FAQ

Cambridge Food Bank•FAQ

Emergency Food Assistance

The Cambridge Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that gathers, keeps, and hands out food to people in Cambridge and North Dumfries who don’t have enough to eat, as well as to local community groups. Alongside giving out food, the Food Bank also provides free wellness and cooking classes, where most of the extra ingredients needed are supplied.

  • Emergency food assistance gives you enough food for 2-3 days.
  • We offer a respectful experience for everyone.
  • Our ‘shopping model’ lets you pick the foods you want, which might make the wait time longer.

People who:

  • Live in Cambridge or North Dumfries.
  • Have a hard time buying enough groceries and maybe skipping meals.

Anyone who lives in your home and shares your kitchen.

  • You may receive emergency food support once (1) per calendar month at one of our (3) locations.
  • You can visit our Flash Food area in the hallway at our main location every day.

We collect food through donations from the community, local farms, businesses,  retailers, and food drives. We also purchase specific items to ensure a balanced and nutritious supply. This collected food is then distributed through our Community Pantry emergency food hampers and our network of partner agencies.

  • Valid identification for each member of your household.
  • Proof of address (contact us if this is not possible)
  • Bring your own bags.

Flash food is food is quick turn around items or high inventory items. Mostly breads and produce. This changes daily and there is no guarantee what will be there when you visit.

Best Before Date: When stored properly, an unopened product will keep its quality until the stated date.

Expiry Date: When stored properly, an unopened product will contain the nutritional content shown on the label at least until the specified date.

Neither date is about food safety.

  • Salvation Army – Food Bank
  • Lang’s Community Food Cupboard
  • Neighbours Helping Neighbours Ayr
  • St Vincent de Paul
  • Family2Family

Everyone is encouraged to visit one of our on-site locations. Click here to learn more

Can’t make it to a market? Consider ordering online.

Donating Food & Funds

Financial Donations: You can click here to make a one time or monthly financial donation.  Or click here to learn more about other ways to donate. 

Food Donations:  We are open and available to receive food donations in our receiving area Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm. To access CFB receiving come to our Warnock Street entrance, which is a one-way side street on the right side of Ainslie just before our main entrance (coming from Main Street). We are the second laneway on the left (you will see a long lane that goes in between two houses) and a giant CFB sign above a loading dock. Come to the back door and press the green buzzer and someone will come out to assist you.

If you made a donation online via Canada Helps, you would have received an email receipt right away. Tip tap donations are not eligible for tax receipts.

In a continued effort to improve our environmental impact, The Cambridge Food Bank will begin issuing annual receipts for all donors in 2025. This means that you will receive one tax receipt from us for all 2024 contributions in early 2025.            

If you have any questions about this change or to request monthly receipts, please contact Reg at 519-622-6550 ext. 104 or executiveassistant@cambridgefoodbank.org.

For more information contact Sarah at stooze@cambridgefoodbank.org or 519-622-6550 ext. 101.

Support can be provided in several ways: volunteering at our facilities or events, donating food or funds, organizing community food drives, or participating in fundraising activities. Volunteers are vital for our operations, assisting in everything from food sorting to administrative tasks. We also encourage local businesses and individuals to engage with us through sponsorships and partnerships.

Running a food drive for the Cambridge Food Bank is a wonderful way to help those in need in your community. Not only does it provide much-needed food for people who are struggling, but it can also have a range of other benefits for both individuals and organizations.

Anyone can run a food drive, at any time of year, and no amount is too small.  

Click here to learn more and to register.

Food Donation Pick-Up
As a charitable, non-profit organization with limited capacity and resources, we are working hard to ensure we get as much food as possible out to our neighbours all across the city. We will do our very best to work with you to coordinate a driver to pick-up your food donations at the end of your food campaigns. We encourage you to drop off food donations directly to us here at the food bank whenever possible to help us save time and resources! 
If you require a pick-up of your donations, please indicate so when registering. We would be happy to work with you to ensure that your donations are collected in a timely and efficient manner. Thank you for your support of the Cambridge Food Bank.
 
 
Food Donation Drop Off Instructions
We are open and available to receive food donations in our receiving area Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm. To access CFB receiving come to our Warnock Street entrance, which is a one-way side street on the right side of Ainslie just before our main entrance (coming from Main Street). We are the second laneway on the left (you will see a long lane that goes in between two houses) and a giant CFB sign above a loading dock. Come to the back door and press the green buzzer and someone will come out to assist you.
Should you need assistance, please email Amy at aslack@cambridgefoodbank.org or call 519-622-6550 ext 102.

We welcome donations of perishable, non-perishable food items and essential personal care products. Some of the most needed items include peanut butter and sandwich spreads, canned meat and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, cereals and breakfast foods, gluten free and halal foods, pasta, rice, baby foods, diapers and hygiene products. Monetary donations are also crucial as they allow us to purchase items that are low in stock.

Volunteering

15 years old with parental permission. Under 15 years with parental/guardian accompaniment, depending on the position.

Click here and make an account. You will be asked to read and sign some important documents related to volunteering with the food bank. When these are complete our team will approve your profile within 48 hours. Once your profile is approved you will be able to view all current volunteer opportunities. Volunteer opportunities at the food bank change frequently so check back often.

  • All volunteers and placement students will meet with the Volunteer Coordinator for an onboarding tour of the food bank.
  • One on one training will take place with the staff supervisor to ensure volunteers understand their role, responsibilities and feel comfortable.

Longer term volunteers can request a verbal or letter of reference from the Volunteer Manager with input from the staff supervisor.

Volunteers and placement students are expected to follow the policies and procedures of the Cambridge Food Bank. If a volunteer or student placement violates these policies and procedures, we will follow the guideline and process indicated in the Volunteer Manual.

Yes, we welcome high school students who wish to earn their community service hours at the food bank however because of shift availability, we recommend this request not be made just before graduation.

MFM & Wellness Programs

The Mobile Food Market is a weekly produce market in your neighbourhood. We make fresh food affordable and accessible.  Click here to learn more about the market, pricing and locations.

You can visit our webpage here on a weekly basis or you can sign up here to have a weekly email delivered to your inbox.

Learning how to cook simple, inexpensive, tasty and healthy meals and snacks is more important than ever due to advertising pressure of instant, high-fat, high-sugar, low-nutrition fast food.

Preparing our own food isn’t just better for our bodies, it’s easier on the budget and it provides opportunities to socialize by sharing food with friends and family. Inspire children and youth to learn this important life skill by participating in our cooking programs. Click here to learn more.

Looking to address a health concern or simply trying to achieve the next higher level of being healthy? Our health workshops and programs are designed to help you in every situation. Join us in this wonderful journey towards better health where we cover all three aspects i.e. mind, body and spirit.

Click here to learn more.

Still Have Questions?

Please reach out to us and we will be happy to get you the information that you need.

Message Us
Call Us