Our History

A small group of people witnessed a sad thing happening in the Durham Regionl; many people were going hungry and had no way of eating a nutritious meal. They also noticed that businesses were throwing away goof food, rather than donating it. This small group was determined to create a place where those who had extra could provide for those in need. 

The group sent a letter to all the churches in the Durham Region, inviting them to attend a meeting at St. Mary of the People Catholic Church Hall. They expected no more than 25 people to attend, but were pleasently surprised when over 250 people attended the meeting. From that group, volunteer teams were formed, leading to the creation of the first Board of Directors. 

A location to operate out of was discussed and it was decided that downtown was the optimal area as it is centrally located. 51 King St East had a vancancy in the basement, but the work involved to set up a restaurant was a tremendous task. Many hours of planning and hard work went into making that basement the St. Vincent Pallotti's Kitchen & Store we know today. They chose the patronage and example of St. Vincent Pallotti (1795 to 1850) who dedicated his life to helping the poor and underprivileged. Durham Outlook for the Needy was then formed and would operate under St. Vincent Pallotti Kitchen & Store. 

As our services grew, our operations required a larger facility. In the spring of 2014, Durham Outlook purchased property at 227 Simcoe St South in Oshawa - the future site of the new Durham Outlook. Our new building addresses the immediate needs, ongoing effects, and underlying causes of poverty and food insecurity under one roof. This facility is fully accessible and a completely barrier-free space, ensuring no one is left behind. On March 10^th, 2022, we excitedly announced our Grand Opening and have now settled into our new facility.