If you’ve seen one food bank, you’ve seen … one food bank. Food Banks Canada collaborates with a network of over 5,500 organizations, each of which serves a community with distinct needs and operates in its own way.
A shared set of values and best practices underpins this healthy diversity: every network member upholds Canada’s Ethical Food Banking Code. And now, each one is also working toward accreditation through Food Banks Canada’s Standards of Excellence.
Some food banks have already completed this journey. This month, we’re celebrating Food Banks Alberta’s accreditation.
What inspired you to be an early accredited organization?
Food Banks Alberta fundamentally believes and supports a baseline set of standards for the Food Bank sector. Having said this we acknowledge that accreditation for a provincial association looks somewhat different than a front-line food bank. Food banks Alberta felt it was important to be a role model for our member food banks. If we expect our members to complete the Standards of Excellence, it is important for us to demonstrate our commitment to the accreditation process.
Describe your approach to reaching accreditation.
Tackling the entire project in one go would have been unrealistic and too overwhelming, therefore, our first step was to breakdown the process into manageable pieces. Working section by section we worked through each Standard. Where necessary we came back to a Standard we struggled with. Reaching out for support from Food Banks Canada and other provincial associations was critical as we moved through the process.
What was your first step in the process?
The first step in our process was to become familiar with the Standards of Excellence. We did this by reading the Food banks Canada Your Guide to Standards of Excellence. This Guide was instrumental in providing a detailed overview of what we needed to know to complete the accreditation process. This Guide quickly became my “go to” document for all things Standards!
Which standards were most manageable to meet? Why?
This probably comes as no surprise, but, as a provincial association the most manageable Standards were under the Sections Governance & Administration and Financial & Legal. In addition to strong Leadership through the Executive Director and Board the association has well developed Bylaws and policies that provide strategic direction and oversight in these areas.
What/which standards did you find daunting?
Section 6. Food Operations & Food Safety was the most challenging for Food Banks Alberta, partially because we viewed this through 2 lenses. The lens of a provincial association doesn’t completely operate the same way as a food bank, and through the lens of our food banks. In addition to annual health inspections and food permits through Alberta Health Services, Alberta has a provincial health Act and Regulations that don’t necessarily align with the Standards.
- How did you overcome this?
This has certainly been a challenge for our food banks. We are still working through this with Food Banks Canada to ensure Food banks across Alberta are meeting provincial regulations and requirements
What surprised you through the process?
That once we started to progress our way through the process, it wasn’t quite as overwhelming and clicking the submit button on the Standards application felt extremely satisfying!
What advice would you offer to other organizations seeking accreditation?
Change isn’t easy, this can be an overwhelming process. Take small steps, move through each section with patience, once you experience success move on to another. Section. Food Banks are generous of their time reach out for support from your peers in other food banks.
What value does reaching accreditation provide to your organization? To the food banking system?
Food Banks Alberta believes that accreditation provides a sense of legitimacy, creditability and professionalism to food banks. We want Albertan’s and all Canadians to know that we follow a set of standards they can rely on and that we stand behind our code of ethics in providing safe, and reliable food while treating people with dignity and respect.