PCFB'S HISTORY
When it was announced that St. Philip's Pantry was closing, community members rallied together to start a fundraiser to save the food bank.
Our first home at 1316 King St. West
Our Delivery Program operating out of
1499 Queen St. W.
Our Drop-In Grocery Program operating out of 263 Dunn Ave.
From its inception, the Parkdale Community Food Bank has been a volunteer-driven, community-focused organization, committed to providing barrier-free access to food.
Our journey began in November 2007, following the announced closure of Saint Phillips Pantry, which had served the community for nearly 25 years. Upon hearing the news, the community rallied together and a group of dedicated volunteers launched a campaign to save the food bank.
Organizations and community activists, including Saint Francis Table and The Daily Bread Food Bank, provided essential resources, input, and logistical assistance in shaping our mission. Local artists, musicians, and community members held seventeen fundraising events in just over a month, raising the funds needed to get our operations up and running.
By March 2008, the Parkdale Community Food Bank had incorporated as a non-profit organization, and we began the work of forming a strong Board of Directors.
Since then, the Parkdale Community Food Bank has remained a grassroots organization, continuously shaped by the community it serves.
In 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced our Delivery Program to ensure groceries reached community members who were unable to visit the food bank in person. This program operates out of 1499 Queen St W and now delivers to over 175 households each week.
In July 2023, we moved our in-person programming to our current home at 263 Dunn Avenue, and as of July 2024 we are serving over 13,000 individuals each month.
We continue to search for a permanent home that can house both our drop-in and delivery programs and provide space for our staff and volunteers to work together.
The Parkdale Community Food Bank operates thanks to the dedication of our staff, board members, and an incredible team of over 300 volunteers. We are deeply grateful to our donors and partners, whose contributions ensure that our community is fed.