Marking 40 years of working to end global hunger

40 YEARS | Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Life begins at 40!

2023 marks 40 years of Canadian Foodgrains Bank member churches and church agencies working together to end hunger.

Take a trip through our history to discover some of the highlights from our 40-year history.


1974

Bangladesh famine

Red Spring Wheat harvested

During a time of famine in Bangladesh, farmers in western Canada are enjoying bumper crops. They want to share their excess food with people who are hungry, but government policies at the time don’t permit it. They call on Mennonite Central Committee Canada to find a way; it proposes the creation of a food bank that can receive grain from Canadian farmers.

1975

MCC Food Bank is created

Mennonite Central Committee Relief

The MCC Food Bank is created. It is based on the “Joseph principle” from the Old Testament—storing up grain in good years for use in bad times. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), now Global Affairs Canada, agrees to provide matching funds, a partnership that continues to this day.

1976

MCC Issues the first appeal for grain

MCC Food Bank brochure 1976-77.

Prairie farmers respond by providing 1,442 tonnes of grain.

1977

First food shipment sent

In 1982, an MCC Food Bank shipment arrives in India.

660 tonnes of grain was sent by the MCC Food Bank to India.

1979

Canadian Wheat Board partnership begins

CWB - Canadian Wheat Board Logo

The board helped facilitate the handling and shipping of grain.

1981

Ontario farmers join MCC Food Bank efforts

An early growing project

Through Corn for the Horn, farmers respond to the Ethiopia hunger crisis.

1983

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is born

History - 1984-85 Annual Report

With encouragement from the Government of Canada, MCC invites other churches and church agencies to join and Canadian Foodgrains Bank is born. The first members are MCC Canada, Canadian Baptist International Ministries, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, The Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (now World Renew).

1984

Famine in Ethiopia

Foodgrains Bank shipment arrives in Ethiopia

Foodgrains Bank members respond to famine in Ethiopia.

Emergency Relief & Development Overseas

ERDO - Emergency Relief and Development Overseas

Emergency Relief & Development Overseas (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) joins the Foodgrains Bank.

The United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada joins the Foodgrains Bank as well.

1987

Food study tour program begins

Youth Tour 2005

Canadian supporters travel to Foodgrains Bank projects overseas to visit and learn from locally-based partners.

1988

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries joins the Foodgrains Bank.

Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada

Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada

The Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada joins the Foodgrains Bank as well.

1989

Community growing projects begin

Community growing projects begin

Farmers in Carrot River, Sask. and Paisley, Ont. come together to plant, grow and harvest a crop for the Foodgrains Bank. Today there are over 218 growing projects from P.E.I. to B.C.

1990

Adventist Development and Relief Agency

Adventist Development and Relief Agency

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) joins.

1991

World Relief Canada

World Relief Canada

World Relief Canada (now Tearfund Canada) joins representing six denominations.