Ottawa, ON – February 12, 2025

The Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF) has announced a strategic $1 million grant to the Ottawa Food Bank (OFB) and its network of 71 agencies. This grant is a direct response to the food insecurity crisis in Ottawa and strengthens a network that intersects with other deeply connected issues like housing, healthcare, mental health, and poverty reduction.

“Hunger in our city has reached a breaking point, and immediate action is needed. This grant will help the Ottawa Food Bank and its partner agencies sustain their essential services.” said Michael Maidment, President and CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation.

The announcement follows the Ottawa Food Bank’s recent warning that it was scaling back the amount of food supplies it will provide to its partner agencies because of overwhelming demand.

“The Ottawa Community Foundation has made the largest cash donation that the Ottawa Food Bank has received in its 40-year history. This donation could not come at a more critical time,” said Rachael Wilson, CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank. “This incredible gift will be a lifeline for the 98 food programs in the network, which served over 556,000 visits last year. As the cost of food continues to rise, so do food bank visits.”

“With this gift, we can ensure that healthy, nutritious food will remain available at food programs across the city,” Wilson added. “We are beyond grateful to the Ottawa Community Foundation for their leadership and generosity.”

A One-Time Strategic Grant for Community-Wide Impact

This historic grant was first announced on January 31, 2025, at the Mayor’s Charity Ball with the goal of providing immediate relief while also sparking collaboration around long-term solutions to food insecurity in Ottawa. This move aligns with OCF’s ongoing commitment to the community, where more than $27M in grants were made in 2024 to support a wide range of charitable initiatives.

“We recognize that food insecurity is not just about food – it’s about systemic issues affecting our most vulnerable populations,” Maidment added. “As a community foundation, we are committed to creating lasting change. This grant is a clear example of how we can mobilize our resources to tackle an enormous challenge like food insecurity, and the conditions for a better community for everyone.”

Join the Movement

The Ottawa Community Foundation encourages donors, businesses, and community leaders to join in the effort to support food security and other initiatives in the region. Those interested in learning more about the OCF’s work can visit www.ocf-fco.ca. For more information about the Ottawa Food Bank, visit www.ottawafoodbank.ca.

About the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF): The Ottawa Community Foundation is a registered charity and one of over 200 community foundations across Canada. Since 1987, we’ve pooled and invested donations from generous people, creating funds that have provided more than $200 million in grants to various charitable causes. By sharing strategic insights about community needs, we connect donors with the charities and causes they are passionate about. Together, we are building a strong and supportive city for everyone.

About the Ottawa Food Bank: The Ottawa Food Bank is the main emergency food provider in the National Capital Region and has been serving the community since 1984. The Ottawa Food Bank works in partnership with a network of nearly 100 community food programs that include community food banks, food cupboards, meal programs, multi-service programs, kids’ summer nutrition programs, and after-school snack programs. The Ottawa Food Bank network receives more than 556,000 visits for food support annually. Sadly, 37% of Ottawa Food Bank clients are children. With a focus on fresh, and thanks to the community’s support, nearly 8.3 million pounds of food is distributed from the 2001 Bantree Street warehouse each year.

For more information, please contact:

Barry Lam
Manager, Communications
Ottawa Community Foundation
Phone: 613-563-7121
Email: blam@ocf-fco.ca

Farah Mustafa
Manager, Communications
Ottawa Food Bank
613-745-7001 ext. 148
Email: farah@ottawafoodbank.ca