Because everyone deserves a place to turn when times are tough.

Display of fresh onions, carrots, and potatoes at a food bank with a brick wall background and signs indicating assistance for food donations.

There are many reasons someone may need short- or long-term support from the food bank — we’re here to help, without judgment.

Mission

Providing food to all in need with compassion, care and dignity.

Vision

A community where no one is hungry.

    • Respect

    • Compassion

    • Independence and Self-Sufficiency

    • Service excellence. 

    • We recognize that those who come to us for food assistance may also have other needs including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.  

    • We encourage individuals and families to be hopeful, assisting with steps that they may take to meet their expressed needs.  

    • We comfort, encourage, and challenge individuals and families to do all they can to help themselves.

    • We collaborate with community organizations to provide relevant resources to our clients. 

    • We show compassion and respect for the dignity of those who come to us for assistance.

Our Story

  • In 1984, just a few years after Canada’s first food bank opened in Edmonton, several local churches came together to establish a food pantry in the basement of Melville United Church. By 1997, the volume of food distributed, number of clients served and roster of volunteers had grown to the point where the Centre Wellington Food Bank needed to hire a manager.

  • The charity moved several times before settling in 2009 in its present home in the historic Fergus Marketplace in Fergus. To reduce operating costs and ensure continuity, the Food Bank purchased the premises in 2013.

  • Since those early days, the Centre Wellington Food Bank has continued to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of our community. We were among the first food banks to introduce a shopping model, allowing clients to choose the foods that best suit their families and lifestyles — because dignity and choice matter. Our community kitchen program transforms reclaimed and recovered foods into nutritious, ready-to-enjoy meals prepared with care for our clients.

  • We’re also proud to collaborate with local farmers, grocery partners, and community agencies who share our commitment to addressing the root causes of food insecurity. Together, we support individuals facing challenges such as poverty, mental health issues, and system navigation barriers — all of which are closely connected to food access. Our work continues to focus on strengthening partnerships, expanding advocacy, and building a coordinated community response to ensure that everyone in Centre Wellington has reliable access to good food and compassionate support.