What is the Canadian Foodgrains Bank?

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a Christian-based charitable organization in partnership with 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies that facilitates the collection and distribution of cash, grain and other agricultural commodities in an effort to end world hunger.

It also provides funds and expert advice for projects submitted by member agencies and their partners, manages the procurement and supply of food commodities, and engages in public policy and education activities related to hunger. 

It is a federally incorporated, not-for-profit corporation registered as a charitable agency.  Since 1983, it has provided over 1.1 million tonnes of food to hungry people in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Eastern Europe. 

The Foodgrains Bank is grateful to the Canadian Government for providing a 4 to 1 matching grant up to a maximum contribution of  $25 million per year. 

It is owned by 15 church agencies which include:
  • Adventist Development and Relief Agency
  • Canadian Baptist Ministries
  • Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
  • Canadian Lutheran World Relief
  • Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada
  • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee of Canada
  • Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada
  • Mennonite Central Committee Canada
  • Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
  • Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
  • Presbyterian World Service and Development
  • Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada
  • The Salvation Army
  • United Church of Canada
  • World Relief Canada
  • Global Affairs Canada matches donations to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on a 4:1 basis up to a maximum of $25 million per year
  • Over 93% of donated money is used for food assistance

What is the Bighead River Foodgrains Project?
The Bighead River Foodgrains Project is one of over 200 local growing projects across Canada that raises funds for the work of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. 
Started in 1997 by several Meaford churches, it has raised $531,000 since its inception.  When matched on a 4:1 basis by Global Affairs Canada, its total becomes over $2.65 million.  
Local events have included concerts, church dinners, refreshment booths at Meaford events, barrels around Meaford to collect aluminum cans for recycling, toonie trees (in support of World Food Day in October) at local churches to encourage people to donate to the cause of feeding the world's hungry and much more.
In addition, local farmers and agribusinesses have grown and harvested various crops with the proceeds from the sale of the crops going to the work of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Supporting churches include:
  • Christ Church Anglican
  • Christ Church United - Mississauga
  • Cook Street Pentecostal
  • Knox Presbyterian
  • Meaford Church of the Nazarene
  • Meaford First Baptist
  • Meaford United
  • St. Andrews Presbyterian - Kitchener
  • St. James Anglican - Fairmount
  • St. Vincent Roman Catholic
  • Temple Hill United