The OC Transpo / Loblaw Food Drive
Please support the 40th Annual OC Transpo / Loblaw Food Drive
OC Transpo is holding its 40th annual food drive on Saturday, December 14, from 10 am to 5 pm.
The last few years have been challenging for many in our community, and this year is no exception. Currently, one in four households in Ottawa struggles to afford enough food to eat. That is a 14.8 percent increase from 2022. Annually, more than 556,000 visits are made to food programs across Ottawa. This is the highest level in the Ottawa Food Bank’s 40-year history. It represents a 90 percent increase since 2019. Let’s work together to help those in our community who are struggling to afford enough to eat – your support is more important than ever!
On December 14, non-perishable food items will be accepted in donation bins at participating Loblaw stores across Ottawa. Visit the Ottawa Food Bank’s website for a list of their most-needed non-perishable items. Volunteers will also be accepting monetary donations at grocery store entrances. Or, you can donate through cashiers at participating locations.
Want to donate right away? You can also give to those in need this season through the Ottawa Food Bank's online donation page. Online donations are open now until December 14.
Donate in-person
The OC Transpo / Loblaw Holiday Food Drive is Ottawa’s largest annual, single-day grocery store food drive. It fills a need for many families who are struggling to make ends meet. It helps ensure there is enough to eat during a time of year when demand is at its highest. The OC Transpo / Loblaw Holiday Food Drive collects for five local food banks:
- Ottawa Food Bank
- FAMSAC Food Cupboard
- Stittsville Food Bank
- Kanata Food Cupboard
- Richmond Food Bank
To date, this food drive has raised over three million pounds of food and thousands of dollars for Ottawa’s most vulnerable residents.
On Saturday, December 14 from 10 am to 5 pm, at participating Loblaw stores across the City, donate:
- Non-perishable food items. Add these to your regular grocery list and place them in the Ottawa Food Bank cage bins outside.
- Money with the cashiers inside. Your monetary donations will not only help provide non-perishables, but also fresh and nutritious foods like fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, dairy and eggs.
- Money with volunteers at the entrances. The OC Transpo/Loblaw Holiday Food Drive is staffed by City of Ottawa staff and community members who give their time to benefit others in the city.
Participating stores
Loblaws (11 locations)
| Store | Address | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Loblaws South Keys | 2210 Bank St | 10 - Gloucester-Southgate |
| Loblaws Vanier Market | 100 McArthur Ave | 13 - Rideau Rockcliffe |
| Loblaws Kanata North | 200 Earl Grey Drive | 7 - Bay |
| Loblaws College Square | 1980 Baseline Rd | 8 - College |
| Loblaws Gloucester Centre | 1980 Ogilvie Rd | 11- Beacon Hill-Cyrville |
| Loblaws Rideau & Nelson | 363 Rideau St | 12 - Rideau Vanier |
| Loblaws Bells Corners | 2065A Robertson Rd | 8 - College |
| Loblaws Merivale | 1460 Merivale Road | 9 - Knoxdale-Merivale |
| Loblaws Isabella | 64 Isabella St | 17 - Capital |
| Loblaws Carlingwood | 2085 Carling Ave | 7 - Bay |
| Loblaws Barrhaven | 3201 Greenbank Road | 3 - Barrhaven West |
Your Independent Grocer (10 locations)
| Store | Address | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Brierly’s Your Independent Grocer | 685 River Rd | 22 - Riverside South - Findlay Creek |
| Marsha’s Your Independent Grocer | 1619 Orléans Blvd | 2 - Orleans West-Innes |
| Brown’s Your Independent Grocer | 1251 Stittsville Main St | 6 - Stittsville |
| Laura’s Your Independent Grocer | 1910 St Laurent Blvd | 18 - Alta Vista |
| McDonough’s Your Independent Grocer | 3777 Strandherd Dr | 3 - Barrhaven West |
| Massine’s Your Independent Grocer | 296 Bank St | 14 - Somerset |
| Rileys Your Independent Grocer | 2241 Riverside Dr | 17 - Capital |
| Hess' Your Independent Grocer | 596 Montreal Rd | 13 - Rideau Rockcliffe |
| Kings Your Independent Grocer | 5911 Perth St, Richmond | 21 - Rideau-Jock |
| Brandon and Megan Your Independent Grocer | 30 Iber Rd, Stittsville | 6 - Stittsville |
Real Canadian Superstore (3 locations)
| Store | Address | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Real Canadian Superstore Orléans | 4270 Innes Road | 2 - Orleans West-Innes |
| Real Canadian Superstore Westboro | 190 Richmond Road | 15 - Kitchissippi |
| Real CanadianSuperstore Kanata | 760 Eagleson Road | 23 - Kanata South |
No Frills (3 locations)
| Store | Address | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Connor & Kennedy's No Frills | 2681 Alta Vista Dr | 18 - Alta Vista |
| Orleans No Frills | 1226 Place d'Orléans Dr. | 2 - Orleans West-Innes |
| Chris & Samia's No Frills | 200 Grant Carman Dr | 9 - Knoxdale-Merivale |
Frequently asked questions
Q1. What is a non-perishable food item?
A1. A non-perishable food item is any food that does not need to be refrigerated and will not spoil after a long time. For example food that is canned, boxed, or dried. Some of the non-perishable food items that the Ottawa Food Bank is most in need of are:
- Baby food & formula
- Canned fish & meat
- Canned vegetables & fruit
- Cereal (whole grains)
- Dry pasta (whole grain) & sauce
- Legumes (canned or dried)
- Peanut butter
- Rice (brown)
- Canned stews & chili
Q2. How much food and cash donations were raised in 2023?
A2. In 2023, 66,300 lbs of food and $32,000 in cash donations and food vouchers were collected during the OC Transpo/Loblaw Holiday Food Drive.
Q3. How many people volunteer for the food drive each year?
A3. Approximately 225 City of Ottawa staff and community members volunteer their time for the annual food drive.
Q4. How long is the internal City of Ottawa food drive?
A4. The internal “virtual” City of Ottawa food drive launched in November and wraps up on December 14.
Q5. How much food leaves the Ottawa Food Bank’s warehouse each month?
A5. In a normal year, the Ottawa Food Bank's Bantree warehouse distributes 14 tons of food every day. This provides approximately 100 food programs with supplies to help our neighbourhoods, 37 percent of whom are children.
Q6. What year did OC Transpo launch the food drive?
A6. OC Transpo’s first Holiday Food Drive was in 1984, the same year the Ottawa Food Bank was founded.
Q7. How much food and cash has been raised since the food drive began in 1984?
A7. To date, this food drive has raised over three million pounds of food and thousands of dollars for people in Ottawa who struggle to afford enough to eat.