Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions (and answers) about the Tobermory Food Bank (TFB).
The Tobermory Food Bank is typically open, weather permitting, on Tuesday afternoon, between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Special events, closures and changes to the typical schedule are posted on the Calendar page of the TFB website.
The decision to close the Tobermory Food Bank will be made no later than 10 a.m. on the day in question. In coming to a decision, the TFB chair will consider school bus cancellations, road closures, local weather conditions, and availability of volunteers. Unless stated otherwise, the TFB will re-open the following week.
Closures and schedule changes will be broadcast on the Calendar page of the TFB website, on Facebook, and Instagram (@TobermoryFoodBank). We will also inform local media, but we cannot guarantee that they will broadcast the information.
If you haven’t seen a closure notification and are uncertain, please call 519-596-2333.
The Tobermory Food Bank supports anyone who needs assistance who lives in the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (from Miller Lake to Tobermory). Registration is simple. Bring one piece of government issued identification to the TFB during regular hours and one of our volunteers will collect your contact information and add you to our client roster. You can take food home that same day.
For Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas hampers, sign up at the TFB during regular hours or call 519-596-2333. Registration in advance is required to receive a hamper. Dates and deadlines for all Hamper days are posted on the Calendar page of the TFB website.
We accept donations of non-perishable food, personal care items, pet food or cleaning products. Any dented cans or homemade preserves cannot be accepted . Also please check the best before dates on all food items. Anything that is dated older than 12 months from the current donation date cannot be accepted. Click here for a list of products that are most often in demand.
Thanks for thinking of us. There are several places around Tobermory where non-perishable donations can be dropped off:
Canada Post (16 Brock St., Tobermory)
Peacock’s Foodland (7357 Highway 6, Tobermory)
Tobermory Food Bank (20 Centennial Drive, Tobermory)
Tobermory Community Centre (7420 Highway 6, Tobermory)
Tobermory United Church (5 Brock Street, Tobermory)
The Tobermory Food Bank is run entirely by volunteers and they do a lot. The two main types of work are the Second Harvest pick-up and the Client Support role. Second Harvest volunteers pick-up food donations from our local grocery store on Tuesday morning, bring it back to the TFB. From there it is weighed, sorted, and put away. A typical shift takes 1.5 hours. Client Support volunteers work in the afternoon when the Food Bank is open and support clients while they shop.
There are many other operational functions that are handled by volunteers, including website maintenance, social media, fundraising and event support, shopping for food, plus a variety of leadership roles. If you’re interested in helping out, perhaps have specific skills to offer, and a little time to spare, we would love to hear from you.
Send us a quick message using the TFB website Contact form and one of our volunteers will call you back to discuss our volunteer opportunities. If you would like to proceed, there is a simple contact and confidentiality form to complete. We will then bring you on board where you will be paired with an experienced volunteer for training.
Still Got Questions?
If you still have questions, please send us a message and a TFB volunteer will be in touch.