Privacy Policy

Upper Room Food Bank Association is committed to protecting the privacy and the personal information of its clients, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders.

Disability Policy

At Upper Room Food Bank, we strive to provide services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of all members of our community. We commit to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services in the same place, and in a similar way as other users. This complies with legislative requirements, and the Act Respecting Accessibility in Nova Scotia (2017).

If a barrier to accessing our services cannot be removed, we will seek alternative ways to provide the service. Upper Room Food Bank commits to including accessibility in our planning processes.

Complaints Policy

Any individual, donor, prospective donor, member of the general public, member agency, and/or business who may have a complaint about Upper Room Food Bank is encouraged to contact the Food Bank Manager or Board of Directors directly to make the Food Bank aware of the complaint or concern. Concerns, questions and complaints that arise will be handled in a professional, consistent, and timely manner.

There may be circumstances in which the Board may request that the complaint be put into writing by the complainant, and addressed to the Board of Directors.

If the complaint concerns the Food Bank Manager the complaint shall be put into writing by the complainant and addressed to the Board of Directors. The Board will then invite the complainant and the Food Bank Manager to a special meeting, where the matter shall be heard and addressed by the Board.

The Food Bank will not retaliate against individuals who make good-faith complaints. Unresolved complaints may be directed to Feed NS or Food Banks Canada’s Customer Experience Hotline at 1.877.280.0329.

Ethical Food Banking Code

Food Banks Canada, its Members (provincial associations), Affiliate Member food banks and associated agencies believe that everyone in Canada has the right to physical and economic access, at all times, to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences.

As an Affiliate Member of Food Banks Canada, Upper Room Food Bank will:

1. Provide food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, income source, age or mental or physical ability.
2. Treat all those who access services with the utmost dignity and respect.
3. Implement best practices in the proper and safe storage and handling of food.
4. Respect the privacy of those served, and will maintain the confidentiality of personal information.
5. Not sell donated food.
6. Acquire and share food in a spirit of cooperation with other food banks and food programs.
7. Strive to make the public aware of the existence of hunger, and of the factors that contribute to it.
8. Recognize that food banks are not a viable long-term response to hunger, and devote part of their activities to reducing the need for food assistance.
9. Represent accurately, honestly and completely their respective mission and activities to the larger community.

Core food-support services will be provided to clients at no financial cost and without being implicitly/explicitly tied to other conditions (e.g., volunteer participation, donation requirements, engagement in faith-based activities, etc.)