Where We’re At!
We would like to provide you with an update regarding the Food Distribution Policy at the Ottawa Food Bank.
As you may recall, the Ottawa Food Bank held our Bi-Annual Member Agency Open Forum in March. During this meeting we presented the Food Distribution Policy in order to establish procedures and guidelines for the Ottawa Food Bank regarding the continued and equitable distribution of food and/or goods to Member Agencies.
The Ottawa Food Bank (OFB) tabled this policy, as presented and circulated by email, for approval at our Board of Director’s meeting held on Monday April 23, 2012.
This new policy will allow us to ensure ongoing and equitable food distribution throughout the Ottawa region. While the majority of our agencies will be grandfathered into this policy, experiencing only minor changes, agencies that will undergo reclassification and changes to their program type will be contacted directly by the Ottawa Food Bank.
As outlined at the recent open forum, the operationalizing of the new policy will coincide with the implementation of the OFB’s new inventory management system; BlueLink. We expect to go live with this system on June 18, 2012. It should be noted that this will not impact how you place your orders; with the only noticeable differences being in what your delivery form may look like.
Finally, the Ottawa Food Bank is currently reviewing our monthly statistics. Starting August 2012 a new client statistics process and definition will be introduced. Of major significance is that food allotments will be based on size allocations determined by the number of clients served on a monthly basis.
We would also like to remind Member Agencies that the implementation of the Food Distribution Policy is a fluid process and will be closely monitored over the next year. We welcome any comments, suggestion or feedback you may have, at any time.
Also, given the new system, and the monitoring process, it is extremely important that Member Agencies submit their monthly statistics on time.
Once again, we’d like to thank all Member Agencies for your comments and feedback so far, your input proved extremely valuable and very much appreciated.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.
To review the Food Distribution Policy please click here.
