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Our Mission: Food Assistance & Community Support

MISSION STATEMENT

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

For over 20 years, we’ve given our clients the dignity of choosing the food they need. Welcome to a community where people can find support and build lifelong connections while enjoying meals of their choice.

Our Mission

  • Provide help for today and hope for tomorrow
  • Bring food to the table
  • Be a community where everyone is welcome
  • Support people with all of life's challenges
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

We're More Than a Food Bank

Weekly Groceries

Clients can use our services weekly and place orders over the phone or online. This helps us better assist those facing food insecurity and offer long-term solutions.

A Focus on Community

Ensuring a safe and welcoming environment is our top priority. To enhance the client experience, we offer full meals or coffee during their weekly shopping trips.

Building Connections

Clients can find support and build deep connections through our Men’s group, Women’s group, Refresh, and Films & Fellowship programs.

Providing Essentials

We're committed to being a reliable provider for our community. Clients can count on us for essentials like milk, eggs, meat, vegetables, baby products, and hygiene supplies.

A Range of Resources

Every client’s situation is unique, so our Client Services staff and volunteers share a range of community resources for help with mental health, addiction, homelessness, and more.

Additional Assistance

We help clients with tax returns and finding social assistance. Since many clients are also experiencing homelessness, we provide haircuts, showers, and laundry services too.

WHY OUR WORK MATTERS

Our clients face many hardships and insecurities with the rising cost of living.

5% of the population of Mississauga now uses a food bank. That’s nearly 36,000 people in our community.

(Food Banks Mississauga, June 2024)

71% of food bank survey respondents report worsened circumstances due to the rising cost of living since the pandemic.

(Feed Ontario, June 2024)

1 of every 3 people who use food banks are children.

(The Compass 2023 Annual Impact Report, June 2024)

(Food Banks Mississauga, June 2024)

1 in 4 food bank users receive income support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) which provides up to $1,308/month for a single person

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

Addressing the Systemic Causes to Poverty

Limited Ontario social assistance programs, lack of affordable housing, wage & inflation, and mental health & addiction all contribute to our clients’ increased dependency on The Compass programs. 

Our approach prioritizes structural change to help reduce poverty in the long term. Read more about our commitment to advocacy.

Advocacy to Solve Hunger
low angle view of building

8% of food bank users have access to subsidized housing.

71% pay market rent. The average rent for a 2 bedroom home in Mississauga was $2702/month.

71% pay market rent. The average rent for a 2 bedroom home in Mississauga was $2702/month.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN

With trusted partners and volunteers, we aim to meet 100% of client needs 100% of the time.

Over the last few years, we’ve moved locations and expanded our space to suit clients needs. Now, we plan to continue growing a community that supports our clients through food bank services, a wide range of social service resources, and various forms of advocacy.

CLICK TO VIEW OUR STRATEGIC PLAN

Focus on “hope for tomorrow” by strengthening our client services.

  • Have volunteers and staff connect with clients more deeply to better identify their needs and goals.
  • Support clients throughout their journey by documenting milestones, acknowledging achievements, and following up on all referrals.
  • Create a responsive environment by regularly reviewing relevant service plans with each client.

Work with clients and partners to create lasting change through advocacy.

  • Focus on long-term solutions through client-focused advocacy direction and tracking.
  • Strengthen partnerships between agencies to meet clients’ needs.
  • Influence government policies to enact systemic change that overall reduces poverty.
  • Use our community’s connections to form partnerships that benefit our clients.

Grow organizational capacity by investing in recruitment, training & systems.

  • Reach out and engage potential volunteers to increase active volunteers.
  • Offer support and ongoing training to improve staff satisfaction.
  • Review committee structure periodically to improve board governance.
  • Improve the environment and infrastructure with stable IT systems, durable equipment, and clean spaces.

Generate sustainable funding so that we can effectively meet the demands of growth.

  • Increase grants to expand client services and enhance infrastructure.
  • Nurture community relations and increase communications to increase donations from businesses and individuals.
  • Use outreach, legacy giving, matching campaigns, and donor stewardship to boost donor engagement.
LEARN MORE

Advocating for People In Need

Learn more about The Compass Team and discover how we’ve supported our community over the years.

OUR TEAM
OUR IMPACT

We are a food bank and community outreach centre located in and serving South Mississauga within the postal codes L5E, L5G, L5H and L5J.

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About

  • The Compass is a registered charity: Charitable Registration Number 86235 2754 RR0001
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