Privacy Policy
In the course of its operations, Pictou County Foodbank East may acquire information about its clients, donors, and volunteers that is often of a highly personal and sensitive nature.
Pictou County Foodbank East is responsible and accountable for the information under its control. Personal information may not be used or disclosed for any purpose other than that for which it was collected.
With certain narrow exceptions, consent must be given, whether expressly or implicitly, before Pictou County Foodbank east may obtain or use personal information. If certain information is absolutely required for a specific service or program, then Pictou County Foodbank East may decline to offer that service if an individual refuses to provide their information.
Secure safeguards shall be in place for all personal information. Sensitive personal information shall be kept in a locked cabinet, while electronic information shall be accessible only to authorized users through password access.
Complaints Policy
Pictou County Foodbank East is committed to providing excellent service. We recognize that from time to time there may be inquiries, concerns or complaints and we believe that our stakeholders have the right to tell us about them.
- A complaint may be received verbally (by phone or in person) or in writing (by using the mail, fax, email).
- The volunteer who receives a complaint should escalate to the Volunteer Coordinator or Day Manager.
- It is the responsibility of the person who receives the complaint to either resolve or escalate.
- When receiving a verbal complaint, staff should listen and seek to understand the complaint, and may attempt to resolve it immediately.
- Complaints received in writing should be acknowledged within 2 business days and staff should attempt to resolve the matter within 10 business days.
- Where a complaint cannot be easily resolved, it should be escalated to the relevant Director.
- Complainants should be kept informed of the status of their complaint.
- Every attempt should be made to resolve escalated complaints within an additional 10 business days so that all complaints are resolved within a month of having been received.
For unresolved complaints, please contact the Food Banks Canada’s Customer Experience Hotline at 1.877.280.0329 or complaints@foodbankscanada.ca.
Ethical Food Banking Policy
Pictou County Foodbank East believe that everyone in Canada has the right to physical and economic access, at all times, to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences.
As an Affiliate Member of Food Banks Canada, The Pictou County Foodbank East will:
- Provide food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, income source, age or mental or physical ability.
- Treat all those who access services with the utmost dignity and respect.
- Implement best practices in the proper and safe storage and handling of food.
- Respect the privacy of those served and will maintain the confidentiality of personal information.
- Not sell donated food.
- Acquire and share food in a spirit of cooperation with other food banks and food programs.
- Strive to make the public aware of the existence of hunger, and of the factors that contribute to it.
- Recognize that food banks are not a viable long-term response to hunger and devote part of their activities to reducing the need for food assistance.
- Represent accurately, honestly, and completely their respective mission and activities to the larger community.
Accessibility Policy
Pictou County Foodbank East is committed to excellence in serving all stakeholders (organizations it works with, donors, and volunteers) including people with disabilities.
We strive to provide services and resources in a way that respects the dignity and independence of all members of our community at all times. We also commit to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and resources, and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place, and in a similar way as other users. If a barrier to accessing our services and resources cannot be removed, we will seek alternative ways to access the services and resources.
Assistive Devices – We will create an awareness of the various assistive devices, that may be used by stakeholders with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.
Communication – We will communicate with people in ways that take into account their disability. We offer a number of methods of communication, which will promptly be provided to our stakeholders as requested.
Service Animals – We welcome clients with service animals on premises. In consideration of other clients, service animals are to be leashed.
Support Persons – A person with a disability who is supported by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them while accessing our services. Support persons that accompany someone with a disability are permitted the same access as the person they are accompanying. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to their support person while receiving our services.
Notice of Temporary Disruption – If any services to accommodate disabled stakeholders are interrupted in a way that would limit them from gaining access to services or resources, stakeholders will be notified. Notice of the temporary interruption will be placed on Pictou County Foodbank East website or another conspicuous location and include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
Training – To create awareness and ensure compliance, we will provide the Nova Scotia Disabilities Act for volunteers review.
Training will include:
- The link to the Nova Scotia Disabilities Act.
- How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
- How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person.
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Pictou County Foodbank East information.