The Newmarket Food Pantry addresses hunger and the need for food on a daily basis. To help us achieve our goals, we empower community members to become engaged citizens through volunteering, attending and hosting events such as food drives.

Client Update

Commencing April 1st we are asking clients to call ahead to make an appointment. Please call 905-895-6823 ext. 120, on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to book an appointment time. If your call is not answered directly, leave a message, including your name and phone number, and someone will return your call within one business day.

Please do not bring children to the pantry. You can ask a friend or family member to pick up your food by providing them with a letter which gives them permission to do so. Please do not come to the pantry if you or someone in your household is sick. Please be sure to wash your hands upon entering the pantry.

Covid-19 Update

Public Notice:

Over the last few weeks, we have been closely monitoring the evolving situation with the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure we are taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our Newmarket Food Pantry community.

We understand and appreciate that many of our clients and volunteers may be experiencing some anxiety about this illness. It is important to note that Public Health continues to assure us that the risk of becoming ill from COVID-19 remains low in Ontario. We are working in cooperation with local health units and our partners as we continue to follow the situation closely.
At this juncture, we are asking that all visitors to the Newmarket Food Pantry follow these everyday steps as recommended by local health authorities to reduce exposure to the virus and protect their health:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home if you are sick

In addition to these measures, the Newmarket Food Pantry has also:

  • Increased signage and information posted throughout the pantry
  • We will also be limiting the number of clients gathering in the food pantry reception area
  • Increased frequency in cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces & equipment
  • While health officials continue to maintain that proper handwashing is the key to the prevention of illness, the Newmarket Food

Pantry does have hand sanitizers available throughout the building for public use.
We also encourage members and visitors to visit the York Region Health Department website where you will find regular community updates on COVID-19. The website can be found here: www.york.ca

The health and safety of clients, volunteers, and donors, and the public at large is our highest priority. We will continue to monitor this situation and advise you of any announcements. At this time, there are no changes to Newmarket Food Pantry’s daily operations.

Please feel free to reach out if you shall have any questions.

Thank you for your support and understanding during this time.

Food Explorers

The Newmarket Food Pantry would like to thank The Hershey Company and Food Banks Canada for providing funding which provided us with the opportunity to deliver the Food Explorers Program this Fall.

The program enabled 7 children aged 9 to 11 to take part in a 7-week program where they learned all about good food choices. Each week was centred around a different topic, such as where food grows, what are good snacks, how to make good food choices and how to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The final class allowed the children to invite their families to enjoy a meal prepared and served by them. We would like to also thank the PC Cooking School for facilitating the program for us.

 

Celebrating our Volunteers!

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, but they have the heart.”

We appreciate our volunteers every day – we could not do what we do without their passion and dedication – and this month, National Volunteer Month, we recognize the hard work of all our volunteers that help us nourish our neighbours.

The Newmarket Food Pantry is run almost entirely by volunteers. We have only three paid, part time employees, and everyone else donates their time, including our Board of Directors. Volunteers are an integral part of not only the survival of the Newmarket Food Pantry, but countless other organisations that rely on the support of others to stay afloat. It is our volunteers that sort thousands of pounds of food every month; who stock the shelves, and sort the expired foods that have to be discarded (not a pleasant task), and they provide our clients with the dignity and respect they deserve as they collect food for their families.

“Volunteers are love in motion.”

It is through the passion and dedication of volunteers throughout our community that helps bring our community together, and shows what we accomplish when we work together.

Volunteering not only helps others in our community, it also provides positive benefits to you as well. When we volunteer, our spirits are lifted, we feel good about what we are doing, and gives us a sense of purpose and pride. When we give, even in a small way, it helps improve our health and happiness. Here are some other benefits of volunteering:

Building Confidence: Volunteering can help you build confidence by trying something new, and gives you a sense of achievement

Impacting Your Community: Being a volunteer has a valuable impact on people in our community, and society in general.

Meeting New People: Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet new people and create lasting friendships.

Learning New Skills: You can learn new skills while volunteering, which you can transfer to other areas of your life.

Inspire Others: When you volunteer, you are inspiring people around you to help others. Your children learn from your actions, and being a volunteer gives them a positive role model.

So thank you to everyone who takes time out of their busy schedules to help others. It may only be a few hours a month, but every little bit counts! And next time you see a volunteer, thank them, because they are the heartbeat of the organisation they are working for! For more information about how to volunteer with the Newmarket Food Pantry, please visit the Get Involved page and see if volunteering with us is right for you.

Food drive, Newmarket, Newmarket Food Pantry, nourishing neighbours

Spring Food Drive

It’s spring, and the shelves are quickly emptying at your local food bank. One of the biggest challenges food banks face is inconsistent flow of donations. People generally think of donating during the holidays, but the reality is, our neighbours are hungry all year round, and sadly, the thousands of pounds that are donated at Christmas do no last very long.

Spring also means older children are often returning home after completing a year at college or university, which increases the burden on family purse strings already stretched thin.

To help restock the shelves, we have launched our Spring Food Drive from April 4 to April 22. Food donations can be dropped off at the Food Pantry Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays. Not sure what to buy? Here are our most needed items:

  • Canned meat, stew, chilli and soup
  • Juice boxes and nutritious school snacks
  • Canned vegetables and fruit
  • Baked beans
  • Baby food, formula and diapers (especially size 5 & 6)

Below are some excellent recommendations from Food Banks Canada on how to choose nutritious foods:

Whole grain foods like oatmeal, barley, high-fibre cereals or whole-grain pasta contain plenty of fibre and are an excellent source of minerals like magnesium and iron.

Baby cereals, formula and jarred baby foods make good donations – but please make sure the items have not expired.

Lean proteins from foods like canned tuna and chicken; plant proteins like peanut butter, beans, and lentils; or more complete proteins contained in other canned meats help in the maintenance of body tissue and contribute to a feeling of satiety.

Canned fruit is high in vitamin C and dietary fibre. Likewise, if they’re free of added salt and sugars, studies suggest that frozen and canned vegetables are often as good as fresh produce.

Money is always the best option, as it gives us the ability and flexibility to purchase the items we need most. We also have better buying power than the regular customer, so we can make the dollar stretch further. Click here to make a donation and to help us nourish our neighbours.

Newmarket, curling, bonspiel, fundraiser, nourishing neighbours

3rd Annual Curling Bonspiel

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Healthy Food Options Get a Boost at Newmarket Food Pantry

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Newmarket Food Pantry - Food Pantry York Region

Welcome to the Newmarket Food Pantry!

The Newmarket Food Pantry opened its doors in 1988, when local churches noticed that some of their congregation members were struggling to put food on the table. The churches came together to help local families in need, assisting 25 families a week. The Food Pantry was originally located in the basement of the Old Town Hall, but as the need grew, the pantry moved to a larger facility at the back of 171 Main Street in 2012.

By 2015 it was clear that we had outgrown the Main Street location and began looking for a larger space. We were averaging over 300 visits per month and quickly running out of room for the food. In 2016 we moved to a 6,000 square foot location on Gorham Street. This new location provided a larger waiting room for our clients, more space to store the food, room for our volunteers to work, as well as meeting rooms and office space for the staff and board members.

The mission of the Food Pantry is to provide three days emergency food once a month to local families in need. We offer a comfortable and respectful environment for our clients, ensuring confidentiality and compassion at a difficult time.

The Food Pantry does not receive any government funding; we rely solely on the generous support of our community through donations, food drives, and fundraising events. We have two staff members, supported by an army of volunteers who work tirelessly to sort the food, work with clients, and help with events. In addition, the Board is comprised of eight volunteers, who work hard to ensure the success of the Food Pantry.

There are numerous ways to support the Newmarket Food Pantry. Food donations can be dropped off at the pantry on Tuesday and Thursday 9:30AM to 2:30PM and on Saturday 10:30Am – 12:00PM. We also have a collection bin at the Newmarket Farmer’s Market May to October. Donations can be dropped off at local Fire Halls, as well as at Good Vibes on Main. Collection bins are also located at Freshco, Metro, Real Supercentre, No Frills and Vince’s Market. Financial donations can be securely made on the Canada Helps website. The Food Pantry is a registered charity, and is able to provide tax receipts for donations.

You can also support the Food Pantry through volunteering, supporting local fundraising events, or even hosting your own Food Drive. However you choose to support the Food Pantry we are grateful – help us nourish our neighbours and ensure that no one goes hungry in our community.

The Newmarket Food Pantry Receives a $40,000 Grant from Food Banks Canada & the Walmart Foundation

The Newmarket Food Pantry is excited to announce that we have received a $40,000 grant from Food Banks Canada and the Walmart Foundation and we have used the funds to purchase and install a walk-in fridge & freezer.

It is the goal of the Food Pantry to offer healthier food options for our clients, and the installation of the fridge will provide the space we need to store the increase of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat, including the turkeys we collect for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Drives.

“We are very excited about this new project,” says Kirk Bowden, Chair of the Board of the Newmarket Food Pantry. “It was our vision two years ago to increase the fresh food options for our clients, and this vision is now a reality. We will now be able to provide our clients with healthier alternatives to canned food and allow them to choose fresh produce and dairy.”

Join us on October 10th at 7pm for the official ribbon cutting of the new fridge and a tour of our new facility.