Toronto Food Banks
Toronto food banks and related food assistance programs offer temporary or ongoing support to individuals and families who are struggling to support themselves. Increasingly, the old idea of food banks is being blended with other programs to work towards lasting change in the communities they serve.
During Easter, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season, many people donate to well-publicized food drives. But food programs need donations and volunteers year-round.
If you need to access food bank services or would like to get involved, use the resources below to get in touch with one of Toronto's main food banks or a local program.
The Daily Bread Food Bank collects donations and redistributes them to over 150 community agencies. Food donations can be made at any local firehall, or at the Daily Bread main office and distribution centre, located in the New Toronto neighbourhood of South Etobicoke. You can also make a monetary donation, and attend or organize a fund- or food-raising event.
To make use of the Daily Bread Food Bank's services, call 416-203-0050. They can also direct you to further resources related to housing, training and employment, and more.
Daily Bread Food Bank
191 New Toronto Street
416-203-0050
www.dailybread.caMore »
Much like Daily Bread, the North York Harvest Food Bank's main activity is collecting and sorting donations which are then redistributed to local food programs in the north end of Toronto. North York Harvest also offers student workshops, runs a Harvest-to-Hand Community Garden program, and organizes farm trips to offer pick-your-own produce opportunities for people from the communities they serve.
The North York Harvest Food Bank
640 Lawrence Ave West
416-635-7771
www.northyorkharvest.comMore »
The Stop Community Food Centre is one of the member agencies of the Daily Bread Food Bank, but it also offers a variety of other food access programs including running a farmer's market, youth training, urban agriculture projects and more.
The Stop Community Food Centre: Main Location
1884 Davenport Rd
416-652-7867
thestop.org
The Stop's Green Barn at Wychwood Barns
601 Christie Street, Barn #4
416-651-7867More »
Second Harvest isn't a food bank in the traditional sense. This registered charity collects perishable and surplus foods from businesses, which it then redistributes to community agencies, so they generally don't collect non-perishable food donations from the general public. You can donate money however, or sign up as a Second Harvest volunteer. And of course if you work for a food-related company which may have surplus to donate, contact Second Harvest to learn more or to schedule a food donation. Second Harvest runs several special events as fundraisers throughout the year, including Lunch Money Day every February.
Second Harvest
1450 Lodestar Road
416-408-2594
secondharvest.caMore »
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, there is likely a food bank serving your area as well. Look through the list below to find the organization nearest to you, and contact them for more information on programs you can use, donate to, or volunteer for in your community:
During Easter, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season, many people donate to well-publicized food drives. But food programs need donations and volunteers year-round.
If you need to access food bank services or would like to get involved, use the resources below to get in touch with one of Toronto's main food banks or a local program.
Call the Toronto FoodLink Hotline
Most Toronto food banks and meal programs serve a specific community, and you need to live within the service boundary to make use of the food bank. Luckily there are many small neighbourhood programs located in churches and community centres all across the city. One of the easiest ways to find a food program near you is to call the Toronto FoodLink Hotline at 416-392-6655 (or just call 211 directly). You can also call the major food banks listed below to get information on the programs they support.More »The Daily Bread Food Bank
The Daily Bread Food Bank collects donations and redistributes them to over 150 community agencies. Food donations can be made at any local firehall, or at the Daily Bread main office and distribution centre, located in the New Toronto neighbourhood of South Etobicoke. You can also make a monetary donation, and attend or organize a fund- or food-raising event.
To make use of the Daily Bread Food Bank's services, call 416-203-0050. They can also direct you to further resources related to housing, training and employment, and more.
Daily Bread Food Bank
191 New Toronto Street
416-203-0050
www.dailybread.caMore »
The North York Harvest Food Bank
Much like Daily Bread, the North York Harvest Food Bank's main activity is collecting and sorting donations which are then redistributed to local food programs in the north end of Toronto. North York Harvest also offers student workshops, runs a Harvest-to-Hand Community Garden program, and organizes farm trips to offer pick-your-own produce opportunities for people from the communities they serve.
The North York Harvest Food Bank
640 Lawrence Ave West
416-635-7771
www.northyorkharvest.comMore »
The Stop Community Food Centre
The Stop Community Food Centre is one of the member agencies of the Daily Bread Food Bank, but it also offers a variety of other food access programs including running a farmer's market, youth training, urban agriculture projects and more.
The Stop Community Food Centre: Main Location
1884 Davenport Rd
416-652-7867
thestop.org
The Stop's Green Barn at Wychwood Barns
601 Christie Street, Barn #4
416-651-7867More »
Second Harvest
Second Harvest isn't a food bank in the traditional sense. This registered charity collects perishable and surplus foods from businesses, which it then redistributes to community agencies, so they generally don't collect non-perishable food donations from the general public. You can donate money however, or sign up as a Second Harvest volunteer. And of course if you work for a food-related company which may have surplus to donate, contact Second Harvest to learn more or to schedule a food donation. Second Harvest runs several special events as fundraisers throughout the year, including Lunch Money Day every February.
Second Harvest
1450 Lodestar Road
416-408-2594
secondharvest.caMore »
Outside Toronto
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, there is likely a food bank serving your area as well. Look through the list below to find the organization nearest to you, and contact them for more information on programs you can use, donate to, or volunteer for in your community: