Food Bank
Service Summary
The Deep River and Area Food Bank is an incorporated organization and a registered charity. It is run entirely by volunteers and supported by our local community. Our aim is to provide food relief to individuals and families in our community who need our help.
We are organized into a Board of Directors who set overall policies and rules and a Volunteer Committee where most of the day-to-day operations are decided. The Chair of the Board is Patrick Wilson.
Annual Report
Click here to read the Deep River and Area Food Bank Inc. - Annual Report for 2022
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where Is the Food Bank Located?
The Deep River and Area Food Bank is located in the basement area of the Deep River and District Hospital, 117 Banting Drive, Deep River. Go to the far East end of the hospital and you will see our sign on an entry door.
When is the Food Bank Open?
The Food Bank is open to clients between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm every Monday except when Monday is a holiday.
Who can use the Food Bank?
Anyone can use our food bank, provided they live within our catchment area. The catchment area is from Deux Rivieres in the West (including Swisha) to Chalk River in the East.
If you live east of Chalk River, please go to the food banks in Petawawa or Pembroke:
- Petawawa Pantry: 3468B Petawawa Blvd. Phone: 613-687-1616. Open Tuesday 1pm to 4pm, Thursday 6pm to 8 pm.
- St. Joseph’s Food Bank: 295 First Ave, Pembroke. Phone: 613-732-3807. Open Mondays 9:30am to 12:30pm.
How often can I use the Food Bank?
You are entitled to one visit per calendar month. We record the date of each visit.
What information do I need to provide if I want to use the food bank?
We record the following information for each of our clients:
Name, Address, Phone Number, Number of Children and Years of Birth (to help us provide extras such as school lunch kits) and Partner’s Name if any.
When you visit the Food Bank please bring ID to show that you live in our catchment area (Deux Rivieres to Chalk River).
Can someone else pick up food for me?
The first time you visit the Food Bank you must come in person or contact North Renfrew Family Services for help (613-584-3358). If, on rare occasions, it is not possible to pick up your food in person, you must either call us to notify us that someone else is authorized to pick up your order, or that person must bring a note, signed by you, each time.
Is the Food Bank on Facebook?
Yes, just search on Facebook for
Deep River and Area Food Bank, or click here to access the page. We post regularly with information about
holiday closures, special needs, food drives and contact information.
How do I contact the Food Bank?
If you need food please visit us during our open hours. For other enquiries and messages please phone 613-584-3333 ext. 7910 and leave a message. We pick up our phone messages every day and one of us will contact you.
Deep River and Area Food Bank
117 Banting Drive, P.O. Box 1015, Deep River
Phone: (613) 584-3333 ext. 7910
Helping the Food Bank
How do I make a donation of money?
Here are three options:
How do I make a donation of food?
Most of the local churches have drop boxes for non-perishable food items. There are also boxes in the Deep River Town Hall, Jan’s Valu mart, the Deep River & District Hospital lobby, and Giant Tiger. You can also bring food items to the Food Bank during our open hours. We accept donations of fresh garden produce, in season, during our open hours.
Are there food items that you do not accept as donations?
In general we are limited to foods that are pre-packaged and which have never been opened.
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We cannot accept the following:
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Canned foods or sensitive foods such as baby food which are past the expiry date.
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Home made goods such as cookies, muffins, etc.
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Fresh meat that is not prepackaged with best before dates.
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Significant quantities of frozen foods (due to lack of freezer space).
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Open containers of food (e.g. bags that have split, or partly used tins of coffee, etc.)
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Any food that you think might be of doubtful quality.
If in doubt about the acceptability of a donation please call us and leave a message. We will get back to you.
What sort of work do the volunteers do?
We depend on a variety of skills and interests from our enthusiastic team of volunteers. The work includes behind-the-scenes tasks such as administration, finance and publicity, and operational work such as taking deliveries, stacking shelves, filling boxes and being responsible for the client relationships and the standards of cleanliness, professionalism, etc.
We are sometimes short of people able to do medium weight lifting and carrying for deliveries of food to the food bank, and occasionally for some critical administrative tasks.
All our volunteers are required to sign a membership form committing themselves to our standards of behaviour, and we expect our volunteers to be reasonably regular in their support of the Food Bank.
How can I volunteer?
If you are interested in helping us please phone us on 613-584-3333 ext. 7910 and leave a message. We pick up our phone messages every day and one of us will contact you.