twelve Baskets Food Bank |
| Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc |
| Upper Room Food Bank Association |
| Upper Room Hospitality Ministry Inc. |
| Unison Society |
| Vestiaire St-Joseph Inc. |
| Victoria Road Baptist Church Food Bank |
| Volunteer Family Services / Valley Food Bank |
| Wadena Food Bank Association |
| Walkerton & District Food Bank |
| Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank |
| Waskaysoo Community Food Bank |
| West Lincoln Community Centre |
| West Side Food Bank, Inc |
| Westend Community Food Bank |
| Wheatland County Food Bank |
| Whistler Community Services Society |
| Windsor & District Food Bank |
| Wolfville Area Food Bank |
| Wynyard & District Food Bank |
