Town of Whitby and Feed the Need in Durham partnering to provide better access to healthy food options for those in need

A new market-style food bank will open its doors at Iroquois Park Sports Centre on May 2 (2024), helping to provide a more accessible, dignified, and equitable way for individuals to access food bank services and healthy food options in a community setting.

The market will be operated by Feed the Need in Durham (FTND), supported by volunteers and the Town of Whitby to address food insecurity in the community. 

How To Access The Food Bank

Pre-registration is required to access the ‘shopping-style’ experience at The Market located at Iroquois Park Sports Centre (500 Victoria Street West). First-time registration can be done at The Market each Thursday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. First-time registrants will receive a client ID from FTND that can be used to book future shopping experiences. Once you receive a client ID, it can be used to access online booking, which opens each Friday at 10 a.m. for the following week and will remain open until all shopping spots are filled. 

In response to significant community need and FTND’s commitment to ensuring sufficient food availability, only 100 booking spots will be offered per week for families or individuals. Should spots be filled, pre-packaged food bags will be offered at The Market during hours of operation to anyone in need of food.

Instead of putting a pre-selected food hamper in someone’s hands, registered visitors can move freely through the space, browsing the shelves and choosing the foods that best meet their families’ needs. In addition to providing a variety of choices for visitors, The Market at Iroquois Park Sports Centre will allow access to more fresh and frozen foods, like meat and produce, in addition to non-perishables, to be shared with those seeking support; this empowers visitors to meet their unique dietary needs and family preferences. With extended evening availability, the market meets rising demand and helps fill current gaps in local food bank services.

How To Support The Food Bank

Addressing food insecurity is a community effort. There are several ways that community members can help support The Market:

Donate Funds: make a monetary donation to FTND online or over the phone at 905.571.3863. The donation line is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday each week or you can leave a voicemail and a member of the team will get back to you.

Donate Food: You can drop off non-perishable food donations at Iroquois Park Sports Centre (500 Victoria Street West) in Whitby during facility operating hours or at the FTND warehouse (371A Marwood Drive) in Oshawa, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A list of most needed items can be found here.

Volunteer: complete an online volunteer application form to help support The Market.

Quotes

Today marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity in Whitby. This new market-style food bank will provide dignity and equity for residents in need, allowing them to choose groceries with the same autonomy afforded to any shopper. I am so pleased that the Town of Whitby is supporting this initiative by providing former office space at Iroquois Park Sports Centre to house the food bank as well as a $15,000 lead grant from the Mayor’s Community Development Fund.

-       Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

'The Market’ symbolizes hope for families in need within the Whitby community. By adhering to our core principles of dignity, access, and equity, we have created a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone. Our collective efforts are revolutionizing food banking in the Durham Region, bringing about a positive and sustainable impact on the lives of families that require support in Whitby.

-       Ben Earle, Chief Executive Officer, Feed the Need in Durham

Quick Facts

• Approximately 1,000-feet of former office space at Iroquois Park Sports Centre has been provided by the Town to FTND as a no cost lease for a three-year term with the ability to extend annually.
• Working with partners to address food security concerns is a key action item of Whitby’s new Community Strategic Plan.
• The 2022 Price of Eating Well in Durham Region report found that many families are struggling to afford a sufficient and healthy diet, with 15 percent of households categorized as food insecure, which means they either worry about running out of food, settle for lower quality food, or miss meals altogether.
• Feed the Need in Durham has reported that between April 2022 and March 2023 there were:
  • 68,000 visits to food banks in Whitby (a 46% increase); and
  • 7,200 Whitby food bank clients (a 36% increase), 31% of which were first time food bank users.

More Information

For more information on how the Town is working with partners to support those in need, visit whitby.ca/CommunitySupports. 

For media inquiries, contact:

Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services,
Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913; Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca