Food banks
Using a food bank in Ottawa for the first time
Checked October 3, 2026
Asking for food is hard the first time. This page explains what actually happens, so there are fewer surprises. Rules differ a little between food banks, so call ahead if you can.
1. Find the food bank that serves your address
The Ottawa Food Bank does not hand out food at its warehouse. It supplies community food banks across the city. Each community food bank serves the people who live in its area, based on postal code. Enter your home postal code or address in the Ottawa Food Bank’s look-up tool to find yours.
If you do not use a computer, call 2-1-1 and they will tell you which food bank serves your address. Give your full address: near a boundary, a postal code alone can point to the wrong food bank.
2. Book an appointment if your food bank asks for one
Most Ottawa community food banks work by appointment, by phone or online. A few take drop-ins during their hours. Each food bank page on this site says which, and how to book.
610 Donald St, Ottawa
- Wed · 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. — food bank pickup
6 Epworth Ave, Ottawa
- Tue, Wed, Fri · 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — food bank pickup
- Tue, Wed, Fri · 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Thu · 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — mobile food bank (1475 Caldwell Ave (Bellevue))
- Thu · 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — mobile food bank (1475 Caldwell Ave (Bellevue))
Food bank · Groceries
Centretown Community Food Centre
370 Catherine St, Ottawa
- Mon, Tue, Thu · 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Fri · 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — food bank pickup
1825 St. Joseph Blvd, Ottawa
- Tue · 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. — food bank pickup (1st and 3rd Tuesday only)
- Sat · 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. — food bank pickup (2nd and 4th Saturday only)
Food bank · Groceries
Dalhousie Food Cupboard
211 Bronson Ave, Ottawa
- Wed, Thu · 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. — food bank pickup
955 Debra Avenue, Unit 85, Ottawa
- Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri · 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Mon–Fri · 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. — food bank pickup
221 Nelson St, Ottawa
- Mon–Fri · 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — food bank pickup
212 Murray St, Ottawa
- Wed · 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Sun · 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — food bank pickup
500 Viewmount Drive, Ottawa
- Mon–Thu · 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. — food pantry
- Mon–Thu · 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — breakfast
- Mon · 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. — lunch
Food bank · Groceries
Heron Emergency Food Centre
1480 Heron Rd, Ottawa
- Tue · 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Wed · 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Thu · 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Fri · 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — food bank pickup
290 Kent St, Ottawa, ON
- Tue, Wed, Fri · 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. — food, tea/coffee, prepared meals
- Thu, Sat · 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. — food, tea/coffee, prepared meals
290 Kent St, Ottawa
- Tue–Sat · 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. — food bank pickup
Food bank · Indigenous · Community kitchen
Inuit Food Security (food bank and community kitchen)
Tungasuvvingat Inuit
282 Dupuis St, Ottawa
- Mon · 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. — food bank (Inuit elders 55+)
- Tue · 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. — food bank (Inuit families and students)
- Wed · 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — food bank (general Inuit community)
- Wed · 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — food bank (general Inuit community)
Food bank · Hot meal · Youth
Operation Come Home Youth Drop-In (food bank and meals)
Operation Come Home
150 Gloucester St, Ottawa
- Mon–Thu · 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — drop-in
- Mon–Thu · 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — drop-in
- Fri · 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — drop-in
- Sat, Sun · 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — drop-in
Food bank · Groceries
Osgoode Emergency Food Cupboard
St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 2540 Stagecoach Rd, Osgoode, ON
- Sat · 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — food bank pickup
151 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa
391 Gladstone Ave, Ottawa, ON
- Tue · 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — take-away lunch and food cupboard
UCU 0022, Jock Turcot University Centre, 85 University Private, Ottawa
- Wed · 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Thu · 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. — food bank pickup
354 Madison Ave, Ottawa
- Mon · 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Tue · 1 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — food bank pickup
- Thu · 4 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — food bank pickup
3. Bring ID and proof of address
- Almost every food bank in the Ottawa Food Bank network asks for ID and proof of address.
- Some ask for one piece of ID for each person in your household (for example a health card, passport or driver’s licence) and one proof of address (a bill, bank statement or lease).
- Bring your own bags. Some food banks ask for at least four.
No ID? Contact your community food bank anyway and ask what else they can accept. No fixed address? Most community food banks will still serve you — use an address near where you stay and explain your situation.
4. What you get, and how often
- Community food banks usually give 3 to 5 days of food, once a month, including fresh and frozen food.
- Since October 1, 2025, the network serves people on their first visit of the month first. A second visit in the same month — even to a different food bank — can be refused or reduced to 1 or 2 days of food.
- Many food banks also give diapers, toiletries and cleaning supplies when they have them.
- Some food banks are “choice” food banks, where you pick items from shelves like a small store.
5. If you need food before your next visit
Three emergency food banks serve anyone in Ottawa, whatever your postal code: Care Centre Ottawa, Sadaqa Food Bank and the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre. Meal programs (soup kitchens and drop-ins) do not use catchment areas and most do not ask for ID.
500 Viewmount Drive, Ottawa
- Mon–Thu · 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. — food pantry
- Mon–Thu · 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — breakfast
- Mon · 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. — lunch
Food bank · Groceries
Sadaqa Food Bank
174 Colonnade Road, Unit 34, Ottawa, ON
Food bank · Groceries
Emergency Food Bank (Community and Family Services)
The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre
- Mon, Wed, Fri · 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. — emergency food bank, by appointment
You can also call the Ottawa Food Bank at 613-745-7001 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and they will connect you with a service near you. Outside those hours, call 2-1-1.
Your information
Since June 2025, most grocery programs that work with the Ottawa Food Bank can see the information visitors have given since January 2024. Ask your food bank if you have questions about what is recorded. Help Find Food does not collect any of it — searching or reading this site does not tell any food bank who you are.
Sources
- Ottawa Food Bank — Get Help (agency look-up and FAQ)
- Ottawa Food Bank — Service prioritization FAQ for visitors (PDF)
- Westboro Region Food Bank — what to bring and what you receive
- 211 Ontario
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