Who We Are
Since our founding in 1989, the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (GEFC) has been a critical part of the social infrastructure in east Ottawa, providing up to 4,000 residents a year with emergency food.
We believe in providing healthy food and the dignity of choice. Working with our community we provide lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy children’s snacks, and culturally appropriate foods such as halal meats, cornmeal and dry beans.
Recognizing that there are many ways to support food security, we also established our own farm plot at the Just Food Farm to engage the community in growing fresh food to share and programs that help people grow their own food.
Annual Reports
To learn more about what we do read our:
Our Mission
Our mission is to alleviate food insecurity in our community by working together to create opportunities to access and share good food. We do this through innovative food programming, partnerships, and civic engagement.
Our Vision
We envision a resilient, connected and vibrant community where everyone has access to good food.
Our current programs:
Community Food Share
We provide four days of healthy food to anyone who needs it, usually once per month. This food is provided through our membership with the Ottawa Food Bank, donated by the community, purchased with funds raised by the community, or grown at our farm site.
Community Garden
The Arrowsmith Thyme-less Community Garden enables households to grow their own food. We are also part of the Beacon Hill Community Garden Network.
Plant-a-Row, Share-a-Row (PARSAR)
This is a city-wide program that encourages people who grow food in their community garden plot or at home to donate. We have our own volunteer-tended plot of a 1/3 acre located at the Just Food Farm.
New Roots Farm Program for Refugees
In partnership with Just Food, we support refugee families who were farmers to grow their own food and learn about farming in Canada.
We envision a resilient, connected and vibrant community where everyone has access to good food.”
We are proud to be a member of:
We appreciate our funders:
