Commentary
Our community shows up: Here’s how you can join in this season
November 5, 2026 · 0 Comments
This fall has been a great reminder of what makes Dufferin County special. Local schools rallied for our Thanks/Giving Food Drive Challenge. The Dufferin OPP filled our van at Metro. Visitors to the Dufferin Farm Tour brought food donations as their ticket in. Every can, box and bag adds up, and we’re so grateful!
That generosity matters, because the need keeps growing. Every month, about 1,600 people turn to the Orangeville Food Bank for help. One in three is a child. Sixteen per cent are working but still can’t afford to feed themselves or their families.
Since 2021, the number of people we serve has grown by 88 per cent. Food donations have grown by 22 per cent over the same period. We’re filling that gap by purchasing more food and building new partnerships with other food banks.
More than a food bank
Walk into the food bank, and you’ll see people choosing their own groceries, just like at any store. Our client-choice model means families take home food they’ll actually use.
Our Community Kitchen prepares meals for our client fridge and for vending machines at the Orangeville Public Library and HART Hub. Through our monthly seniors’ markets, more than 60 seniors receive fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and milk at no cost.
None of it happens without our more than 265 volunteers. They sort, pack, cook, stock shelves and greet every person with a smile. They are the heart of this place.
Growing pains
The first two weeks of every month are standing room only. On Oct. 6, we served 127 families in nine hours and on Oct. 8, we served 63 families in three hours.
Space is tight. Our cold storage is limited, so produce like squash, onions and potatoes doesn’t last as long as it should.
Our non-perishables are spread across several locations, including two sea cans and a storage locker. Our vehicles date back to 2019, and recent repairs on our refrigerated van alone cost more than $5,000.
Food banks don’t receive provincial or federal funding. This year, the Town of Orangeville and the County of Dufferin make up 6 per cent of the funding we need. The rest comes from you. For 34 years, this community has been our backbone. Whether you drop off a can of soup, give your time or make a financial gift, you help a local family put food on the table.
Thank you for helping us build A Well-Nourished Community supported by Kindness,
Dignity and Choice.
To donate, please visit: orangevillefoodbank.org
Mark your calendar for upcoming food drives
Bring the kids, grab a friend and drop off non-perishable food at any of these events:
• Saturday, Nov. 14: Winter Food Drive at FreshCo, Metro, No Frills, Sobeys and Zehrs, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22: HollyFest with the Orangeville Citizen at the Orangeville Fairgrounds (247090 Side Road 5, Mono). On Saturday, the event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, the event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 28: Stuff a Truck with the Orangeville Fire Department at Canadian Tire (99 First Street), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food donations are being accepted in-store from Nov. 1 to 28.
• Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19: Sobeys holiday food drives with local police, fire and paramedic services
• Save the date: Coldest Night of the Year returns on Feb. 27, 2027.
Next year marks 35 years of the Orangeville Food Bank. Food banks were never meant to be permanent, and without real solutions to poverty and the rising cost of living, the need will keep growing. But 35 years also shows what this community can do together!
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