About

Our History

Who we are and where we come from

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.

Fast forward to the present

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.

Nourishing community with food and hope

Nourishing our community with food and hope

Collaboration

We build authentic relationships with partners and volunteers to maximize our impact

Collaboration

We build authentic relationships with partners and volunteers to maximize our impact

Compassion

We provide empathetic assistance to those facing food insecurity

Compassion

We provide empathetic assistance to those facing food insecurity

Respect

We treat all individuals with dignity, valuing diversity and unique needs

Respect

We treat all individuals with dignity, valuing diversity and unique needs

People-Centered

We are relentless in putting those we serve at the heart of our work

People-Centered

We are relentless in putting those we serve at the heart of our work

Innovation

We seek creative solutions and improvements

Innovation

We seek creative solutions and improvements

Aligned with Food Banks Canada and Food Banks Alberta, we believe that everyone in Strathcona County has the right to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences. This is our ethical food banking code:

  • Provide food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, income source, age, and mental or physical ability
  • Treat all those who access services with the utmost dignity and respect
  • Implement best practices in the proper and safe storage and handling of food
  • Respect the privacy of those served and maintain the confidentially of personal information
  • Not sell donated food
  • Acquire and share food in a spirit of cooperation with other food banks and food programs
  • Strive to make the public aware of the existence of hunger and of the factors that contribute to it
  • Recognize that food banks are not a viable long-terms response to hunger and devote part of their activities to reducing the need for food assistance
  • Represent accurately, honestly, and completely their respective missions and activities to the larger community

Service Statistics

The Strathcona Food Bank supports a population of 99,225 (2021 census) residents.
In the last five years we have served the following:

Hampers Distributed
0
Adults Served
0
Teens Served
0
Children Served
0
Agency Visits
0
Hampers Distributed
0
Adults Served
0
Teens Served
0
Children Served
0
Agency Visits
0
Hampers Distributed
0
Adults Served
0
Teens Served
0
Children Served
0
Agency Visits
0
New Families
0
Hampers Distributed
0
Adults Served
0
Teens Served
0
Children Served
0
Agency Visits
0
New Families
0
Hampers Distributed
0
Adults Served
0
Teens/Children Served
0
Agency Visits
0
New Families
0

Programs

Regular Hamper Service

Client Choice Shelves

Birthday Bags

Child & Teen Snack Bags

Agency & Community Support

Love Food, Hate Waste

Frequently Asked Questions

What days are you open?
  • We are open Monday to Friday 9:00am – 12:00pm; Thursday 4:30pm – 7:00pm; and Saturday 10:30am – 1:00pm
  • We are closed all long weekends and statutory holidays.
How can I contact you?
Where are you located?
How do I get a hamper?
  • Fill out our quick and easy online application form. Click here to get started!
  • You can also call 780-449-6413 during our opening hours to speak with a volunteer. Full hampers are available once every 4 weeks and top-up hampers are available weekly.  Appointments are required for all hampers.
How often can I get a hamper?

Full hampers are available once every 4 weeks and top-up hampers are available weekly. Appointments are required for all hampers.

Request one now

How long will my food hamper last?

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.

What should I expect when I phone?

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.

How do I collect my food hamper?

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.

Do you deliver?

We work closely with Drive Happiness and can arrange for delivery of a hamper if you do not have a vehicle or are immobile.

How does it work if I request a food hamper online?

Coming soon!

What will be in my food hamper?

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.

I have dietary restrictions, can I still get a hamper?

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.

I have cultural restrictions on my diet, can I still get a hamper?

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.

What does "best before" mean?

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

What is your address? Where do I go?
  • Our address is 255 Kaska Rd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4E8
  • We can be reached by taking the number 451 bus and walking from the corner of Chippewa Rd. & Kaska Rd.

Who is eligible? How do I know if I'm eligible?
  • Generally, there are only 2 criteria to receive our services:
    • You must be a resident of Strathcona County
    • You must have a brief discussion about income with the intake volunteer
  • There are some people who are automatically eligible, including the following: New Ukrainian residents, referrals from Family and Community Services, referrals from Emergency Services Personnel, and referrals from the RCMP.
How can I donate money?

There are several ways to donate:

  1. Cash and cheque can be taken into the Food Bank or mailed in
  2. Click here to donate online now through Canada Helps
  3. E-transfers can be made to strathconafoodbanktreasurer@gmail.com
How is my monetary donation used?

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.

Can I donate wild game meat?

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.

Can I donate fresh fruit and vegetables?

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. 

Does the Food Bank receive funding from the government?

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. 

Is better for me to give food, money, or time?

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. 

Can I do a 50/50 raffle for the Food Bank?

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.

Are donations tax deductible?

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.

How do I volunteer?

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. 

Click here to learn more and apply online!

What are the different volunteer positions?

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. 

Can my 16-year-old daughter volunteer?

Yes. However, children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Our Board Members

Tracey Cyca

Co-Chair

Kathryn Howden

Co-Chair

Leeann Mahé

Treasurer

Anke Berner

Secretary / Public Relations

Jo Paulencu

Director

Allee Dawson

Director

Rick McFadyen

Director & Chair, Capital Committee

Rodney Lamarre

Director

Regular Hamper Service

As the foundation to our food provision, we offer full grocery orders once a month and weekly top-up bread, baking and produce orders. Our monthly orders provide groceries that offer a 7-day nutritionally-balanced diet according to the Canada's Food Guide, and up to 14 days sustenance. On special request, we accommodate some dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, pork-free, nut-free) and offer some additional items such as baby products and meal replacements.

Client Choice Shelves

As a supplement to our standard hampers, we offer a choice section so that guests can choose a few extra foods that fit their personal and cultural food preferences. It has a cooler, freezer and 24 ft of grocery store shelving and offers things like produce, dairy, spices, sauces, canned goods, baking items and toiletries.

Birthday Bags

One month prior to their next birthday, every child and teen ages 2 - 17 receives a special bag that provides supplies to help celebrate a birthday! Collecting for and building birthday bags is done by many community groups including schools.

Child & Teen Snack Bags

We recognize that children and teens a unique need for nutritious snacks to support their healthy growth and development. Our snack bags, which have about 25 school-safe snacks including dried fruit, shelf-stable milk and fruit cups, are provided monthly in grocery orders for 5-17 year olds. We also provide these directly to schools to provide for students in need.

Agency & Community Support

We offer weekly/bi-weekly food support to about 40 local agencies and programs such as The Robin Hood Association and The Safe Place. We also provide staples to mini food pantries in the community, such as the mini-pantry in the Family and Community Services building. These pantries help to ensure that people can access emergency food when and where they need it.

Love Food, Hate Waste

This is a unique partnership with Salisbury Composite High School culinary program. Foods that are not ideal for consumption,(such as over-ripe bananas) are repurposed by the culinary students into delicious products (such as banana bread) that are then offered to our guests. It's a popular program that keeps foods out of the landfill, teaches students valuable kitchen skills and provides a wonderful variety of baking, soups and sauces to our guests.

Financial Statements

Strathcona Food Bank Community Events

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

Volunteer Application Forms

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!

Individual Volunteer Application Form
Employment & Volunteer Experience
Availability & Area of Interest
*Please note, work will be assigned based on availability and suitability
Small Group Volunteer Application Form

Strathcona Food Bank Community Group Registration (Small Group – 10 people or less)

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:

  • Monday to Friday 9:00am – Noon
  • Thursday evening 4:30pm – 7:00pm
  • Saturday 10:30am – 1:00pm

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:

  • A secure space for your team to meet and leave belongings.
  • A personal talk/presentation and tour of our building and operations.
  • A work bee in our warehouse to help Strathcona County residents in need (this could include putting together school snack kits/birthday bags/gluten-free bags/dog treat bags/etc.)
  • Team photo at the end of your shift!

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

*If YES: Groups that have individuals under the age of 18 must have an adult supervisor per six individuals and your organization is responsible for its volunteers.
We are always grateful for any donations that our community volunteer groups bring in to the Strathcona Food Bank as part of their work bee/visits!
Large Group Volunteer Application Form

Strathcona Food Bank Community Group Registration (Large Group – 11-20 people)

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:

  • Monday to Friday 9:00am – Noon
  • Thursday evening 4:30pm – 7:00pm
  • Saturday 10:30am – 1:00pm

If you have a large group (11-20 individuals) interested in touring our warehouse, here is what your  1-hour (approximate) visit would include:

  • A secure space for your team to meet and leave belongings
  • A personal talk/presentation and tour of our building and operations
  • A short team activity to learn more about the Strathcona Food Bank
  • Team photo at the end of your shift!

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

*If YES: Groups that have individuals under the age of 18 must have an adult supervisor per six individuals and your organization is responsible for its volunteers.
We are always grateful for any donations that our community volunteer groups bring in to the Strathcona Food Bank as part of their work bee/visits!

E-Transfer Instructions

You can make a donation via e-transfer through the financial institution of your choice. Please ensure that the recipient email address is set to treasurer@strathconafoodbank.ca

If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to the above address and our Treasurer will assist you.

Thank you for supporting the Strathcona Food Bank, any and all donation are greatly appreciated!