Imagine doing your weekly grocery run, grabbing the food you and your family actually want, and not worrying about the cost at checkout. For thousands of Regina families struggling with food insecurity, that vision is set to become a reality.
The Regina Food Bank is preparing to open its new Community Food Hub, a revolutionary space modeled after a traditional grocery store. This new facility will allow food bank clients to choose their own groceries, five days a week, just like at any other market, except that there will be no bill at the end.
The change comes at a critical time. Since the onset of the pandemic, food bank usage has surged across Canada. In Regina alone, demand is up 25 per cent. Today, one in eight families face food insecurity in the city. Of the 16,000 people relying on the food bank each month, 44 per cent are children.
The ‘Choice’ Model
“None of us fit in a box, but that’s what we give our clients today,” said David Froh, vice-president of the Regina Food Bank. “When you give choices, you give not just dignity, but actually, we figure we can feed about 25 per cent more people.”
The concept addresses a long-standing issue in traditional food aid models: not everyone needs or wants the same items. As client Jon White explained, some foods just go to waste because they don’t fit into a household’s cooking habits or preferences.
“Normally I barter with my neighbours and we swap back and forth, so it kind of works out that way,” said White, who turned to the food bank after a shoulder injury left him unable to work. “But a lot of people don’t do that. So there’s a lot of stuff that just goes to waste.”
White was one of the clients consulted during the planning of the Community Food Hub. He emphasized the importance of giving clients a voice, noting that food needs vary greatly; singles like him might want quick, easy meals, while families might prioritize fresh produce and protein.
The new hub, located in the former government liquor store downtown, aims to create a welcoming, dignified environment that looks and feels like any neighborhood grocery store. For many, it will replace the clinical, impersonal experience of receiving a pre-packed food hamper.
“With something like this, it can only get better,” White said.
Other food banks across Canada have tested similar “choice” models, but often on a limited scale, operating out of churches or community centers with restricted hours. Regina’s new hub is the first full-scale version to serve all clients, five days a week.
The launch of the Community Food Hub signals a major shift in how food aid is delivered—centered not just on nourishment, but also on dignity, autonomy, and waste reduction.
As Regina leads the way, this model could soon become a leading example for food banks across the country.
