Kanata Food Cupboard
Providing food to those in need since 1985, the Kanata Food Cupboard relies on community support to serve thousands annually. We are powered by dedicated volunteers, staff, and donors committed to making a difference.
Our mission
We provide the healthiest possible food choices to individuals in need of assistance by engaging and inspiring our Kanata community.
Our values
As a welcoming organization, we serve the community regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation or religion.
Please help us support our community's most vulnerable by donating.
Our history
The Kanata Food Cupboard was founded in 1985 following a discussion at a Christian interchurch ministry council meeting regarding the social services needs of Kanata. Many churches were seeing an increase in the number of families asking for help with food around Christmas time.
The founding group realized there were limited services in Kanata and many residents were regularly taking three or four buses to downtown Ottawa to access food. That is when Jim Van Doorn, Heather Colls, Jane Grant, and Bernie Hartlin started making calls.
“We didn’t have a social agency,” said Heather Colls. “We didn’t have anything out here, and the city of Ottawa said, “use what we have downtown, or you can do your own thing.’”
Not to be deterred, the group went to Marianne Wilkinson, the then mayor of Kanata, and secured a grant of $500. The group used the funds to set up shop in the basement of St. Paul’s Anglican Church. With the help of volunteers from various Christian church groups, the Kanata Food Cupboard was born. “The first Christmas we had 25 families and from there it just mushroomed,” said Colls.
“The organization has changed a lot since then,” said Wilkinson, who has remained involved with it, having been chairwoman of the food cupboard’s board for eight years in the late '90s.
Honorable Minster Jenna Sudds, past chair of the Kanata Food Cupboard, Dylan Samuel, past chair of the Kanata Food Cupboard, and Cody Guthrie, current chair of the Kanata Food Cupboard
Amanda Burnside, past volunteer co-ordinator of the Kanata Food Cupboard and Jim Van Doorn, one of the founding members of the Kanata Food Cupboard
Our team
We are supported in our work by an enthusiastic and committed volunteer crew, three dedicated staff, and are governed by a volunteer board of directors with a broad spectrum of expertise, knowledge, and experience.
.
Cara-Leigh Wyllie
Executive Director
Jessica Matchem
Volunteer and Operations Manager
Kaitlyn Lalonde
Client and Community Outreach Coordinator
Board of Directors
Cody Guthrie
Chairperson
Lynn Barclay
Vice Chairperson
Lesley Ryan
Treasurer
Jerry Rankin
Privacy Officer
Natalie Gouthro
Director of Governance
Shelley Seward-White
Director of HR
Mohammad Mousa
Director of IT
Demetria Tsoutouras
Secretary / Director of Communications
Jennifer Thomsen
Director at Large
John Cunningham
Director at Large
Lindsay Coffin
Director at Large
Our impact
In Kanata in 2023,
Proud members of
