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In the Community

Category: In the Community

A New Chapter for the Cambridge Food Bank

After years of planning and looking toward the future, the Cambridge Food Bank (CFB) is proud to share a major milestone: we have purchased a new home.

Located at 384 Franklin Blvd., our new 31,000 square foot building marks the end of a multi‑year search and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our organization and the community we serve.

Why This Move Matters

The Cambridge Food Bank has operated from its Ainslie Street South location since 2001. Over the years, the nature of food banking has changed significantly. What was once focused primarily on shelf‑stable items now includes large volumes of fresh, refrigerated, and frozen food, along with a growing number of wellness and community programs.

Our new space will nearly double our current footprint and allow us to work more efficiently in a layout designed specifically for today’s needs. The wide‑open design will reduce congestion, improve food flow, and create a more welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors.

What the New Space Will Include

The new building will allow us to expand and enhance key areas of our work, including:

  • A larger community pantry and emergency food assistance space
  • A bigger commercial kitchen to support cooking and nutrition programs
  • Expanded programming areas for children, youth, and adults
  • The addition of a greenhouse to support food education and gardening initiatives

The location is also accessible, with parking and transit connections that make it easier for community members to reach us.

Meeting a Growing Need

Demand for food bank services in Cambridge and North Dumfries continues to rise. In 2024 alone, 1 in 8 households in our community relied on the Cambridge Food Bank for support. During that year, CFB served over 23,000 individuals, rescued more than 349,000 pounds of food, and welcomed over 1,000 children and adults into wellness programs.

This new space will help us better meet this growing demand while continuing to offer programs that go beyond food, including wellness initiatives, youth mentorship, and community education.

What’s Next

While the building purchase is complete, the work is not finished. Renovations are now underway to transform the space into a functional, welcoming hub for food access, learning, and connection.

This next phase would not be possible without the continued support of our community. Every donation helps us move closer to opening doors to a space designed with dignity, care, and connection at its core.

We look forward to sharing more updates as renovations progress and as we prepare to welcome the community into our new home.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Cambridge Food Bank: 2025 Year in Review

2025 was a year that showed, more than ever, how much our community depends on each other. Across Ontario, more than one million people needed a food bank last year, as the cost of living continued to rise and families struggled to make ends meet. Here in Cambridge and North Dumfries, the reality was clear: food insecurity is affecting more people, and people are turning to the Cambridge Food Bank for help more often than ever before.

Between January and December 2025, the Food Bank supported 10,717 individuals across 4,664 households. Of those households, 1,334 were accessing our services for the first time, highlighting the growing number of people who had never needed a food bank before but now find themselves in need. Over the year, we distributed 24,268 hampers, each one a vital source of food, dignity, and stability for the families we serve.

Children and seniors continue to be some of the most vulnerable in our community. In 2025, 3,470 children under 18 received support through the Food Bank. Families, working adults, and individuals living with disabilities also form a large part of those we help. In fact, one in five visitors was a person with a disability, and one in four households accessing our services were employed, showing that hunger doesn’t just affect those without income—it affects people trying to make ends meet every day.

Housing pressures make food insecurity even more challenging. Seventy-four percent of households we served live in private rentals, while others rely on social housing, stay with family or friends, or are experiencing homelessness. For many, high rent and limited income mean difficult choices between paying for housing, bills, or food.

The broader numbers from the Feed Ontario Hunger Report confirm what we see every day: across the province, families are visiting food banks more frequently just to get by. In Cambridge and North Dumfries, the Food Bank was visited over 22,000 times in the year, an increase of 10% over the previous year. One in four visitors were new to the Food Bank, and one in three visitors were children. These numbers remind us that hunger is not an occasional problem—it is a daily challenge for thousands in our community.

Behind every number is a neighbour doing their best. Every hamper we pack, every volunteer shift, and every donation matters. Without the generosity of our community, the Cambridge Food Bank could not meet this growing need.

If you want to make a difference today, your support can help feed someone in need immediately. Every donation helps ensure that no one in Cambridge goes hungry. Donate today and be part of the solution.

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FoodForward Pays it Forward at the Cambridge Food Bank: How Your Team, Friends, or Family Can Give Back

FoodForward Cooking Experiences - Social Entreprise of Cambridge Food Bank

By: Zoe Miller

In the early 2000s, a pivotal moment in my journey toward civic engagement was watching the film Pay It Forward. It reminded me how even small actions can ripple outward. Learning about FoodForward, the Cambridge Food Bank’s new social enterprise, brought that same spark of inspiration. 

I joined the Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) team as the first participants in FoodForward’s kitchen experience—which coincided with the program’s public launch. After months of piloting, groups could now see another side of the Cambridge Food Bank’s impact. 

 

The Tour 

When we arrived, the entrance buzzed with community members, volunteers, and staff carrying crates of fresh produce. The community pantry operates on a shopping model that prioritizes fresh, healthy food. Families facing food insecurity can access an emergency hamper once a month with ID and proof of residency. Over 2,000 hampers are distributed monthly, reaching roughly 5,000 people—one-third of them children. 

Unlike traditional food banks, community members can access the flash fridge and overflow section of the food bank as often as needed, picking up perishable items like bread and produce in addition to their emergency hamper. 

The Cambridge Food Bank also grows food through community gardens at the rare Charitable Research Reserve and Forward Church, which is shared through the community pantry. Produce is also purchased and sold through the Mobile Food Market (MFM), bringing fresh, quality produce to over 15 neighbourhoods in Cambridge and North Dumfries. Everyone is welcome, and full-price purchases help offset costs for others. 

Food Rescue and Reducing Waste 

One aspect that stood out to me—and to others on the tour—was food rescue. As one WRCF participant said, “I had no idea about the extent of food rescue and recycling the Cambridge Food Bank does. 

Items not suitable for the pantry or flash fridge are directed to the kitchen for processing into ready-to-eat meals, baked goods, or preserves for sale at farmers markets. Items still not usable are directed into the animal food system or a farmer’s composting system, keeping waste out of landfills. 

From a permaculture perspective, this is a closed loop—resources are used intentionally, distributed fairly, and waste is managed sustainably. Witnessing this approach showed me how even small actions ripple out to create meaningful change in our community. 

Conestoga College research found that in just three months, these activities reduced greenhouse gas emissions enough to drive across Canada three times—proof of the environmental impact of thoughtful redistribution. 

Surprising Insights: Wellness, Nutrition, and Cooking Programs 

I was also surprised to learn about the Cambridge Food Bank’s wellness, nutrition, and cooking programs. Beyond providing food, they offer free programs for children, youth, adults, and families to explore cooking, nutrition, movement, and mindfulness. 

These programs help people gain skills and knowledge to live healthier, more connected lives, extending the Cambridge Food Bank’s impact far beyond meal distribution. 

Behind the Scenes: Warehouse and Food Processing 

The warehouse is compact, with deliveries coming down a narrow lane that isn’t wide enough for trucks. Staff often hand-bomb food from the road inside. Everything is weighed, temperature-checked for cold chain management, and sorted into fridge, freezer, or bins before moving to the pantry or partner organizations. 

Because of the tight space, each food item may be moved multiple times before reaching the community—one reason the Cambridge Food Bank is seeking a new building to expand capacity and efficiency. 

Into the Kitchen 

Upstairs, we joined a hands-on experience. Program manager Lisa Leachman and CEO Diane McLeod shared insights and personal experiences, emphasizing FoodForward’s community impact. 

Split into two teams, we donned aprons and prepared Mediterranean pasta salad using rescued and locally grown produce. With a friendly countdown, Team 1 finished 50 containers, Team 2 46—but every participant walked away with a sense of accomplishment. The finished meals, branded with WRCF logos, were ready for the community pantry. 

Build Team Spirit, Build Community 

As a visitor, it was clear how perfect FoodForward is for corporate groups or teams looking to make an impact. Sorting food, gardening, and kitchen experiences combine team-building with social responsibility. Here are three experiences at FoodForward:

  • Sorting Experience: Hands-on, high-energy food sorting for groups. 

  • Garden Experience: Plant, grow, and harvest in the community garden. 

  • Kitchen Experience: Prep, cook, and package meals or baked goods for the pantry. 

Experiences start at $750, with all proceeds going directly to the Cambridge Food Bank. Teams leave with strengthened collaboration, shared purpose, and a tangible impact on the community.  It’s worth a visit to our business, non-profit or individual workshop pages to check out the options that resonates most for you and your group! 

Click here to learn more about FoodForward

Zehrs South Cambridge 

Zehrs South Cambridge 

Today, we’re proud to turn the spotlight on Zehrs, South Cambridge one of our tremendous retail partners and 2024 Community Champions.  

The Zehrs South Cambridge team has been an essential partner in combating food insecurity and reducing food waste.  Each week, the store generously donates a variety of surplus food to the Cambridge Food Bank, providing nourishment for our community members in need of support.  In 2024, Zehrs South Cambridge donated an impressive 22,665 lbs of food to the Cambridge Food Bank. 

In addition to fighting food insecurity, Zehrs plays an important role in protecting the environment. By diverting surplus food from landfills, they are helping reduce waste and ensure that perfectly good food reaches those who can benefit from it, rather than being discarded. 

Zehrs South Cambridge is a shining example of how businesses can positively impact both the community and the environment, and we are grateful for their ongoing partnership. 

Thank you, Zehrs South Cambridge, for your unwavering support in building a food-secure, environmentally conscious community! 

Walmart Named a 2024 Cambridge Community Champion

Walmart 

We’re excited to highlight Walmart as one of our Retail Partners and 2024 Community Champions. 

As a major player in the retail world, Walmart demonstrates a commitment to the community that goes far beyond selling products—they’re a key ally in the fight against food insecurity and food waste.  Every week, Walmart donates a wide variety of food to the Cambridge Food Bank. By diverting this surplus food from the landfill, they’re not only helping reduce waste they are working to help feed individuals and families in need here in Cambridge and North Dumfries.  

In 2024, Walmart donated an impressive 15,435 lbs of food to the Cambridge Food Bank. Thanks to this ongoing support, we’re able to provide nourishment to those facing food insecurity in our community, while also doing our part to protect the environment by keeping food out of landfills. 

A huge thank you to Walmart for being such a dedicated partner in our efforts to strengthen our community’s food system! 

Sobeys Westgate – 2024 Cambridge Community Champion

Sobeys Westgate 

The Cambridge Food Bank is proud to recognize John Vandervoort, Store Manager, Karen Baillie, Assistant Store Manager, and the incredible team at Cambridge Sobeys as one of our 2024 Community Champions! 

Cambridge Sobeys has been a valued partner in the fight against food insecurity, consistently stepping up to support our community.  Their generosity is making a real difference for individuals and families in Cambridge and North Dumfries. 

Cambridge Sobeys plays a crucial role in reducing food waste by donating surplus food, including non-perishable items, meat, produce, and baked goods. In 2024 alone, they contributed an incredible 22, 665 lbs of food, ensuring more people have access to fresh, nutritious meals. 

This partnership highlights the power of businesses and community organizations working together for a greater cause. John, Karen, and their team continue to show outstanding dedication to giving back, strengthening food security in our region.  Thank you, Cambridge Sobeys, for your ongoing support and for being a true Community Champion!