Durham market-style food banks are expanding as Feed the Need Durham responds to a sharp increase in household demand across the region.
The organization is moving away from relying only on pre-packed hampers. Its grocery-style approach lets people walk through a market and choose food that suits their household, dietary and cultural needs.
A CBC News report published Saturday said Feed the Need Durham’s latest annual figures show household visits to local food programs have risen by nearly 350 per cent since the pandemic. The amount of food distributed has also increased by 35 per cent since 2021.
Regional network makes weekly deliveries
Feed the Need Durham operates a regional distribution hub serving community food programs from Newcastle and Pickering to Uxbridge. The organization makes about 50 pickups and deliveries each week and supports dozens of partner agencies.
The network includes conventional food banks, meal programs and agencies that connect food support with housing and other services. CBC reported that six of Feed the Need’s 53 partners are already using, or moving toward, the market model.
The approach is designed to improve both dignity and efficiency. People can select products they will use instead of receiving the same assortment in a hamper. Feed the Need says that flexibility can reduce unused food while helping limited supplies reach more households.
Whitby provides space for grocery-style market
One market in Whitby operates in space provided by the town. CBC reported that some of its equipment was funded through Mayor Elizabeth Roy’s Community Development Fund.
Shoppers move through the space independently and select items that work for their families. The setup resembles a small grocery store, but food is provided through the community-support program.
The regional shift also includes North House in Uxbridge. The housing-support organization recently opened an appointment-based market pantry where registered clients can choose fresh, frozen and non-perishable food. All About Durham previously reported on the North House market pantry.
North House executive director Nathan Gardner told CBC the private format can be especially important in rural communities, where people seeking support may be more likely to encounter someone they know. The pantry also acts as a connection point for the agency’s housing services.
Demand remains well above pre-pandemic levels
The expansion of Durham market-style food banks comes as community agencies manage more visits and a larger volume of food than they did before the pandemic.
Feed the Need Durham’s regional role allows donated and rescued food to move between agencies rather than remain concentrated in one community. The market model adds another tool by matching available products more closely with what each household can use.
The organization continues to work with food programs across Durham Region while helping interested partners adopt the grocery-style format.
