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About Us

Food is not the solution to food insecurity.

People need support today. Knowing this, we collect and distribute approximately three million kilograms of food annually to over 130 member food banks, meal programs, and shelters across the province. We also support the member agencies as they build capacity to serve their communities. While we help Nova Scotians meet a very basic need, we’re raising awareness of the root causes of food insecurity–things like systemic racism, low wages, inadequate income support, and unaffordable housing. And we’re advocating for sustainable, policy-based solutions that will allow everyone to live a life of dignity and leave no one relying on charitable band-aids to address human rights.

Feed Nova Scotia History

We first opened our doors in 1984 as the Metro Food Bank Society, with the mandate to provide emergency food relief within Metro Halifax. The volunteer staff served 12 member food banks and meal programs. In 2002, at the request of our member agencies, Metro Food Bank Society became the umbrella organization for food banks across the province. In 2005, we rebranded as Feed Nova Scotia.

After over 40 years in operation, and now supporting over 130 member.agencies, we recognize the need is growing and we can’t feed our way out of it. While we continue to address food insecurity by supplying emergency food support, we’re also working to find long-term solutions to hunger and poverty in Nova Scotia.

1984

Metro Food Bank Society opened its doors, providing emergency food support for people in Halifax Regional Municipality through 12 member food banks and meal programs.

Boxes of tomatoes and cucumbers.

2002

Metro Food Bank Society expanded its scope to provide support to member food banks, meal programs, and shelters across Nova Scotia.

2005

Metro Food Bank Society rebranded and became Feed Nova Scotia, reflecting its provincial mandate.

2024

After 40 years in operation, Feed Nova Scotia expanded its scope of work to explore new ways of addressing the root causes of food insecurity, and community-led initiatives.

Today

With more than 3 million kgs of food distributed in 2024/25, it’s clear that food insecurity is not going away. We are focused on providing emergency food support through a network of partner agencies, while advocating for sustainable, policy-based solutions to reducing food insecurity in Nova Scotia.

REGISTERED CHARITY

Access Feed Nova Scotia's charity listing and T3010 returns on the Canada Revenue Agency website, which includes compensation information.

3.2 million kilograms

of food was distributed in 2024/25

66%

of food distributed was perishable

70%

of purchased food came from Nova Scotia farmers

VISION

A province where everyone has the ability to choose and access the food they want and need.

PURPOSE

Achieve food sovereignty and food justice to advance social equity.

MISSION

We partner to create systemic changes, while responding to the immediate need for dignified, secure, and just access to food.

VALUES

Innovation, Equity, Collaboration, Accountability

BEHAVIOURAL COMMITMENTS

Building Connection
Conscious Collaboration
Learning Through Curiosity
Courage To Make Change

Feed Nova Scotia and the network of members are located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq Peoples, and we acknowledge them as past, present, and future caretakers of this land. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq, Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. We are all Treaty people.

We acknowledge that African Nova Scotians have existed and persisted on the traditional land of the Mi’kmaq for more than 400 hundred years and their significant presence has contributed to the existence of Nova Scotia.

We are grateful to live and work in Mi’kma’ki.