The Food Bank of Waterloo Region in Ontario has pivoted to purchasing staples such as milk, eggs and produce in bulk as it responds to declining physical donations and rising food costs. Over the past year the organization served nearly 73,000 unique individuals through its network of partner agencies.
To keep up with demand, the food bank’s annual food‑purchasing budget has risen sharply — from about $200,000 pre‑pandemic to roughly $2 million in recent years — and those bulk purchases are distributed to 61 partner organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network so fresh items are available across the region.
According to the food bank’s 2025 Community Impact reporting (and coverage by CambridgeToday), between July 2024 and June 2025 the network distributed a record‑breaking 9.6 million pounds of fresh, frozen and non‑perishable food as visits to food hamper programs rose sharply.
Regional Council approved a one‑time increase to the annual grant for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region to $1.5 million (approved in December 2023 as part of the 2024 plan and budget) to help the network respond to record demand.
Analyses by Charity Intelligence and the food bank’s own reporting show the organization continues to rely heavily on community food and monetary donations to keep its operations running. The food bank operates a 31,000‑square‑foot distribution centre and says each dollar donated currently provides about two meals, though rising grocery costs have reduced that buying power and made it harder for many working families to afford enough to eat.
