Barrhaven Food Cupboard

BFC is a community organization that provides food assistance to families in need in the Barrhaven area, through the generosity of our community.

BFC grew out of the outreach activities of the Barrhaven United Church.

Originally part of the Family Services Association of Churches food cupboard, which was founded in 1969 and based in Bells Corners, a separate food depot was established in Barrhaven when the Barrhaven United Church was built in 1993.

Organizationally, this service evolved and expanded into a community-led service in 2005, when it became operationally autonomous from the Barrhaven United Church.

BFC is managed and run 100% by volunteers who have self-identified as wanting to help those in need in our community.

These volunteers come from all areas and walks of life in Barrhaven and, in some instances, from outside Barrhaven. It is managed by a committee consisting of those who have volunteered to lead in some capacity - e.g.; to coordinate one or more of the food cupboard's operational areas.

BFC is, generally, accountable to the community - its financial and operating information are available to the public, on request.

Even though BFC is now operationally separate from the Barrhaven United Church, the Church continues to allow BFC free use of its facilities at 3013 Jockvale Road for its storage and food distribution activities. All other activities are carried out by BFC volunteers out of their own homes.

In 2010, 147 families consisting of over 500 people, were helped throughout the year. In the period 2009 and 2010, 206 families (over 700 people) have called on the BFC at least once for food assistance. From January to May 2011, the number of food orders have increased by about 15-20% over the comparable period in 2010. Our Christmas Hamper Program, which is run separately from the regular on-going food assistance program, helped 81 families in 2010.

One hundred percent of BFC's funding and other support come directly through donations from members of our community. We do not receive any funding or other support from government, government agencies, or the Ottawa Food Bank.

One hundred percent of BFC's resources are applied directly to food assistance to families in need. The Barrhaven United Church provides BFC free use of its facilities and a dedicated storage area. BFC volunteers pay out of their own pockets for expenses incurred in carrying out BFC's work - such as using their own cars and paying for the gas in picking up and delivering food. BFC does not maintain an office or have any paid staff.

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard depends entirely on donations. We are not subsidized by government at any level.

BFC needs donations of:

• non-perishable, canned and packaged foods in original packaging
• certain everyday-use household and personal care items, such as toothpaste, soaps, toothbrushes, toilet paper, facial tissues, and dishwasher and laundry detergent
• baby diapers and baby food
• cash

We are not equipped to handle perishable products.

To allow families access to perishables, such as milk, bread, and fresh produce and meat, cash donations are particularly welcome so that we can buy and supplement the non-perishable food with grocery store gift cards, in the food orders. Also, when food donations are low, such as in the summer, we often have to buy some of the food we distribute. Income tax receipts will be issued for cash donations of $20 or over, if the donor's name and address are also provided.

BFC has been advised by City health inspectors to not distribute:

• stale-dated food (i.e.: food that is past the "best before" date)
• foods with damaged or compromised packaging, resulting in the loss of a sanitary barrier protection
• open, punctured, bulging, rusted or seriously damaged canned goods

Neither will BFC distribute alcohol or products containing alcohol, or pharmaceutical products. Also, we are not equipped to handle perishable food.

Food and everyday-use household and personal care items can be dropped off in donation bins in the Barrhaven locations of Food Basics, Loblaws, Ross's Your Independent Grocer, and Sobeys. For donors who wish to deal directly with the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, please note that BFC does not have the resources to maintain an office and its work is done on a rotating basis by volunteers. Thus, in general, donors should get in touch with BFC through its messages-telephone number, 613-825-4505, to arrange for the pick-up or delivery of donations. A volunteer will get in touch within a day or two. Cash donations can also be mailed to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard in care of the Barrhaven United Church, 3013 Jockvale Road, Nepean, ON K2J 4E4. A receipt for income tax purposes for donations of $20 or more will be issued if the donor's name and address are provided.

Many businesses, schools and other organizations and individuals hold food drives for the benefit of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. While BFC does not have the resources to be directly involved in each such food drive, we would be happy to discuss your plans with you. We can also provide boxes to hold and transport the donations.

We appreciate delivery but can arrange pick-up if needed.

Donors of cash could be sent a receipt for income tax purposes for donations of $20 or more, if the donor's name and address are provided.

Those holding food drives should contact the Barrhaven Food Cupboard at telephone 613-825-4505 to give us a "heads-up" and to make arrangements for subsequent follow-up.

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard welcomes donations of the kind noted above. Below is a list of items that are particularly needed currently:

• Canned meats and fish
• Canned stews and pasta
• Rice (brown and white)
• Canned fruits
• Fruit juice
• Cookies and snacks
• Household supplies and personal care products, such as toothpaste, soaps, toothbrushes, toilet paper, facial tissues, dishwasher and laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies
• Diapers (all sizes)

Cash donations are always welcomed!

Items that are currently in adequate supply:

• Dried pasta
• Canned soup (particularly tomato)
• Canned beans

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard, its volunteers and the families that need food assistance in our community are blessed with experiencing, first hand, the thoughtfulness and generosity of the people and families in our community. They have supported our endeavours for over 30 years. For this, we are grateful.

Over the years, we have received donations and other support from many individuals and organizations. We thank the following for their contributions in 2009, 2010 and/or the first 5 months of 2011:

• Businesses and their friends and customers:
  • April Copelli
  • Barrhaven Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
  • Barrhaven Business Exchange Group
  • Bradley, Hiscock and McCracken
  • Canadian Tire (Barrhaven)/ Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
  • The Court at Barrhaven
  • Curves For Women (Barrhaven)
  • Denis Rule Photography
  • Greco Lean and Fit Centre (Barrhaven)
  • Greenbank & Rideau Animal Hospitals
  • Integrated Network Security Alliance (INSA)
  • Kelly Reid, Independent Epicure Consultant
  • Kevin Coady Realty
  • Mattamy Homes
  • Randall's Paint & Décor (Barrhaven)
  • Royal LePage Team Realty (Barrhaven)
  • Scotiabank - Barrhaven Centre and Woodroffe & Stoneway branches
  • Steals Retailing - Fallowfield Road
  • Steamers Coffee House
  • TD Canada Trust - Barrhaven Market Place Branch
  • Total Me Coach
  • Toys on Fire
  • Village Square Family Chiropractic
  • Wal-Mart (Barrhaven)
• In addition, the following businesses provided facilities for food donations and/or held regular and special food drives in support of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, throughout the year:
• Food Basics
• Loblaws
• Ross' Your Independent Grocer
• Sobeys
• Schools, teachers, and students and their parents
• Académie de la Capitale
• Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School
• Barrhaven Public School
• Berrigan Elementary School
• Cedarview Middle School
• Chapman Mills School Age Program (at St. Emily Catholic School)
• Children's Montessori School Barrhaven
• Crystal Bay Centre for Special Education
• École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard
• Farley Mowat Public School
• Jockvale Elementary School
• John McCrae Secondary School
• Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School
• Mary Honeywell Elementary School
• Monsignor Paul Baxter Elementary School
• Mother Teresa Catholic High School
• St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary School
• St. Emily Catholic School
• St. Joseph Catholic High School
• St. Luke Elementary School
• St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School
• Service, sports, health, social and other community organizations and their members
• Barrhaven Garden Club
• Barrhaven Girls' Basketball Association
• Barrhaven Lions Club
• Canadian Dance Factory
• Carleton Heights Curling Club
• City View Centre for Child and Family Services
• IODE Walter Baker Chapter
• Junior A Eagles All Star Team of the East Nepean Little League
• Le Provence Bakery (Hazeldean Road)
• Nepean Junior AA Ringette team
• Nepean Minor Hockey Association (as an association and contributions from individual teams)
• Nepean Sparks, Brownies, Girl Guides and Pathfinders
• Order of DeMolay, Ottawa Chapter
• Ottawa-Carleton Futsal League
• Queensway Carleton Emergency Association Nurses
• Queensway Carleton Emergency Association Doctors
• Redskins Community Football Club (Nepean Redskins)
• Royal Canadian Legion - Barrhaven Branch 641
• Royal Equestrian Centre
• Ruth E. Dickinson Library staff
• The Sound Connection
• South Nepean Euchre Club
• South Nepean Rotary Club
• Stonebridge
• Churches and their choirs, musicians and congregations
• Barrhaven United Church
• Barrhaven Fellowship Christian Reformed Church
• Barrhaven Good Shepherd Church
• Barrhaven New Life Church
• Fallowfield United Church
• Living Praise Ministries
• Longfields Community Church
• Nepean Seventh-Day Adventist Church
• The Parish of the Holy Nativity Anglican Catholic Church
• Reconnect Barrhaven Community Church
• The Salvation Army Community Church
• Sequoia Community Church
• St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church
• St. John the Devine Church
• Local newspapers, their staff and their readers
• Barrhaven Independent
• Nepean/Barrhaven EMC
• Nepean-Barrhaven This Week

In addition, many individuals and families also made donations directly to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard and/or its Christmas Hamper Program, often preferring to remain anonymous. As such and because we cannot make contact with many of them to ask permission to name them here, these contributors are not individually listed but our appreciation of their support and our thanks to them are just as sincere

Also, kudos to:

• The Ottawa Police Service and the Ottawa Fire Services for providing some real "flash" to some food drives, such as those by the Barrhaven Sobeys
• Wine Rack locations in Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, Loblaws, Merivale Mall, and Sobeys for giving us boxes for food drives and food storage

Finally, special thanks to the Barrhaven United Church and its congregation for donating the storage and other facilities and providing the general support without which the Barrhaven Food Cupboard would not be able to operate.

Because the Barrhaven Food Cupboard depends on the cooperative effort of many volunteers each of whom could have received donations for the Food Cupboard directly, we acknowledge the possibility... and probability... of our having missed some contributors above. To these folks, we apologize and ask that you contact us (at telephone number 613-825-4505) so that we can rectify any oversight... and accept our thanks!

Volunteers transport and sort food donations; pack and deliver food orders; liaise with schools, businesses and other organizations conducting food drives; liaise with clients; promote the work of the Cupboard; and coordinate the Barrhaven Christmas Hamper Program. They choose the activities in which they wish to be engaged.

The number of hours each volunteer contributes depends on the ebb and flow of donations, client demand, and the function. Those picking up food from the donation bins in local grocery stores could be asked to make one or two pick-ups per week. Sorters and packers are assigned to teams, with each team responsible for one week out of every four. Team members schedule their own times and the time commitment depends on the volume of donations. Dispatchers (those taking orders from and putting out the food for clients) rotate, working about 30 minutes per day over a two-week period, once every 8 weeks. Those delivering food orders to clients are usually called on to deliver 1 or 2 orders once every three weeks or so, depending on client demand.

Most volunteers work autonomously (and, often, by themselves), scheduling their own times during their duty periods. Consequently, adults are preferred. We have some teen volunteers but they usually work alongside a parent.

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard does not maintain an office or have paid staff. So, to protect the privacy of our volunteers (who work out of their own homes), all contact with the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, including by those wishing to volunteer, should be through BFC's general telephone-messages number: 613-825-4505. Please leave your contact information. While messages are picked up every day, it might take a day or two for the volunteer coordinator to return your call.

Residents of Barrhaven in need of food assistance.

New clients should telephone the Barrhaven Food Cupboard at 613-825-4505 and (speaking clearly, please!) leave their name, telephone number, address, and number of people in their family. Expect a return call from a BFC volunteer within 48 hours.

Existing clients must telephone BFC at 613-825-4505 each time they need a food order and leave a message with their name, telephone number, address and family size. Calls should be returned within 48 hours.

BFC volunteers operate mainly out of their own homes, using their own equipment and supplies. To respect their privacy, BFC policy is that they do not reveal their name to clients. They will also block their calls so that their own telephone number does not appear on call displays. Neither will they leave their own telephone number on answering machines. So, if you are expecting a return-call from a BFC volunteer, please pick up the phone when you see a "blocked number" on your call display.

Contact with BFC volunteers can be made only through leaving a message at the BFC's general telephone number.

Clients are allowed one food order every 30 days.

The size of the food order (including the value of the grocery store gift cards therein) depends on the family size. In general, each order contains enough food for approximately 7 days, except on those rare occasions when our resources are insufficient to maintain that level of service.

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard is intended as an emergency food source, not to be the only source of food for anyone. Those needing more help than the BFC can provide should get in touch with a social services agency.

Food distribution days are Tuesdays and Fridays, except when that is not possible because of events taking place at the food distribution centre or special occasions. The exceptions are rare and clients will be informed if and when they occur.

Clients with their own transportation are asked to pick up their food orders. Families without a ready means of transportation can ask for their food order to be delivered. Because of the size of the food orders, access to only public transportation does not disqualify clients from asking for food delivery.

Food orders are to be picked up at the Barrhaven United Church lobby (3013 Jockvale Road) on food distribution days, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

First-time clients must bring identification for each member of the family (such as a health card or birth certificate) as well as a document showing the primary family member's name and address (such as a driver's license or a rental agreement). Thereafter, (generally) the identification will be requested again with the first order in each subsequent calendar year.

Those requiring home delivery will be contacted by a BFC volunteer to arrange for a suitable time for delivery on food distribution days.

First-time clients must show the person making the delivery, identification for each member of the family (such as a health card or birth certificate) as well as a document showing the primary family member's name and address (such as a driver's license or a rental agreement). Thereafter, (generally) the identification will be requested again with the first order in each subsequent calendar year.