Open to clients
Wednesdays 1 to 5 PM and
Thursdays 1 to 5 PM
Donations to the food bank can be dropped of on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday mornings between 9am-12 (Noon). If these times don't work for you, please contact the food bank to arrange for a better delivery time. We ask that you do not drop off your food donations when we are open for our clients (Wednesdays & Thursdays from 1-5pm) as we are extremely busy & do not have the staff to take in your donations. We appreciate your support!
ALLISTON FOOD
BANK
(FORMERLY, THE GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK)
Exciting News
The Good Shepherd Food Bank has become the Alliston Food Bank! Although our name has changed our services remain the same! Updates can be found on our Facebook, Instagram, and upcoming new website!
Big Changes underway at the Alliston Food Bank!
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Our First 30 Years
The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Alliston has been run by 100% volunteers with amazing community support. We have always strived to help those in financially difficult times by providing nutritious food to supplement their needs.
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Many dedicated volunteers have overseen our operations and created a positive atmosphere where those in need have been treated with respect, dignity, & confidentiality. Coming to a food bank for assistance can be a stressful experience, however our food bank is proud of our ability to help with a friendly smile through challenging economic times.
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Moving Forward in 2023
Now we are finding new ways to improve our food choices while facing unprecedented demands in our community for support. The first step was hiring an employee to oversee our operations and secure new sources of free food rescues. The next step was the purchase of a refrigerated van to safely transport this rescued perishable & non-perishable food from donors to our food bank. Many local food sources and stores have generously supported this initiative. Lastly, we are now able to receive and share food between our local food banks to create improved access & variety of supplies.
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The one thing that is still our most valuable resource, is the dedication and commitment of the people who volunteer at our food bank! We always need more generous volunteers to help run our food bank.
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Recently our food bank changed our name to the much shorter "Alliston Food Bank", created a new logo & are improving our social media presence. We hope to continue to be noticed & supported in our growing community, as an important component of our local social services safety net with improved awareness of who we are.
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We thank our generous community and local businesses for their support, All the food & donations are much appreciated.
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Even with our re-branding we are still the same food bank & we encourage "Please Care-Please Share to help our neighbours!
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Dave Bradbury, President, Alliston Food Bank.
Important Changes coming to the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Alliston Starting May 1, 2023!
The Good Shepherd Food Bank is going digital in May, so please be patient as we switch over to the new system:
1. Every Client will be required to visit Client Support to ensure their files are up to date--please bring photo identification with your home address, as well as identification for all the family members including your children (a photo of a spouse's ID is fine). If you don't have photo identification with a home address, please bring a recent bill that has your home address on it instead.
2. You will no longer need or be issued a Food Bank ID Card. Instead you will be required to bring your personal photo identification with you every time you come to the food bank, UNTIL your file has been updated when you can show a picture of your personal identification on your phone.
You may NOT line up any earlier than 12:45pm--this is due to safety reasons. If you arrive earlier than 12:45pm, you will be asked to leave & return at proper time.
As of May 1st, NO PARKING will be available to clients in the designated food bank parking spots--again this is for safety reasons. Just a reminder, there is NO parking allowed anywhere else in the parking lot--these spots are reserved for Tenants & Rocco's clients only. Instead, please utilize the parking available on the street or in the municipal parking lot to the east,
When you have finished shopping, if you have too many groceries to carry to your vehicle, you can leave them on one of the designated tables that will be available. You can then retrieve your vehicle & drive into the food bank lot to load your groceries from the table & exit through the gate. An Outside Manager will be monitoring & supervising grocery pickups.
Our Social Media Links
First time coming to the Food Bank...
No worries, we are here to help you.
Here's what you need to know:
To register as a new client at the Food Bank please come on
Wednesday or Thursday afternoon between 1-4 pm, as the process of registering & orienting you as to how the food bank operates does take a bit of time.
When you arrive please identify yourself as a first-time client to the staff.
If possible, please bring with you the following items: personal photo ID,
ID for family members, & proof of address.
Our Mission
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To provide nutritional food assistance to individuals and families encountering difficult financial times. We care and respect the dignity of our clients.
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Our History
The Good Shepherd Food Bank grew out of a service that was started by Guy Belanger in 1994. Mr. Belanger collected fruit and vegetables from his own and his neighbors' gardens and delivered them to families in need from the back of his truck.
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His efforts caught the attention of the like-minded individuals, who began to volunteer and organize resources.
The first Annual General Meeting of the Good Shepherd Food Bank was held in April, 1995.
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The success of our food bank is due to many dedicated volunteers who have given their time to help those in need since we started. Special recognition goes to our past food coordinators Les Farquarson, Earl Smith and Richard Gilder, who have each individually overseen our non-perishable, fresh and frozen food supplies over the years.
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Our Governance
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The Good Shepherd Food Bank is governed by a constitution and is overseen by a 16-member Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers and are active in one or more areas of our operation. From this board, a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary are elected.
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We are a registered charitable organizations and member of the Canadian Association of Food Banks and Feed Ontario.
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We are 100% volunteer run--over 90 people help to keep the Food Bank going. There are no paid positions.
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All of our food is donated or purchased with donated money.
Donate
Monetary Donations (cash, cheques, etransfers, credit card) can be made in a variety of ways:
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Cash can be dropped off to the locked box located at the front of the food bank
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Cheques can also be dropped off at the locked box located at the front of the food bank or can be sent through the mail. All cheques should be made payable to The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Alliston, PO Box 28, Alliston, ON, L9R 1T9
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Etransfers should be sent to: allistongsfb.donations@gmail.com (Please send us a separate email with your contact information for a tax receipt)
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Credit Card Donations: Please Google: CanadaHelps & scroll until you find our Charity: Good Shepherd Food Bank of Alliston, Inc,
Food Donations can be dropped off at the back door, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, 9 - 12 am
If you wish to receive a tax receipt for your donation, please send an email to allistongsfb.donations@gmail.com stating your name and full address including your postal code and the amount of your donation. A receipt will be sent to you through Canada Post
©2021 by Good Shepherd Food Bank. Proudly created with Wix.com
(705) 435-3255
Our December 3rd OPENHOUSE!
 Lovely mini Christmas Trees donated to our families from Somerville Nurseries! |  The shelves may be a bit bare, but the spirit of giving is in full swing! |
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 The inner workings of the food bank being explained by Michael Vear. |  New Tecumseth Councillors: Chris Rapin- Ward 1, Wendy Gabrek- Ward 2, Alan Masters- Ward 4, Marc Biss-Ward 5, Dave Bradbury GSFB |
 Odd Fellows and Rick Milne with a $1000 donation for the GSFB! |  Dave Bradbury with Wayne Middleton, Manager of Freshco, one of our fantastic corporate sponsors/donors. |
 Jaime Karsch GSFB & His Worship, Mayor of New Tecumseth,Richard Norcross. |  Deputy Mayor of New Tecumseth, Stephanie MacLellan & France Young, COO Imani's Place |
 Dave Bradbury GSFB & Robine Hawkes of Our Town Food Bank in Tottenham. |  Our crew of volunteers in the morning all ready to talk about the GSFB! |
 Danielle & Sue, two more of our amazing volunteers. |  Jaime Karsch & Dave Bradbury receiving a cheque for $1000 from Rick Milne & the Odd Fellows. |
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 171 in Alliston.
Describe your image
Jaime Karsch, Operations Manager
Richard Gilder
Marilyn Kidd
Anne Pendergast
Madeline Skelton
Joan Starr
Joan Starr