In Montreal, one in five people faces food insecurity. The Depot Community Food Centre in NDG is tackling this challenge head-on—not only by making food more accessible, but also by creating spaces where people can connect, support one another and get involved.
Feeding and uniting
The Depot offers a range of services under one roof: a solidarity grocery store with affordable prices, a community café-restaurant serving complete meals, and community kitchens. On any given day, you can see shoppers filling their grocery baskets, neighbours sharing a hot meal, or groups taking cooking workshops.
The team is present on a daily basis: they answer questions, help people navigate the services or just to chat. This direct, human contact makes it easier for people to access resources and helps build a climate of trust.
The people who walk through The Depot’s doors come from all walks of life. Some come every week to stretch their grocery budget. Others are first-time visitors arriving after a life change: a job loss, a separation, or a recent move to the neighbourhood.
Often, it starts small: picking up a few groceries, coming in for lunch, or asking for information. That first contact can lead to discovering other services, signing up for an activity, finding support, or getting involved in the community.
Activities that build connections and open up opportunities
Beyond access to food, The Depot offers hands-on activities that encourage participation. In the community kitchens, groups prepare recipes together, take portions home and exchange tips for cooking on a budget. Workshops cover practical topics such as meal planning and reducing food waste.
The Depot also offers meaningful ways to get involved: some people volunteer at the grocery store or in the kitchen, others contribute to projects or sit on committees. These experiences help break down isolation, develop new skills and rebuild self-confidence.
The approach is simple and gradual: first, meet a basic human need (wholesome food). Then, open the door to deeper engagement. Everyone moves at their own pace, according to their interests and circumstances, supported by a responsive and attentive team.
Working together to find solutions and increase impact
In a time of soaring demand—visits to the food bank tripled between 2021 and 2023—The Depot is constantly working to improve its practices to ensure the sustainability of its mission.
In 2022, the organization decided to bring its members, volunteers, staff and partners together in a collaborative search for solutions.
Through consultations, community meetings and a variety of engagement activities, they developed concrete actions:
- Improving the agency’s governance
- Implementing a sliding scale community contribution model, so that people can access services based on their individual circumstances
This approach has led to greater equity and sustainability.
We met with Jennifer Brennan, Director of Development & Communications. In this short video, she explains why access to adequate food is a fundamental issue and how The Depot helps build community connections.
Watch the video
The Depot Community Food Centre Recognized for its Participatory Approach
In 2026, The Depot received the Solidaires Management and Governance Award for its participatory strategic planning, a process that mobilized its entire community and led to concrete changes in its practices.
1 out of 5 people receives our help.
5 out of 5 people benefit from it.
Let’s all lend a hand
Supporting a network of over 375 community agencies also means promoting an inclusive, poverty-free society.