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Monday 1pm - 3pm Wednesday 1pm - 3pm Friday 1pm - 3pm

Pictou West Food Bank

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Pictou West Food Bank

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Pictou West Food Bank, Charitable organisation, 16 Twining Street, Pictou, NS.

Supporting individuals and families across Pictou West with respect and dignity 💚

Our page shares food safety tips, affordable recipes, community resources, food bank information and ways we can all help build a more food-secure community.

11/09/2026

Our Community Calendar features outreach events, health clinics, and social programs designed to make healthcare more accessible and easier to navigate for

11/06/2026

Closure Notice - Remembrance Day

The Pictou West Food Bank will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Remembrance Day.

We will reopen on Friday, November 13th during our regular hours, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

We honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Lest We Forget.

10/19/2026

🌱🥔 Meatless Monday: Nacho Baked Potato! 🥔🌱

One Potato. A Can of Beans. A Whole Lot of Possibilities!

Who says a baked potato has to be a side dish?

This week's Meatless Monday turns an ordinary potato into a delicious, filling, plant-based meal with black beans, salsa and a few simple toppings.

And here's the best part — you don't even need an oven! A microwave works too.

💡 Food Bank Friendly Tips:

🥔 Start with a potato — an affordable, versatile staple that can become the foundation of a meal.

🥫 Add canned black beans — a convenient source of plant-based protein and fibre. Drain and rinse them before using.

🍅 Use jarred salsa — an easy way to add flavour without buying several different vegetables or seasonings.

🥑 Avocado is optional for our budget-friendly version. It's delicious, but can be expensive. Your potato will still be tasty without it!

🧀 No nutritional yeast? No problem! The original recipe lists it as optional, so you don't need to buy a specialty ingredient.

🌿 Make it your own! Use whatever plant-based toppings you have available. Leftover vegetables, corn or extra beans can all work.

🏠 KITCHEN ACCESS NEEDED: OVEN OR MICROWAVE

You can bake your potato in the oven or microwave it. The original recipe suggests microwaving for about 4–6 minutes, depending on the potato's size. Make sure it's tender and cooked through before adding your toppings.

💚 At Pictou West Food Bank, we believe affordable meals should also be practical. Not everyone has access to a full kitchen, and sometimes a microwave and a few pantry staples are all you need to put together something satisfying.

Good food doesn't have to be complicated — sometimes it starts with just one potato!

📖 Original Recipe — Forks Over Knives:
https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/vegan-salads-sides/nacho-baked-potato/

10/18/2026

🥛 Don’t Forget Dairy Alternatives

When you're shopping for the food bank, milk may seem like an obvious choice.

But what about someone who doesn't drink dairy?

Some people avoid dairy because of allergies or intolerances, dietary preferences, or other reasons. Having a few plant-based alternatives available can give people another option that works for their household.

But here's something you may not realize:

Not all plant-based beverages are nutritionally the same.

If you're choosing one to donate, look for:
🥛 Shelf-stable — so we can store it easily
🌱 Fortified — check the label for nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D
🍬 Unsweetened — Canada's Food Guide recommends unsweetened fortified plant-based beverages
📋 Protein — compare the Nutrition Facts table, because protein can vary considerably between different plant-based beverages

For example, Health Canada notes that fortified soy beverages generally provide more protein than fortified almond or oat beverages, which tend to contain less protein and energy.

That doesn't mean almond or oat beverages are “bad” donations. It simply means they're different products with different nutritional profiles.

And just like our lower-sodium, easy-open and other donation suggestions, we're not asking you to replace everything you normally donate.

💙 Consider adding one more choice.

Because the person receiving food knows their own dietary needs best. Our job is to help ensure choices are available.

Different foods. Different needs. More choice.

If you can support us financially, we are grateful.
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/148984

10/17/2026

💚 October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Everyone deserves the basics: enough nutritious food, a safe place to live and the resources to meet their everyday needs.

Poverty affects people here in Nova Scotia. Provincial statistics published in April 2026 show that 114,700 Nova Scotians lived below the poverty line in 2024. Behind that number are neighbours facing difficult choices about groceries, rent, heat and other essentials.

At Pictou West Food Bank, we believe everyone who reaches out for support deserves respect, compassion and dignity.

Food support helps meet an immediate need. Lasting change also requires addressing why people cannot afford the essentials, and listening to those with lived experience of poverty.

Today, let’s challenge assumptions, listen without judgment and work toward a community where everyone can meet their basic needs.

📖 Learn more about poverty in Nova Scotia:
https://novascotia.ca/finance/statistics/news.asp?id=21964

10/16/2026

🌎 October 16th is World Food Day

This year’s theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”

At Pictou West Food Bank, we know ideas can make a difference when they meet real community needs, whether that means finding ways to share fresh food, strengthening local partnerships, or making our services easier to access.

Everyone deserves enough nutritious food and to be treated with dignity when they reach out for support. Listening to our neighbours helps us understand where barriers exist and how we can help.

💚 Thank you to the volunteers, donors and community partners who help us put these values into action.

10/13/2026

FREE to a new home! 👀

Is vintage industrial charm your vibe? Pictou West Food Bank has this old Garland stove to give away!

We’re pretty sure it doesn't work, so it’s available as-is—maybe a project for someone who sees its potential.

You’ll need to arrange pickup with us and bring enough help to move and load it.

If this is your vibe, send us a message! 😊

10/12/2026

🍂 Happy Thanksgiving from Pictou West Food Bank!

We’re grateful for our volunteers, donors, community partners, and everyone who help neighbours access food with dignity and care. 🧡

We are closed today, Monday, October 12, for Thanksgiving.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day filled with kindness and connection.

10/12/2026

🌱🥣 Meatless Monday: Best-Ever Beefless Stew 🥣🌱

Beef stew... without the beef?

As cooler weather creeps in, this week's Meatless Monday is all about a big, comforting pot of stew.

This Forks Over Knives recipe doesn't use imitation beef. Instead, portobello mushrooms provide the hearty texture, alongside potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and peas. Tomato paste, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika and rosemary build the flavour.

💡 Food Bank Friendly Tips:

🥔 Potatoes make up a big part of this meal — the recipe uses about 2 pounds.

🥕 Carrots, celery and onions turn familiar, everyday vegetables into the base of a hearty stew.

🍄 Portobello mushrooms take the place of beef, adding texture without requiring a specialty meat substitute. Any mushroom is fine - portobellos just have a firmer texture.

🫛 Frozen peas work perfectly — another reason frozen vegetables are so handy to keep around.

🌿 The recipe specifically says you can substitute ½ teaspoon dried rosemary.

And here's something interesting: it uses no flour or cornstarch to thicken. You simply blend some of the finished stew and stir it back into the pot. But if you don't have a blender, use flour and water to thicken.

🏠 KITCHEN ACCESS NEEDED:
🔥 Stovetop + ⚡ Blender

📖 Try the original Forks Over Knives recipe:
https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/vegan-soups-stews/best-ever-beefless-stew/

Address

16 Twining Street
Pictou, NS
B0K1H0

Opening Hours

Monday	1pm - 3pm
Wednesday	1pm - 3pm
Friday	1pm - 3pm

Telephone

+19023822099

Website

https://www.pictouwestfoodbank.com/

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