Supporting children and families facing food insecurity across Ottawa this summer

For many families across Ottawa, summer brings more than school holidays and warmer days. It also marks one of the most difficult periods of the year for those experiencing food insecurity.

As schools close, many children lose access to the meal programmes they depend on throughout the academic year. At the same time, food bank donations typically decline while demand continues to rise, creating additional pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet.

Through the Ottawa Summer Food Drive, Khalsa Aid Canada is helping lead a city-wide effort that brings together students, schools, families, local businesses, suppliers and community partners to ensure children and families continue receiving support during the summer months.

Addressing the gap many food drives miss

Traditional food drives often focus on canned and non-perishable items, which remain essential for long-term support. However, access to fresh and nutritious food can be equally important for families and is often one of the hardest needs to meet.

That is where fresh produce support becomes critical.

Working alongside community partners, Odd Bunch will help provide fresh fruits and vegetables, helping ensure children and families have access to food that supports not only immediate needs but also health, dignity and wellbeing.

The Ottawa Food Bank and Ottawa Community Housing Foundation will help ensure these supplies reach households and communities across the city.

300 volunteers. 100,000+ lbs. One day of action.

On 6 June 2026, more than 300 volunteers, including students and staff from Algonquin College, will come together for one of Ottawa’s largest single-day food distribution efforts.

In just six hours, volunteers will sort, load and distribute more than 100,000 lbs of fresh fruits and vegetables to over 40 organisations across Ottawa.

But this is more than a food drive.

The initiative has been designed as a coordinated operation inspired by emergency and disaster response systems, where supplies are delivered to a central hub before being rapidly sorted and dispatched to food banks, shelters, social housing communities and frontline organisations supporting children and families.

Fresh produce purchased through Khalsa Aid Canada and local business partners will be distributed alongside food collections led by students across 31 Ottawa Carleton District School Board schools, helping ensure support reaches communities quickly and efficiently.

Led by students. Supported by the community.

At the heart of the Ottawa Summer Food Drive are students taking action within their own communities.

The initiative brings together 31 participating Ottawa Carleton District School Board schools, reaching more than 50,000 students, parents and educators across Ottawa.

Alongside students, the campaign is supported by suppliers, community organisations, public servants, businesses and volunteers working together with a shared purpose: helping address child food insecurity and ensuring families across Ottawa have access to the support they need this summer.

Donate today to support your local food bank and help families facing food insecurity across Ottawa.