Robin Bailey

Robin Bailey has spent his career on the front lines of hunger relief in Halton Region. His leadership has changed how food reaches people in need across the region. Before FeedHalton, he served seven years as Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank. During that time, daily operations grew from serving about a dozen families to nearly 80. He also made sure the food sent to clients was a fairly well-balanced diet. When he stepped down, the food bank’s board honoured him with a $5,000 scholarship in his name through the Burlington Foundation.

Robin saw that Halton needed more than another food bank. It needed shared infrastructure. He spearheaded the creation of FeedHalton to give the region’s food banks consistent resources and stability. The organization was launched in 2023 in response to growing food insecurity and the increasing strain on local agencies, with an estimated 12% of Halton residents affected. It became a registered charity and officially opened its doors in February 2025. Hundreds of politicians, charity workers and volunteers attended the grand opening.

FeedHalton works more like a distribution centre than a traditional food bank. It doesn’t hand out food directly. Instead, it sends donations to partner food banks across Halton, which then distribute them in their communities. With a large warehouse, logistics support and bulk procurement, it gives local food security partners vital infrastructure, along with centralized online ordering and delivery. Robin has consistently framed this as a partnership. He has made a point of saying FeedHalton isn’t there to replace any food bank, but to help them serve their communities.
That collaborative approach has paid off. Feed Ontario appointed FeedHalton as the official food bank distribution centre for Halton Region.FeedHalton distributed more than one million pounds of food and goods across Halton and to other regional hubs. Robin has also attracted significant corporate support, including a $67,000 foundational gift from the Eaton Charitable Fund. He is now expanding capacity further, including hiring a professional driver so a single trip can carry more than 5,000 pounds of food.

His work has earned provincial recognition. Feed Ontario gave Robin its individual Mountain Mover Award for transforming the food security landscape in Halton Region. He also remains a public advocate on the issue. He recently presented FeedHalton’s impact report and new three-year strategic plan on CHCH, and he has highlighted that many people using food banks are employed.

Founded and leads FeedHalton, Halton Region’s central food distribution hub
Received Feed Ontario’s Mountain Mover Award for transforming food security in Halton
Secured FeedHalton’s appointment as Feed Ontario’s official distribution centre for Halton
Distributed more than 1 million pounds of food and goods in 2025
Built a network of food banks, community agencies and meal programs across Halton
Secured a $67,000 foundational gift from the Eaton Charitable Fund
Led the Burlington Food Bank for 7 years, growing service from about 12 to nearly 80 families a day
Honoured with a $5,000 scholarship in his name by the Burlington Food Bank board
Launched a three-year strategic plan to strengthen food security across the region