Gleaners Food Bank Timeline
Working together to feed our community
1985
Pilot project created by members of the Quinte Labour Council and Quinte Development and Peace. Operations were located at St. Thomas Anglican Church for a period of 6 months.
1986
Gleaners Food Bank became a registered charity in 1986 and grew quickly due to overwhelming need. The food bank moved to the basement of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in 1987, its home for the next 20 years.
1988
The Belanger family generously donated warehouse space for dry product only
1999
Milk Marketing Board, OAFB and local farmers form the National Milk Program. QRFSS A collective of 5 area rural food banks
2000
The Gleaners Tri-County Food Network was established to help serve the Quinte Regional Food Share Shelter and many other organizations, meal programs and alternative school programs. With Ontario Trillium Foundation we installed industrial cooler and frozen units
2001
Michaelangelo’s Café is opened under the auspices of St. Michael’s Outreach and the Café moved with us to 25 Wallbridge Crescent
2005
Gleaners Distribution Centre Opens. Excess food from the warehouse is handed out at St. Matthew’s for weekly distribution
2006
In 2006, we received $15,000 from Kellogg and a generous donor gave us a 5 Year Private Mortgage. The Capital Campaign Committee steered by John Halloran helped to pay off the building in Five Years.
2007
Gleaners Food Bank moved to its current location at 25 Wallbridge Crescent.
2009
Gleaners developed and created the fully sustainable organic garden, rain harvesting system and solar panel water pump. New Off-Grid Garden
2010
Installation of the 72 15KW solar panels on our insulated roof top
2012
Gleaners became mortgage free
2014
Awarded Charity of the year by the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce and Most Innovative Food Bank of the year by the Ontario Association of Food Banks. Also received OAFB Innovator of the Year. Gleaners received the Quinte Business Achievement award for “Not for Profit of the Year”
2016
New renovations address Ontario Accessibility Act and to provide space for Community Outreach Office
2017
Creation of 6 accessible neighbourhood garden beds and an additional rain water harvesting system
2019
Accessible Restrooms were constructed and addressed updated health and safety standard. We also introduced a Micro Greens program
