About Us

About CFN

Central Food Network is a registered charity on a mission to assist our community and partners, share food resources, and create opportunities to help those living in poverty.

We offer several programs to help reduce hunger and to keep people warm, both in Highlands East and beyond. These aim to relieve poverty by providing food, heating supplies and other basic necessities to people in need. We operate two food banks (Wilberforce & Cardiff), a food distribution hub (Highlands East Food Hub), a community cooking program (Community Cooks) and Heat Bank Haliburton County that helps people that are struggling with heat and hydro.

We are proud members of Feed Ontario, Haliburton County FoodNet, Haliburton County Chamber of Commerce, the Algonquin Gateway Business Association, Haliburton Human Services & Justice Coordinating Committee and the Haliburton County Service Providers Network.

CRA Charitable Registration #: 801902164 RR 0001

territorial acknowledgment

Central Food Network respectfully acknowledges that our work is carried out upon the traditional homelands, waterways and hunting grounds of the Anishinaabeg, as well as Métis people and, historically, the Huron-Wendat.

The Haliburton Highlands - known as "Gidaaki" in Ojibwe - are covered by the Williams Treaties of 1923 and, in parts, by Treaty 20 of 1818. We respectfully recognize that we operate in Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig (Mississauga Anishinaabeg) territory and on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations , which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Further, we operate on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation.

Central Food Network respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations and Algonquin Nation are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity, and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.

The structure of our organization

Central Food Network is run by a combination of paid staff members and volunteers. Our staff members are responsible for doing things like intake appointments, data entry and tracking, grant applications, operational management and other administration tasks that keep our agency running smoothly.

Our incredible volunteers do a wide range of work to help deliver our services effectively and compassionately. Key volunteers like Ken and Sandy oversee the day-to-day operations of our food banks by organizing other volunteers, gathering food shipments from surrounding areas, stocking shelves and so much more. We have many other volunteers who help out at special events, in the kitchen with Community Cooks, delivering firewood & food to people, and more!

We also have a robust group of elected volunteers that sit on the Board of Directors. Our Board meets once a month to discuss matters affecting our organization, including receiving reports from committees, programs and other relevant topics.