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About Us

The Burlington Food Bank has been proudly serving Burlington since 1991. Our role in the community is to collect, purchase, grow, and distribute food directly to families in Burlington who need a little help. A client can visit our food bank once every three weeks and we provide between seven and ten days’ worth of food and hygiene products. We also provide baby items, such as diapers, formula and baby food to new parents. 

Our Mission, Our Promise

To provide nutritious food to the hungry of our community in a dignified and timely manner

The Burlington Food Bank was formed in 1991 when several small community Churches decided to work together and pool resources to help the most vulnerable in our community. Our organization has grown significantly since that time and now provides close to 1,750 lbs of food directly to Burlington residents that need our assistance each day.

Who We Are

Our Clients

Our Food Bank is committed to feeding the hungry in our community. Our clients are treated with dignity & respect. We welcome all clients without judgement.

Our Donors

Donations from our financial supporters allow us to purchase perishable food items like milk, meat, eggs, etc. Our food donors allow us to feed the hungry.

Our Board

Our strategic board provides direction to the staff at the Food Bank; this includes yearly planning to enhance the client experience.

Our Service

Our Food Bank is about food distribution. We collect, sort and distribute food to our clients and outreach food programs.

Our Partners

Our valued partners provide the Food Bank with nutritious food and hygiene products to help meet our client needs.

Our Team

Our Food bank relies on the dedicated staff and volunteers to help receive food, inspect for expiry dates, sort and distribute to our clients.

Our Team

Executive Director

Christina Mulder

Food Bank Manager

Krista Kay

Director of Marketing & Community Fundraising

Tracy Wilkinson

Executive Administrative Assistant

Mike Deyo

Warehouse Operations Manager

Tracy Peeters

Intake & Volunteer Coordinator

Samantha Le Grand

Community Garden Coordinator

Angela Alikhlasi

Community Care Coordinator

Our Summer Students

Brooklyn Humphries

Customer Service Coordinator

Maia Bosma

Marketing Coordinator

Noah Palik

Warehouse Support

Connor Silliphant

Community Garden Grower

Our Board of Directors

Dave Dyson

Board Director

Interested in joining our Board of Directors?

Please fill out this form and we will get back to you. 

We are proud members of

Robin Bailey

Executive Director

Robin Bailey started with the Burlington Food Bank as the Executive Director in August of 2017. He previously served the community of Burlington for approximately 7.5 years with the Salvation Army Family Services administering their programming.

As the Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank, he takes great pride in the staff and volunteers’ dedication, service and deep care for our clients.

He also serves with Feed Ontario as a Director and a team member on their Advocacy Committee, as well as several other local initiatives and committees.

Maria Thornton

Chairperson

Maria is a Chartered Professional Accountant and worked in the private, corporate sector until her recent decision to start her own business.  In 2017, Maria acquired a small bakery located in Burlington that served their customers at local farmer’s markets between Halton and Niagara and from a retail location in Burlington. 

In 2011, Maria obtained initial board training and certification through Toronto’s Canadian Board Diversity Council, and in 2012 attended McMaster/DeGroote School of Business – Not For Profit Governance Workshops. 

Maria is an active community member and volunteer.  In addition to her role on the BFB Board, Maria is a past Chairperson of the Halton Food for Thought program, run out of Burlington.  She has Chaired several corporate United Way Campaigns.  Maria continues to support the Gift of Giving Back charity, which she began through her association with the Burlington Girls Hockey Club.  Maria was also a member of the Burlington Community Foundation’s Funding Committee.

Rick Owens

Secretary

My wife and I moved from northern Ontario to Burlington in 1984 where we made our home, raised 2 wonderful children and both recently retired from our respective careers. As many retirees do, we wanted to give something back to the community that has been so good to our family. Once I became aware of the Burlington Food Bank and their goal to help people get beyond hunger, I knew this was the type of organization I wanted to be a part of. To date I have met many of our wonderful and committed volunteers and truly am impressed with their dedication to supporting those in need in our community. I look forward to working with our Board of Directors for many years to ensure the continued success of the Burlington Food Bank.

Paul Farquharson

Treasurer

Paul Farquharson joined the board of directors for the Burlington Food Bank in 2019. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA, CMA) who lives and works in Burlington. He has served on boards in the Burlington and surrounding area in the past. Paul also plays in the Burlington Oldtimers Hockey League.

Debra Carey

Director

Debra Carey is a certified leadership/systems coach and human resources professional. Prior to opening her coaching business, she was Vice President, Human Resources for Woodbine Entertainment Group. She has had an extensive career in the area of human capital management in the manufacturing, health care and gaming/entertainment industries with a focus on labour relations and leadership development. Debra has a labour studies degree from McMaster University and coaching certifications through the International Coach Federation, Adler International Learning and the Centre for Right Relationships. Debra served as a member of the Joseph Brant Hospital Board from 2012 to 2021 and is proud to have been appointed to the Burlington Food Bank Board as of March 2022.

Geraldine Hewitt

Director

Geraldine Hewitt is a lawyer, who lives and works within the Halton community . She is a firm believer in community involvement, with a long history of community service, from volunteering in a legal aid clinic to active participation in her sons’ school’s Parent Council. Her desire to contribute to the eradication of poverty has led her to her current position on the Burlington Food Bank board. Geraldine is a wife and a mother of two teenage boys, and is also active in her local church.

Bianca Steer

Director

Bianca has volunteered with a large number of community support organisations over the last 20 years. She is proud to be a member of the Board to support the goal of feeding the hungry in Burlington with dignity and respect. Bianca has worked for the last 16 years managing the financing, design and construction of government social infrastructure such as hospitals, courthouses and other critical community assets. Bianca is currently the chair of the Canadian Women’s Infrastructure Network Awards Committee. Bianca holds a Masters of Business Administration specializing in Project Management from the Australian National University and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in Finance, from the University of Tennessee. Bianca and her husband live in Burlington with their two sons.

Rhonda Weppler

Director

Dave Dyson

Board Director

Dave moved to Burlington with his wife and young family in 1994. With a strong commitment to community service, Dave has volunteered extensively, initially focusing on activities involving his three children and later transitioning into nonprofit work.

Dave Dyson holds an MBA from McMaster University. From 2014 to 2021, he served on the board of directors for Carpenter Hospice and was the Board Chair in 2019-2020. Eager to continue his contributions to the nonprofit sector within a community-focused organization, Dave chose to join the Burlington Food Bank Board. He is driven by the mission to address food insecurity in the Burlington community and looks forward to working alongside dedicated volunteers to ensure the organization’s continued success.