Food Share

Food Share Program is a very important program that has been in place since 2006. The consistent availability of produce, bread and dairy for our clients is special indeed. Many Food Banks rarely stock these items. Through the generous support of our community we are able to keep Food Share in operation and provide our clients with essential nutrition that they might not get otherwise.

Major grocery stores, bakeries and other food outlets donate their close dated, perishable food to the Food Share Program. The food is picked up seven days-a-week using our three tonne refrigerated truck by a staff driver and volunteer swamper when available. The food is returned to the Food Bank, where it is sorted, cleaned and placed in cold storage for distribution as soon as possible.

• The Food Share program allows our clients to access produce, breads, dairy and baked goods twice a week.
• Approximately 45% of the perishable food is provided directly to our clients, 25% is distributed in partnership with 41agencies and schools that provide meals for the hungry and the remaining 30% is given to farmers to use as animal feed.
• Prior to the initiation of Food Share the perishable, close dated foods ended up in the landfill. By January 2012 we had diverted nearly four million pounds of nutritious food from landfill to client hampers and agencies that feed the hungry.