Question 1

Do I live in your catchment area?

Accepted Answer

Click here to view our catchment area. If you are not in our service area and not sure what food bank to go to you can give us a call and we will provide contact information so you can sign up for food bank service where you live.

Question 2

Do I need an appointment to sign up?

Accepted Answer

No, you can come by with the required ID and proof of address during our open hours as outlined above.

Question 3

I don't have an official address or ID, can I still come?

Accepted Answer

If you are unhoused, or have precarious housing, come in and speak with staff so we can make arrangements for you. Please bring any supporting documents concerning your current situation you may have such as a letter from a social worker, therapist, probation officer, school or any other person in a professional field who can vouch for your situation. If you don't currently have anything you can have the person email us the info later, in the meantime please come by for a meal and we can give you an emergency food bank visit. If you are unhoused and don't have your ID we have an internal system to enable us to start a file for you so you can still use the food bank.

Question 4

How often can I come?

Accepted Answer

Those with housing can come twice a month. Unhoused clients receive the same number of points spread out over four visits a month to accommodate those without access to refrigeration or a place to store food.

Question 5

Do I get a hamper box?

Accepted Answer

At the NHCC we serve clients using a points system. You get a number of points based on the number of people in your household and you get to pick the items you need. A volunteer or staff member will show you what we have and track the points for you. This ensures clients get items they really need and enjoy.

Question 6

I have special dietary requirements, what if I can't use what I'm given?

Accepted Answer

At the NHCC we serve clients using a points system. One of our volunteers will show you what we have and track the points for you, this allows you pick what items you can use according to availability and your dietary needs.

Question 7

How much food will I get?

Accepted Answer

How long it will lasts depends on each households dietary habits so this is hard to gauge. Food banks generally give 3 days worth of food however, due to generous donations clients report to us that the food we give lasts them longer.

Question 8

Why is some food past the best before date? Is it safe?

Accepted Answer

Best Before Dates: Indicate freshness, flavour, and nutritional value on unopened products, they are not safety indicators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGFYjRLzjj4Expiration / Expiry Dates: Strictly related to food safety. Required only on specific items like infant formula and nutritional supplements.
 
Much of our food is donated from our local grocery stores through the Second Harvest Program which diverts items that reach their BB date before being sold. We follow Food Banks Canada and Health Canada's guidelines on how long these items are allowed to be given out for. You can learn more here

If you are concerned, please check the items you choose while at the food bank (we can't exchange items later). It is absolutely fine for you to ask for another item if you don't want one given to you by our volunteer.

Question 9

Where does the food bank food come from?

Accepted Answer

Our food donations are the result of connections we have with various organizations and, of course, from generous donations made by local community members and businesses. Read more on the Our Partnerships page.

Question 10

Who sees my information on my client file?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who works for, or volunteers with, the NHCC signs and adheres to a privacy policy. Only those doing intake have access to your file on our Link2Feed case management system. This info is used to help us track your visits, set up registration, and is also used to collect basic data numbers for grant applications and regional food network counts. An example is we could run a report in the program to tell us how many families with children use our food bank that we can use to show the need in our community and who is most impacted. It gives us numbers we can use without names or other personal information. Our donations from Food Banks Canada and Feed Ontario use these numbers when deciding how much food is shared with our organization.

Question 11

What if I have other questions?

Accepted Answer

You can call us at 343-476-0177 or email Supervisor/ Food Bank Coordinator Jo at nhcc.coordinator@gmail.com

The food hub of North Hastings County since 1992

Frequently asked questions