How You Can Help
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At the Guelph Food Bank, we are all about ‘People Helping People.’ If you believe in what we do here, we invite you to join us by supporting our programs in any way you can. Together we CAN make a difference.
Become a partner in addressing food security issues today by volunteering, making a monetary donation, giving food, or simply asking questions and learning more!
Make a Donation
Making a monetary donation is one of the simplest and easiest ways for you to make sure nobody in our city goes hungry. For every $1.00 you donate, you are helping a neighbour in need with two meals.
Become a Monthly Donor
Hunger doesn’t take a holiday, and neither does our need for your support. By making a monthly commitment, you can help ensure we have reliable funding throughout the year.
Giving as a Gift
Making a monetary donation in a loved one’s name is a great way to honour someone or give a gift to that someone who doesn’t need anything.
Donating Securities
Tax Receipt Information/ Requirements
Income tax receipts for in-kind donations can only be issued for purchases totaled before tax and receipts cannot be issued for gift cards. If you are collecting as a part of a group, use our donation tracking form for ease of tracking multiple individuals’ donations and contributions.
Income tax receipts being issued for in-kind donations by companies, farmers, etc., will be issued on the at-cost value, not the retail value of the product being donated.
All income tax receipts are mailed out by the end of February for the previous year (i.e., all income tax receipts for donations made during the 2023 calendar year will be mailed out in February of 2024). If you need a temporary receipt as a placeholder for your records, we can provide a confirmation letter or temporary receipt.
Donate Food
Food donations can be dropped off at the back door of the GFB warehouse between 9am and 4pm Monday through Friday.
Client Access Hours for Food pickup:
9 am - 11:45 am Monday through Friday
Phones are answered:
9 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday
(after which we regularly check for messages and return phone calls. Please note we may not be able to return your call the same day, but typically within 24 hrs)
Office Hours:
9 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday
(no weekends or stat holidays)
Non-perishable food donations can also be dropped off in any of our collection bins located in partner grocery stores or fire halls. Please leave only non-perishable donations in these bins. To make a perishable donation, please visit our warehouse!
Grocery Store Drop-Off Locations
Fire Hall Drop-Off Locations (24/7):
Most Needed Items
Canned soup
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Canned meats
Pasta sauce
Canned tomatoes
Meal helper
Rice
Peanut butter
Diapers (size 3 & up)
Regular Needed Items
Regular Needed Items
Cereal
Dry pasta
Rice
Juices
Coffee
Tea
Adult & children’s toiletries
Baby formula
Baby foods
Special diet foods
Diabetic products
Low salt products
Wheat free products
Ethnic food options
Boost / Ensure
Support Seasonal Food Drives
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To make an even bigger impact with your donations, consider giving during one of our peak food / fundraising times. These quarterly food drives include our Spring Food Drive, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas Food Drive, and our Summer Stock-Up (new this year). To keep up to date on locations and dates, check out our social media pages and subscribe to our newsletter here.
To make an even bigger impact with your donations, consider giving during one of our peak food / fundraising times. These quarterly food drives include our Spring Food Drive, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas Food Drive, and our Summer Stock-Up (new this year). To keep up to date on locations and dates, check out our social media pages and subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also organize your own food drive event in support of our organization. Contact us today for more information on setting up your own fundraiser, or download our Fundraising Tips & Tricks guide here. Please let us know about your event by registering here!
Farmer/Grower Direct Partnership
Farmer and grower partnerships are important in ensuring GFB is able to continuously provide fresh produce and other perishable items throughout our network.
Plant a Row, Grow a Row
Through Plant a Row, Grow a Row, we encourage growers to consider using some of their garden space to grow fruits and vegetables for the Guelph Food Bank as well. These donations go a long way in ensuring a constant supply of fresh local produce to those otherwise unable to grow / access such nutritious options.
Cash and Automatic
Deposit Donations
Did you know that for every $1 you donate, more than two complete meals will be provided to someone in need within your community. We appreciate every dollar you can spare. Donate once or become a weekly, monthly or annual donations partner completing the following form.
Volunteer
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People helping people.
We simply couldn’t do what we do without the great volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to meet the needs of our community. The hours are flexible to fit your schedule. Any time you can dedicate is very much appreciated. Check out our list of opportunities you may be interested in below.
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Individual Volunteer opportunities
Client Servicing
Volunteers on our client servicing team assist in directly supporting those accessing our services. Client servicing shifts are available Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 12 pm.
Warehouse
Volunteers on our warehouse team assist in day-to-day operations relating to the warehouse including: receiving food, sorting food, boxing and staging food, preparing hampers, stocking shelves, building agency orders, rotation of stock, product breakdown, and whatever else needs to be done! Warehouse shifts are available Monday through Friday in two different shifts: mornings from 8:45 am to 12 pm, and afternoons from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Food Sorting
As part of our warehouse team, those interested in supporting our organization who are looking for something less physically demanding are welcome to help us sort incoming food donations. Food Sorting shifts are available Monday through Friday in two different shifts: mornings from 8:45 am to 12 pm, and afternoons from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Driving
Volunteer drivers are an integral part of our operation responsible for picking up food donations around the city and delivering orders to agencies. These volunteers also serve as a representation of our organization in the public as they are routinely in contact with our donors and partners. Those interested in a role with our driving team must be 25 years or older with a valid G license and clean driving record.
Morning shifts are Monday through Friday from 8am to 12pm (flexible).
Afternoon shifts are Monday through Friday from 1pm to 4pm (flexible).
Office Support
If you are interested in supporting our office team, whether with daily duties such as data entry, filing, or stats, or if you have a specific skillset you are interested in sharing (i.e., marketing, social media, event planning, public relations, etc.), please reach out to us so that we can chat about how you might fit into our operations.
Special Events
Those interested in supporting us during special events are encouraged to check this option off on their volunteer forms. Our team will reach out to you for event support when planning out special events such as fundraisers, food drives, etc. These events can occur on evenings, weekends, or during the week depending on the nature of the event.
Gift Wrapping
Each year for the month of December leading up to Christmas, Guelph Food Bank has a gift-wrapping booth set up at Stone Road Mall where our volunteers wrap gifts for patrons by donation. Shifts are available all hours that the mall is open from December 1st to December 24th each year. Those interested who have marked this option down on their volunteer forms will receive a call prior to December 1st for scheduling.
Fundraising
Our team is always looking for individuals interested and/or experienced with fundraising to help with various initiatives around increasing awareness, soliciting monetary donations, and coordinating food donations. Let us know what your level of interest in this category so that we can set up a chat with you.
Team Building / Group Volunteering
Volunteering as a group is an amazing way for your teams - whether from work, sports, school, or otherwise - to bond and develop comradery in a low-stress, high-energy environment. Guelph Food Bank can accommodate groups of 10-20 individuals in our warehouse during regular operating hours (9 am-4 pm). Contact us for larger groups or special events to chat about how we can work together.
Student Volunteers
We welcome high school and post-secondary students alike who are interested in working with our team, whether for required hour completions or general interest.
Students / youth interested in volunteering with us are eligible to do so as early as the summer preceding their grade 9 year.
Note:
If completing hours that require sign-offs, you will need to keep track of your hours and submit an ‘hour request sign-off’ form at least 24 hours in advance when ready to have your hours confirmed. Once informed that your hours are ready to be signed, you will need to bring in the form given to you by your school. These forms can often be found on your school boards website.
Work Placements
High school students completing a co-op program through their schools are welcome to do so with us. We offer flexible placement times in a safe, positive environment that fosters the growth and development of important life skills such as time management, teamwork, communication, and confidence.
To date we have welcomed students from:
Post-secondary students looking to do placements in a meaningful environment are welcome to apply with us. We work with numerous colleges and universities to ensure your time spent in placement is a rewarding one that will help you grow as an individual ready to embark on your personal journey into the work force.
Students from a variety of backgrounds have completed their placements with us including; social work, specialized care programs, policing and other emergency service geared programs, business placements, etc.
To date we have welcomed students from:
Become a Partner
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You can partner with the Guelph Food Bank in many ways such as by organizing food drives and fundraising events within your community, as well as promoting our cause through various channels, such as social media or local newsletters. Additionally, you can explore the option of providing direct financial contributions or exploring corporate sponsorships to further assist the food bank in its operations.
By establishing a partnership, we can work together to maximize the impact of your efforts, ensuring that more individuals and families have access to essential food resources. Please contact us for more information.
Other Support Options
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Here are some tried, tested, and true ways that you can provide meaningful support to the Guelph Food Bank. Have a new idea? Share with us and help us grow our list of fantastic fundraising ideas for the future.
Plant-A-Row – Grow-A-Row
This program simply asks that you consider planting an extra row of fresh veggies when you plan your garden and donate the results of this one-row harvest to the GFB.
Assist at special events
GFB runs several Food Drives, events, and seasonal programs to increase donations throughout the year. Fill out a volunteer form to get more details.
Run a food drive at work
Whether it be a holiday pot-luck gathering of your work colleagues or a simple gesture like ‘Food Bank Friday’, you can collect non-perishable food items and cash donations for the GFB. Click on this ‘Creative ways to donate’ form for more ideas, information and getting your collected donations to the GFB.
Run a fundraiser
A BBQ with a cash donation for each burger is a simple way to promote giving. A neighbourhood garage sale, bake sale or plant sale with all proceeds going to the GFB is another fun way to get Click on this ‘Creative ways to fundraise’ form for more fundraising ideas and how to set up your donation collection.
Donate monthly
Consider a regularly scheduled monthly donation on pay-day or any day that suits you best. What could be easier than setting this up with your online banking account or gifting pre-dated cheques? Click ‘monetary donations’ for more information on this option.
Have your employer match your funds
A great way to double your fundraising efforts! Click on the ‘employer fund matching’ on how to approach and set this up at your place of work.
Have a dress-up day
Themed costumes based on the season or movie, play or TV show, this option is a fun way to work for a day and raise funds at the same time. Click on this ‘Creative ways to fundraise’ form for more fundraising ideas and how to set up your donation collection.
Do a challenge in your company or your division, floor, or department
Consider challenging your work colleagues to a workplace challenge such as lunchtime parking lot race on foot, tricycles or office chairs, a chili cook-off, a comedic improv chef challenge in the lunchroom… there are so many great ideas for creating fun and interactive fundraisers. Click on this ‘Creative ways to fundraise’ form for more fundraising ideas and how to set up your donation collection. - Have your business sponsor an ongoing monthly or yearly cost, eg. Hydro, insurance
Adopt-A-Family at Christmas
Our Adopt-A-Family Christmas program has been running for more than 25 years and has provided countless families and individuals with a traditional Christmas dinner and gifts for the whole family. We tailor this program on an ongoing basis to the needs of our active clientele with the help of sponsors who share in our vision of providing a little extra support during what can be an extra difficult time for many, especially our single individuals – who quite often have little to no immediate family or support during the holiday season.
Donate new leftover toys from staff or family Christmas / holiday parties
Did employees or families not attend nor pick up gifts this holiday season? Consider donating those items to the GFB. Our various programs help distribute those to children in need. Contact us to set up pick up OR drop off of your donations.