Adopted by Alberta Food Bank Network Association

EVERYONE IN CANADA HAS THE RIGHT TO THEIR DAILY SUSTENANCE AND AN EXISTENCE, WHICH ENSURES THAT THIS CONDITION IS POSSIBLE.

THE FOOD BANK PLEDGES ITS WORK TO THE ULTIMATE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF LOW INCOME PERSONS.

The Food Bank will organize its activities to bring about the greatest degree of personal dignity possible, especially with regard to the manner in which individuals receive food from the Food Bank, or its agencies.

The Food Bank will undertake regular objective analysis at the Board level to ensure that, on balance, the well being of low-income persons is improved by its activities.

THE FOOD BANK IS COMMITTED TO THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLE OF FOOD RECOVERY.

The Food Bank will design its programs so that food is at all times reaching its most worthwhile use in the community.

The Food Bank will undertake to utilize all edible foods that are surplus to market needs, wherever it is economic to do so.

EACH FOOD BANK RECOGNIZES ITS ROLE AS THE STEWARD OF A COMMUNITY POOL OF FOOD, WHICH IT SHALL STRIVE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO ALL RESPONSIBLE GROUPS PROVIDING CHARITABLE FOOD.

The Food Bank will strive to reflect the broader interests of the community.

NATIONALLY, FOOD BANKS ARE COMMITTED TO AN ETHIC OF SHARING WITH THOSE IN CANADIAN REGIONS WITH LESS FOOD RESOURCES.

Industrial food donations will be shared equitably among all Canadian Food Banks.

THE FOOD BANK WILL NOT BARTER, SELL OR TRADE FOOD STUFFS AT ANY TIME.

This prohibition does not affect fund-raising programs conducted with a Food Banks agencies.

Imposing a nominal handling charge is not considered selling food.

THE FOOD BANK WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR THE PROPER AND SAFE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF FOOD.

The Food Bank will sort all food to safely consumable levels before distribution.

The Food Bank will seek to encourage safe handling and storage amongst its agencies.

THE FOOD BANK WILL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL SERVICE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT OPERATES, TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT REDUCE THE IMPETUS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO GOVERNMENT SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

THE FOOD BANK RECOGNIZES ITS ROLE IN ALLEVIATING HUNGER AS A TEMPORARY RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS, AND WILL DEVOTE PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO LESSENING THIS ROLE.

The Food Bank recognizes the need for a regularly constituted entity in its community to continuously make the public aware of the existence of hunger and the factors, which contribute to it.

In the absence of the type of organization described in the above, the Food Bank undertakes to bring about, or fulfill itself, the role of informed witness for the larger community.

The Food Bank will conduct its activities in a manner that brings the greatest attention possible to the problems of hunger and of food surplus.

THE FOOD BANK WILL CONDUCT ALL ITS AFFAIRS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN A MANNER THAT WILL NOT TRIVIALIZE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER IN ANY WAY, OR SEE IT USED FOR COMMERCIAL BENEFIT.