The Newmarket Food Pantry was originally formed in 1987 when local churches came together to coordinate efforts and consolidate resources to support local families in need. The Food Pantry’s first location was in the basement of the Old Town Hall.

In the beginning, the Food Pantry averaged 25 visits a week. The church congregations supported community food drives, food collection, and distribution.

However, as economic conditions changed and the Newmarket population increased over the past 30 years, the need has grown exponentially. The Food Pantry now averages 700 visits a month and assists over 2,000 clients each month. More than 30% of our clients are under the age of 18.

In 2019, we fulfilled our goal to provide our clients with healthier options, such as fresh produce, meat, and dairy with the installation of our walk-in fridge/freezer.  Funding for the fridge/freezer was received from Food Banks Canada and the Walmart Foundation.

With the support of our volunteers and community, we’re working towards our vision of a community free from hunger.