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In the Community

Category: In the Community

Zehrs Hespeler: A 2024 Community Champion

Zehrs Hespeler 

Today, the Cambridge Food Bank is proud to salute Tyler Sipos and his entire team at Zehrs Hespeler as one of our 2024 Community Champions. 

The Zehrs Hespeler crew has been a steadfast supporter of our mission, playing a vital role in combating food insecurity and reducing food waste.  Each week the store donates surplus foods like meats, produce, baked goods and nonperishable items.  In 2024 alone, their incredible donations totaled 55,988 lbs of food, helping to nourish individuals and families in our community.     

This team is always eager to lend a hand where they can, proudly supporting Cambridge Food Bank initiatives like Stuff a Van Events, and community BBQs. 

This partnership showcases how local businesses can make a meaningful difference. Tyler and his team have shown an unwavering commitment to giving back, helping to build a stronger, more food-secure community. 

Thank you, Zehrs Hespeler, for your incredible support and for being a true Community Champion! 

Foodland Ayr: A 2024 Community Champion

Foodland Ayr

Today, the spotlight turns to Foodland Ayr one of our 2024 Community Champions and proud Retail Partner! 

As a devoted ally and partner of the Cambridge Food Bank, Foodland Ayr has been steadfast in their dedication to fighting both hunger and food waste.  Each week, the local grocer donates a vast variety of great food including bread, produce, meat and non-perishable items.   

In 2024, Foodland Ayr donated an incredible 33,664 lbs of food to the Cambridge Food Bank.  It takes an incredible effort to save and sort this amount of food and the team at Foodland has shown remarkable dedication to this initiative.  At pick up time, their donations are meticulously packaged and sorted, making for an efficient pick-up process and significantly reducing sorting time for the Cambridge Food Bank at our warehouse.   

As a 2024 Community Champion, Foodland Ayr is helping us build a more sustainable and food secure future for Cambridge and North Dumfries.Thank you, Foodland Ayr, for your incredible support and for being such an important part of our efforts to combat hunger and avoid food waste.  

Food Basics Hespeler: A 2024 Community Champion

Food Basics Hespeler

We are excited to highlight one of our dedicated Retail Partners – Food Basics Hespeler – who have been selected as one of the Cambridge Food Bank’s 2024 Community Champions.  

The local grocery store at 100 Jamieson Parkway in Cambridge is dedicated to reducing food waste and supporting the community by partnering with the Cambridge Food Bank to provide nutritious food to those in need.  In 2024, the retailer, under the leadership of Store Manager Don Thomas donated over an incredible 31,277 pounds of food to the Cambridge Food Bank. 

Each week, the welcoming team at Food Basics Hespeler greets our pickup crew with warmth and enthusiasm, helping us load their generous donations of meat, baked goods, and non-perishable items. These contributions make a significant impact to our community and our environment, directing perfectly good food from the landfill and ensuring it reaches those who need it most.  

Together, Food Basics Hespeler and the Cambridge Food Bank are making a tangible difference, building a more sustainable food-secure future for Cambridge and North Dumfries.  

A heartfelt thank you to Food Basics Hespeler for your unwavering support! We are proud to designate you as one of 2024 Community Champions.  

Costco Kitchener: A 2024 Community Champion in the Fight Against Hunger and Food Waste

COSTCO Kitchener

Today, we are excited to shine the spotlight on one of our dedicated Retail Partners, Costco Kitchener.  A strong advocate in the fight against food insecurity and food waste, Costco Kitchener was selected as one of our 2024 Community Champions recipients, and for good reason! 

Every day, Costco donates high-quality meal kits, meat, fresh produce and other essential groceries to the Cambridge Food Bank, helping to ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity have access to nutritious food.  

For a store of Costco’s size, one might think it would be far easier to discard surplus food but instead, the Costco team works together across departments putting in a significant amount of time and energy to ensure perfectly good food is ready for the Cambridge Food Bank’s daily pick-ups.  

In 2024, Costco Kitchener provide the Cambridge Food Bank with an astounding 120, 623 lbs of food!  A true testament to Costco’s strong commitment to sustainability and community well-being. 

Together, Costco and the Cambridge Food Bank are creating a stronger, more sustainable food system while making a tangible difference in Cambridge and North Dumfries. 

Thank you, Costco Kitchener, for your incredible support, and congratulations on being selected as one of our 2024 Community Champions.  

COBS Bread Cambridge North: A 2024 Community Champion in the Fight Against Hunger and Food Waste

COBS BREAD – Cambridge North 

Today, the Cambridge Food Bank is proud to salute Terrell Thurston and his team COBS Bread Cambridge North –one of our 2024 Community Champions! 

COBS Bread Cambridge North has become a powerful ally in the fight against hunger and food waste.  The local bakery, located at 561 Hespeler Road in Cambridge, donates its delicious unsold, leftover bread and baked goods to the Cambridge Food Bank three times a week.  These donations not only provide nourishing, premium baked goods to our Community Pantry, they are keeping perfectly enjoyable food from landfills. 

 In 2024, COBS Bread Cambridge North, led by owner Terrell Thurston, donated an incredible 29,257 lbs of delicious baked goods to the Cambridge Food Bank – an incredible win for our community and our planet! 

This partnership exemplifies how local businesses and community organizations can work together to address both social and environmental challenges.  Together, the Cambridge Food Bank and COBS bread are significantly reducing food waste and combating hunger in Cambridge and North Dumfries.   

Thank you, COBS Bread Cambridge North, for your incredible support, and congratulations on being selected as one of our 2024 Community Champions. 

Congratulations to our 2024 Community Retail Partner Champions!

At the Cambridge Food Bank, we know that tackling food insecurity requires a community-wide effort. In 2024, our retail partners have proven just how powerful those efforts can be. Through their dedication and generosity, they have helped us divert an impressive 469,888 lbs of food from landfills. These efforts directly support our emergency food hamper program and food rescue initiatives, ensuring that more people in our community have access to food.

What makes this year even more remarkable is the 45% increase in donations from our top 10 retail partners compared to 2023. This growth is a testament to the power of collaboration and the growing commitment of businesses in our community to fight hunger and reduce food waste.

Congratulations to our 2024 Community Retail Partner Champions:

  • Costco Kitchener – 120,623 lbs
  • Zehrs Hespeler – 55,988 lbs
  • Zehrs Cambridge Centre – 54,881 lbs
  • Foodland Ayr – 33,664 lbs
  • Food Basics Hespeler – 31,277 lbs
  • Cobs Bread Cambridge North – 29,257 lbs
  • Ross & Lindsay’s No Frills – 25,043 lbs
  • Zehrs South Cambridge – 22,665 lbs
  • Sobeys Westgate – 16,803 lbs
  • Walmart Cambridge – 15,435 lbs

In 2024, these champions have gone above and beyond, diligently working to divert over 400,000 lbs of quality food from landfills, directly supporting our emergency food hamper program and food rescue efforts. They are integral to our ability to meet the growing demand for food support in the Cambridge and North Dumfries areas. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of these businesses and the ongoing support of all our retail partners.

Stay tuned for weekly spotlights featuring each of these community champions, along with many other amazing retail partners!