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The Strathcona Food Bank is a non-profit organization providing food to families in need in Sherwood Park and rural Strathcona County. It has been in operation since 1983.
Prior to 1983, small informal food banks were housed in various churches in Sherwood Park. After the 1982 Strathcona Christmas Bureau campaign, the Christmas Bureau approached the numerous food banks with the idea of amalgamating their efforts. As a result, in 1983, independent of the Strathcona Christmas Bureau, the Strathcona Food Bank was formed. The Strathcona Food Bank is operated by volunteers and is overseen by a volunteer board of directors.
We operate with approximately 232 volunteers staffing the Food Bank. Six mornings a week, volunteer drivers and helpers pick up bread, pastries, some fresh produce and frozen foods at local grocery stores. Once delivered to the Food Bank, donations are sorted and stored by our “hamper volunteers”.
Volunteers respond to client requests and make up food hampers as needed from the donated food items. These volunteers also take care of the day to day housekeeping duties associated with the operation of our facility.
The Strathcona Food Bank supports a population of 99,225 (2021 census) residents.
In the last five years we have served the following:
Full hampers are available once every 4 weeks and top-up hampers are available weekly. Appointments are required for all hampers.
Request one now
Our full hampers are designed to provide 7 days of nutritionally balanced meals (according to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating) and up to 14 days of sustenance. Weekly top-up hampers are available with bread, baking and select fresh items.
A friendly intake volunteer will ask you a few questions like “what is your address?” so we can determine if you live in Strathcona County boundaries. You will be asked if you meet the income criteria. Finally, you will be asked to provide identification for yourself and each person within your household. This information is all kept confidential.
Once you have made an appointment, please come to 255 Kaska Road at the specified time and bring a few reusable shopping bags. You will be asked to show your photo ID and a recent piece of mail (with your Strathcona County address). You will be given an opportunity to shop the choice shelves for a few additional items. Then, your full hamper will be brought out to you.
We work closely with Drive Happiness and can arrange for delivery of a hamper if you do not have a vehicle or are immobile.
Coming soon!
In full hampers, we offer standard groceries including a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, dairy products, frozen meats, breads, pastries, canned goods, pantry items and basic toiletries. Our weekly top-up hampers offer a selection of breads, baking and select fresh items such as produce and yogurt.
If you have specific dietary restrictions (gluten free, diabetes, other allergies), please tell the volunteer on the phone and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
We are usually able to provide other special requests such as baby food, diapers, or pet food.
Yes. If you have specific dietary restrictions (vegan/vegetarian, gluten free, diabetes, other allergies), please tell the volunteer on the phone and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Yes. We usually offer halal foods, kosher products, as well as some Indigenous foods. Please tell the volunteer on the phone and we will do our best to accommodate those needs. We also have many diverse foods on our choice shelves, so you are able to choose what is familiar to you and your family.
Most food has a Best Before date, which does not mean Expiry date. Best before dates are not an indicator of food safety. The ‘best before’ date is typically set by the manufacturer and is about overall quality or freshness (it doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad). Best before dates are often used to help with food rotation and inventory. We sometimes offer foods past the best before date if it meets the guidelines set by Food Banks Canada.
The only items that have true Expiry dates are baby/infant formulas and adult meal replacement drinks. We do NOT offer foods past the labelled expiry date.
Food Banks Canada has some guidelines on best before dates. Click here to learn more
We can be reached by taking the number 451 bus and walking from the corner of Chippewa Rd. & Kaska Rd.
There are several ways to donate:
Strathcona Food Bank uses monetary donations to pay for operating costs (so we can keep the lights on), as well as to purchase fresh produce, dairy, meat and other standard grocery items. In recent years we have reduced the amount of processed food in the hampers by 20% and replaced it with fresh.
We do accept meat that has been professionally sealed, and clearly labelled with contents and dates from a certified and inspected butcher. Unlabelled meat, or meat wrapped in brown paper cannot be accepted due to our commitment to food safety.
Yes, fresh and frozen produce is gladly accepted but only at the Food Bank (not at donation centres or events). This is due to safety standards. For example, if a frozen bag of blueberries is donated at the Highland Games event, it may not get sorted until late that day or the next day. During this time, the produce will have thawed and may also have contaminated other food.
No. Strathcona Food Bank does not receive ongoing funding from any level of government. We do apply for and receive grant funding on occasion but otherwise we rely fully on donations and volunteers.
We encourage our donors to give what feels right for them. Food is always welcome as it is the foundation of all we do. Money is also appreciated as it helps us with operating costs, and allows us to buy fresh produce, dairy, and meat. Volunteers are extremely important and are the backbone of all we do.
Yes. Please call us at 780-449-6413 to set it up. We will provide you with tips, rules and guidelines to meet the AGLC requirements.
Yes. Cash donations $10 and over are provided an official tax receipt. Purchased foods accompanied by a detailed receipt can also be provided a tax receipt.
Please email our volunteer coordinator to express your interest. You will be required to complete an application form which will ask about which shifts you are able to do, as well as questions such as “why do you want to volunteer with us?” You will also be asked about previous experience. Following the application and screening, there will be an orientation and training shift.
Strathcona Food Bank has many different volunteer positions. They include: driver, swamper, packer, re-packing, sorting, hamper building (bread, produce, dry goods), client intake, id check/host, hamper loading, and special projects. We are also always looking for volunteers with professional skills.
Yes. However, children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the Strathcona Food Bank acknowledges that it operates on Treaty Six Territory and the homeland of the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region Two and Four. We honour the First Peoples of this land and recognize that we stand upon land that carries the footsteps of Cree, Metis, and Blackfoot amongst many other Nations, who have been here for thousands of years.
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Hello and thanks for supporting the Strathcona Food Bank!
This form will help us all stay organized.
My name is Anke Berner and I’m the Public Relations Volunteer for the Strathcona Food Bank at 255 Kaska Road in Sherwood Park. I’ll be helping and supporting you through your important (and fun!) initiative.
We have many groups who support the Strathcona Food Bank throughout the year by hosting events for us. These events can vary from collecting non-perishable food items, events where entrance fees are donated back to us, 50/50 rallies to hanging door hangers throughout Sherwood Park.
Fill out this form and hit send and I will be in touch in the coming days! I can then explain better to you how we can help one another.
Anke Berner – Public Relations Volunteer, Strathcona Food Bank
Select the appropriate tab below and fill out the corresponding dropdown form in its entirety. We will reach out to you to confirm details and answer any questions you may have as soon as your application has been processed. Thank you!
Hello and thanks for thinking of the Strathcona Food Bank!
This form will help you and your team (and us) stay super organized.
In 2023, the Strathcona Food Bank had over 17, 000 people visits and served over 5500 hampers to Strathcona County residents (35% increase over 2022). We are a 100% volunteer run organization – and look forward to community groups helping us out in the warehouse.
Please note that we are open to the public during the following dates/times and are not able to accommodate community group volunteers during these hours:
If you have a small group (10 people or less) who are interested in helping in our warehouse, here is what your 2-hour work bee would include:
Fill in this form and hit send and we will be in touch in the coming days!
Val Mitchell – Community Groups Volunteer, Strathcona Food Bank
Hello and thanks for thinking of the Strathcona Food Bank!
This form will help you and your team (and us) stay super organized.
In 2023, the Strathcona Food Bank had over 17, 000 people visits and served over 5500 hampers to Strathcona County residents (35% increase over 2022). We are a 100% volunteer run organization – and look forward to community groups helping us out in the warehouse.
Please note that we are open to the public during the following dates/times and are not able to accommodate community group volunteers during these hours:
If you have a large group (11-20 individuals) interested in touring our warehouse, here is what your 1-hour (approximate) visit would include:
Note: Groups that have individuals under the age of 18 must have an adult supervisor per six individuals and your sports team / business / organization is responsible for its volunteers.
Fill in this form and hit send and we will be in touch in the coming days!
Val Mitchell – Community Groups Volunteer, Strathcona Food Bank