Any household in Vanier or Overbrook can shop once a week. Take a basket, walk the aisles and choose what your family will eat. Nobody asks why you are here.
Bring one piece of ID with your address
That is all you need on your first visit. Registration takes about five minutes, and you can shop the same day.
A driver's licence or photo ID card
Or a lease, bill or bank letter with your name and address
SoupV, vegetarianRoasted squash and apple soupMade with this week's Hubbard squash.Contains milkHas an allergen you picked
MainBraised chicken with root vegetablesCarrots, parsnips and potatoes, with a mustard glaze.Contains mustardHas an allergen you picked
Vegetarian mainV, vegetarianRed lentil and squash dalServed over basmati rice with lemon.No listed allergensHas an allergen you picked
SideV, vegetarianKale and cabbage slawWith a sesame and cider dressing.Contains sesame and soyHas an allergen you picked
BreadV, vegetarianFresh bread and butterSourdough from a neighbourhood bakery.Contains wheat and milkHas an allergen you picked
DessertV, vegetarianApple crispOat topping, with custard on the side.Contains wheat, milk and eggHas an allergen you picked
We post the menu here every Monday. Our kitchen handles all of these allergens, so traces are possible.
5Aisle 5Back room
From the loading door to the shelf.
About 120 volunteers and 2 part-time staff keep the shelves full. Here is the path a crate of food takes.
Tuesday morning sort, before opening
1
Food comes in
Grocers, farms and donors bring food. Monthly gifts pay for fresh items in bulk.
2
Volunteers sort
Volunteers check dates, sort and stock the shelves before each opening.
3
Neighbours shop
Registered households choose their own food once a week.
4
We report back
Donors get a short update, and our annual report shows every dollar.
Open books
Where your donation goes.
We buy most of our fresh food at wholesale prices and get the rest from local grocers and farms. Volunteers do almost all of the work, so most of every dollar goes straight to food. Our annual report lists every cost.
A steady monthly gift lets us buy milk, eggs and produce in bulk. It also keeps the shelves stocked in summer, when food donations slow down.
Prefer to talk first? Call (613) 555-0151 during pantry hours.
Example of a visitor story
I came in the first time embarrassed and left with a full bag and a volunteer shift. Now I stock shelves every Tuesday.
Lina, Overbrook
Delivery for a neighbour in Overbrook
About Maplecourt
Run by neighbours since 2011.
Maplecourt started in a church basement with two shelves and a handful of volunteers. Today we fill a storefront off Montreal Road and help about 400 households every month.
We believe people should choose their own food. Our pantry is set up like a small grocery store, and nobody is asked to explain why they need help.
Any household living in Vanier or Overbrook. Bring one piece of ID with your address on your first visit. You do not need a referral.
Will I get a tax receipt for my donation?
Yes. We are a registered charity, and every online gift gets an official tax receipt by email. Monthly donors get one receipt each February for the whole year.
Can my workplace volunteer as a group?
Yes. We host groups of up to 10 people on weekday mornings. Book at least three weeks ahead through the volunteer form.
Is the pantry accessible?
Yes. The entrance is step-free, the aisles are wide enough for wheelchairs, and volunteers can help carry your groceries to a car or bus stop.
What food donations do you need most?
Canned fish, peanut butter, cooking oil, rice and baby formula. We cannot accept home-cooked food or anything past its best-before date.
