The organization's mission is to "enable an effective food bank community that addresses the short term need for food and longer term solutions to reduce hunger in Canada".

[3] The first food bank in Canada opened its doors in 1981 in the city of Edmonton, Alberta.

[5] In 2008, HungerCount reported that on average, 704,414 individuals used a food bank per month.

Other HungerCount 2008 numbers include: Some of Food Banks Canada's activities include food distribution through the National Food Sharing System, the annual HungerCount research report on national and provincial food bank use in Canada, and Hunger Awareness Week to promote the work of food banks and the individuals using their services.

[7] In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada it partnered with Cheerios to do a tribute to food bank workers in a thirty-second commercial.