Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing people who can’t afford to feed themselves struggle every day. And it’s more common than you think.
Food banks are a stepping stone to helping families get on their feet and be self-sufficient.
Food banks in Toronto are a necessary service for many people in the city.
If you’re struggling with food insecurity, which affects over half a million people in the city, you can turn to one of the 13 food banks listed below for help. Each location has different hours, so be sure to check ahead before heading out.
If you are also searching for food banks in Toronto to donate some money to assist these organizations in helping struggling families, then these are the food banks in Toronto you should look for.
Overview of Food Banks in Toronto
In Toronto, there are many food banks that offer a variety of services to help those in need. These organizations provide food for the hungry, clothing for people who have lost their homes, and job opportunities for those who are struggling to find work.
There are more than 30 food banks in Ontario; however, only about 13 of these operate within Toronto itself.
What is a Food Bank?
Food Banks are organizations that collect and distribute food to individuals and families in need. Food banks are a critical source of food for people who cannot afford to buy food, especially those living on low incomes.
Food bank users do not receive any type of social assistance, making food banks the only place where they can access emergency support.
Many clients also have trouble accessing other services such as transportation and childcare, so being able to walk into a local branch with their children can be more convenient than trying to coordinate these resources through multiple agencies.
What sets food banks apart from other charities is that they operate completely by volunteers (or paid staff), which makes them very cost-effective but also limits their ability to reach out beyond their immediate communities.
Thus, many of these food banks available in Toronto are constantly seeking donations and labor support from willing people.
The following are the food banks found in Toronto:
Daily Bread Food Bank
Address: 191 New Toronto Street, Toronto, ON M8V 2E7, Canada.
Daily Bread Food Bank is a non-profit charity organization that provides food and other services to people in need in Toronto, Ontario.
The organization believes that affording a meal should be a basic human right and not a privilege; its mission is to help those who are struggling with poverty and hunger by providing them with access to nutritious food.
Daily Bread Food Bank serves over 130,000 people every year through its network of more than 80 local agencies that distribute food and other vital resources to those who need them most.
This includes low-income families, seniors living alone, new Canadians, people living with disabilities, youth at risk, and others who may be struggling financially.
Daily Bread Food Bank has been featured on multiple outlets like Charity Intelligence Canada and MoneySense as one of the top charities and food banks in Toronto.
How to Apply to DBFB
Need food? Applying to Daily Bread Food Bank is as easy as walking into any of their outlets and requesting food.
You will be asked to provide certain personal information like your full name, income status, family size, education level, identification of family members (helpful but not required), etc. The information provided is confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside of the organization.
Ways to Give
- By volunteering, or
- Making a donation.
If you wish to volunteer to work for Daily Bread to provide food to struggling families, you can apply to become a cook, caregiver, or store manager. However, you should note that these are not paid roles.
To make a donation to aid their mission, you can visit this page.
Fort York Food Bank
Address: 380 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1S6, Canada
Fort York Food Bank is located on College Street. It is another popularly reviewed food bank in the city of Toronto.
They offer hot meals, fresh produce, nutritional supplements, toiletries, and other needed grocery products.
How to Apply
- Simply visit their office during open hours (Tuesday – Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Talk to any of their counselors to explain your need(s).
They also offer IT services for stranded passers-by who may need them.
Like other food banks in Toronto, you can donate or volunteer to work at Fort York Food Bank to support their cause to end hunger in Toronto.
Parkdale Community Food Bank
Address: 1499 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A3, Canada
Hours:
- Mondays – Thursdays: 11 am – 3 pm.
- Fridays & Saturdays: 10.30 am – 1.30p m.
Services offered at Parkdale Community Food Bank include food distribution, clothing, and household goods distribution, financial support for clients through their Member Choice program, and community outreach programs.
North York Harvest Food Bank
Address: 116 Industry St, York, ON M6M 4L8, Canada
Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm.
North York Harvest Food Bank is a charitable organization that provides food to hungry people in North York and surrounding areas. The food bank distributes about 10 million pounds of food each year, and it has helped more than 200,000 people since its founding.
The organization’s mission is to provide nutritious meals for families and individuals in need. They do this by collecting and distributing donated food to local agencies that serve low-income residents who are struggling financially.
The food bank also educates the community about hunger and poverty issues in order to encourage residents to donate their time and money to help others who are less fortunate than themselves.
The Mississauga Food Bank
Address: 3121 Universal Dr, Mississauga, ON L4X 2E2, Canada
Hours: Mondays to Wednesdays, 9 am – 8 pm; Thursdays 9 am – 5 pm; Fridays 9 am – 1 pm.
The Mississauga Food Bank is a non-profit organization that provides food and support to the community.
The Food Bank collects and distributes food to hundreds of agencies, including shelters, soup kitchens, youth programs, senior centers, and housing projects. They also provide nutrition education classes to help families learn how to budget their finances and make healthier food choices.
The work is made possible by generous donations from individuals and businesses in the community. If you would like to help out and volunteer, you can visit their website to learn how.
BODY BY HEAVEN End Hunger
BODY BY HEAVEN End Hunger is a small non-profit organization that provides food and clothing to people in need.
The organization was founded in 2014 by a group of volunteers who wanted to help the community. Since its inception, BODY BY HEAVEN End Hunger has grown into one of the largest food banks in Toronto with over 100 drop-off locations across the city, and provides more than 300 families with food each year.
Churches on the Hill Food Bank
Address: 230 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1R5, Canada
Churches on the Hill Food Bank is a non-profit organization that provides food and other necessities to people in need in the community.
The Food Bank is run by volunteers and staffed by people who have experienced food insecurity themselves. They accept donations of non-perishable items and fresh produce but are most in need of canned goods.
The Food Bank provides over 200 pounds of food per week to over 100 individuals, including families with children under 18 years old, seniors over 60 years old, people with disabilities, veterans, single mothers, and pregnant women.
Etobicoke Food Bank
The Etobicoke Food Bank is a non-profit organization that provides food to people in need in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto. The food bank currently distributes about 1.3 million pounds of food each year to over 35,000 people.
The food bank’s goal is to help alleviate hunger and poverty by providing access to affordable and nutritious foods. It does this by collecting food from donors and distributing it directly to clients who qualify for assistance.
They provide this service through a number of programs that are designed for different types of individuals: seniors, children, working poor families, etc.
The Sharing Place Food Center
Address: 95 Dufferin St, Orillia, ON L3V 5S9, Canada
The Sharing Place is a food bank in Etobicoke that provides emergency food relief to people in need. It also provides clothing, furniture, and household items to the community of Etobicoke and the City of Toronto.
The goal at The Sharing Place is to make sure everyone has access to food when they need it most, no matter what their situation happens to be.
They offer free services like counseling and clothing programs as well as food items such as fruits, vegetables, and meat products like chicken breasts or ground beef patties.
Meals on Wheels Agencies in Metro Toronto
Many people who live in Toronto rely on the Meals on Wheels program to help them make ends meet. The Meals on Wheels program provides food for those who are unable to shop for their own groceries. The program also provides transportation for those who need it.
The Meals on Wheels program is funded by donations from private individuals and businesses. Because it is a volunteer-run organization, there are no costs associated with running the program itself aside from those associated with purchasing food and other supplies needed by participants.
Feed Ontario
Address: 229 Yonge St, 4th Fl Toronto, ON Canada M5B 1N9
Feed Ontario is a non-profit organization that delivers food to people in need through food banks. They have over 200 member agencies across the province, including food banks, shelters, and community kitchens.
Their food bank program provides emergency hampers for individuals, families, and seniors on a monthly basis.
The Community Store Food Bank
The Community Store Food Bank is a non-profit organization that operates a food bank in Toronto, ON. The mission of the food bank is to help those who are experiencing poverty and hunger by providing them with food, at no cost.
The food bank operates by collecting donated food from businesses and individuals across Toronto. The collected food is then sorted, packaged, and distributed to partner agencies that serve low-income families and individuals.
Flemingdon Community Food Bank
Address: 10 Gateway Blvd, North York, ON M3C 3A1, Canada
The Flemingdon Community Food Bank is a volunteer-run organization that provides food and support to people in the Flemingdon Park area of Toronto.
The food bank was started by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to make a difference in their community, and it has since grown into one of the largest food banks in the city.
The organization’s goal is to provide healthy foods to those who need them most, including those with low incomes and families with young children. They also offer counseling services and referrals to other community services as needed.
Popular FAQs About Food Banks in Toronto
Who can use a food bank?
Anyone can use a food bank, but you must be able to prove that you need help. You may need to show identification and proof of residency. A driver’s license or passport will work, as will a utility bill (gas, electric, water) with your name on it.
What kind of food is available at a food bank in Toronto?
Food banks in Toronto are stocked with a wide variety of foods, including shelf-stable items and fresh produce. You’ll find staples like canned soup, pasta sauce, and peanut butter—but you can also find fresh fruits and vegetables.
The best part about food banks is that they’re open to everyone who needs them. That means that if you have a family member who’s just lost their job, or if you’re an elderly person who can’t afford groceries anymore because of health problems, or if your kids are going away to college and leaving home for the first time, the food bank can help you out.
How do I donate to a food bank in Toronto?
Check the website of the food bank in Toronto where you want to donate food items or cash gifts; some of them usually specify what exactly they need the most.
How can I volunteer at a food bank in Toronto?
Likewise, if you’d like to volunteer for a food bank, you can fill out a form online (at their website) to indicate interest and specify the role you would want to work in.
Wrapping It Up
We hope this article have helped you identify some of the food banks in Toronto. If you want to know more about food banks in Toronto, we’ve got answers to some of the most common questions. Simply leave a comment below.