Brief description of the organization
Founded in 1984, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region (The Food Bank) was the first organization of its kind in Ontario dedicated to providing emergency food. Forty-one years after its incorporation, The Food Bank continues to evolve to meet the community’s needs, ensuring that no one in the Waterloo region experiences hunger. As a distribution centre, The Food Bank distributes more than 8.9 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food to 54 organizations within the Community Food Assistance Network. The Network ensures that adults, children, and families in every city and township in the Waterloo region have access to essential food support close to home.
Problem area
Food insecurity is not just a symptom of poverty—it’s a signal of deeper systemic challenges. At The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, we believe that anticipating need is as important as responding to it. That’s why we’re seeking a partner to help us build a forecasting model that can predict food insecurity rates using real-world data and socioeconomic indicators.
The Opportunity: We have access to rich historical data on food assistance usage, and we want to combine it with broader indicators such as:
- Population growth and demographic shifts
- Minimum wage and employment trends
- Interest rate fluctuations and inflation
- Cost of living and housing affordability
- Government policy changes and social assistance levels
By integrating these variables, we aim to create a dynamic model that can:
- Forecast demand for food assistance in Waterloo Region
- Identify emerging at-risk populations before the crisis hits
- Inform proactive resource allocation and advocacy efforts
Why Now: Our communities are in crisis. Food insecurity has reached record levels; food banks are at a breaking point. Recent reports show that food insecurity is rising sharply among vulnerable groups—especially single-parent households, renters, and those relying on government supports.
Main objectives
What We’ve Done So Far:
- Compiled internal data on food bank usage and regional funding
- Engaged in policy advocacy through initiatives like Hunger Action Month
- Reviewed foundational research on community food access and prevention programs- Cost of Poverty
What We Need: We’re looking for a data scientist, economist, or research partner to help us:
- Design and validate a forecasting model
- Integrate local and national datasets
- Translate insights into actionable strategies for food banks and policymakers
The Impact: With your help, we can move from reactive food distribution to predictive, data-driven planning. Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes hungry—not just today, but tomorrow and beyond.
Team meeting frequency
Weekly at the outset to ensure alignment and a shared understanding as the project gets underway. Once the foundation is established, transitioning to biweekly or monthly meetings should be sufficient.
Additional project details
More information about this project will be shared during the kickoff meeting. Students will receive all the details they need at that time.