Farncombe Nutrition Initiative
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Food Insecurity: tips and resources
Do you have difficulty affording or accessing food due to financial constraints? It is important that individuals self-advocate to ensure they stay safe and healthy. We’ve provided some tips to help empower your journey.
When cooking at home
- Create a weekly meal plan based on grocery discounts
- Plan meals with seasonal and locally grown foods
- Choose dried/canned/frozen if costs are lower
- Eggs, legumes (beans) and tofu provide high quality protein at lower costs
- Cook large batches and freeze individual portions.
When grocery shopping
- Download the Flipp App/ use flyers & coupons to buy items on sale at grocery stores that price match (No Frills, Superstore, Fresco)
- Make a grocery list based on discounts available, and stick to it!
- Shop at discounted grocery stores
- Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where you are more likely to find whole foods as opposed to packaged food items
- Purchase in large quantities if possible
Financial planning
- Consider re-evaluating your finances and your budget
- Seek free financial counselling through Neighbour to Neighbour or the Credit Counselling Society Hamilton (905) 538-5035
- Explore financial options with your bank
- Call your service providers and advise them you are experiencing financial hardship
- Compare costs with other service providers
- If on ODSP or OW and you have a disability that requires a special diet, ask your case worker if you qualify for a special diet allowance
Food Banks in Hamilton
Ancaster Community Services – Food Assistance Program
300 Wilson St E, Ancaster, ON L9G 2B9 905-648-6675
Christ Church – Anglican – Glanbrook Community Food Bank
1307 Woodburn Rd, Hannon, ON L0R 1P0 905-692-3781
Crown Point Community Church – Giving Cupboard (The)
92 Ottawa St N, Hamilton, ON L8H 3Z1 905-545-2002
Carlisle United Church, 1432 Centre Rd, Carlisle, ON L0R 1H1 905-690-1036
Good Shepherd Centres – Good Shepherd Venture Centre (The) 905-972-9485
155 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 2A6
Hamilton Dream Center (The) – Blue Door Pantry 905-527-8605
627 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8M 1J5
Hamilton Jewish Family Services – Kosher Food Bank 905-627-9922 ext 29
30 King St E, Dundas, ON L9H 5G6
King’s Way Outreach Centre (The) – Food Bank
390 King William St, Hamilton, ON L8L 1P6 905-296-9473
Living Rock Ministries – Youth Focused Food Bank
30 Wilson St, Hamilton, ON L8R 1C5 905-528-7625
Mission Services of Hamilton – Good Food Centre
196 Wentworth St N, PO Box 368, Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2 905-528-4211
Mishka Social Services- Halal Food Bank
Neighbour to Neighbour Centre – Food Bank
28 Athens St, Hamilton, ON L9C 3K9 905-574-1334 ext 300
1120 West 5th St, Hamilton, ON L9B 1J6 905-574-6917
Restoration House Hamilton – Food Bank
54 Vine St, Hamilton, ON L8R 2A7 905-527-1622
Salvation Army (The) – Dundas – Community and Family Services – Food Bank
150 King St W, Dundas, ON L9H 1V4 905-627-0572
Salvation Army (The) – Hamilton – Community and Family Services – Food Bank
80 Bay St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 3N3 905-540-1888
Seventh-Day Adventist Church – Hamilton Mountain – Food Bank
284 Concession St, Hamilton, ON L9A 1B3 905-575-8764
St Matthew’s House – Seniors First Response Team
414 Barton St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 2Y3 905-523-5546 ext 240
Stoney Creek Community Food Bank
605 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek, ON L8G 5G2 905-643-2090
Welcome Inn Community Centre – Food Bank
40 Wood St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 3Y3 905-525-5824
Other Food Programs in Hamilton
Niwasa Food Bank – Grocery gift cards for OW/ODSP recipients, based on availability 905-549-4884
Meals on Wheels– frozen meal delivery service 905-522-1022
Heart to Home– Frozen meal delivery service 866-933-1516
541 Eatery & Exchange – Non-profit & pay-it-forward cafe 289-389-0541
Hamilton Urban Core -Cooking at the Core Program (Cooking on a Budget and Inner City Women’s Kitchen classes) 905-522-3233
Food For life– Rescues and redistributes surplus perishable food to various locations in Halton, Hamilton 905-635-1106
Hamilton Community Garden Network– Community Garden Map and resources to start, participate and run a community garden
Foodaccessguide.ca – list of places where to access free/low cost food)
Food Programs Out of Region
Guelph
https://guelphchc.ca/healthy-living/food-access/
Cambridge
Waterloo/Kitchener/Cambridge
Community Food Assistance Network:
Windsor
https://www.eriestclairhealthline.ca/listServicesDetailed.aspx?id=10572®ion=WindsorEssex
Brantford
Calendar: https://calendar.brantford.ca/foodbank/Month
http://crs-help.ca/foodbank/programs/foodbank/
Niagara Region
https://www.niagararegion.ca/social-services/food-for-all.aspx
Celiac patients
Follow this link for resources for celiac patients
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nm1rll6KhS1PZLoF3Ln90CHOU98z-Ln_1gkxlkdzxcE/edit
Map of Food Resources
Food Assets Map
Additional information
Free Meals
Phone: 905-574-1334, x200
Email: admin@n2ncentre.com
Web: https://www.n2ncentre.com/hamilton-community-food…
Address: 310 Limeridge Rd W, Hamilton, ON L9C 2V2, Canada
Web: https://www.livingrock.ca/chapel-services
Address: 30 Wilson St, Hamilton, ON L8R 1C5, Canada
Web: https://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/services/good-…
Address: 135 Mary St, Hamilton, ON L8R 1K4, Canada
Email: admin@n2ncentre.com
Web: https://www.n2ncentre.com/hamilton-community-food…
Address: 310 Limeridge Rd W, Hamilton, ON L9C 2V2, Canada
References https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1NY2d2sX2YRndL8tku9YvbA8HmlULVkoI/mobilebasic?pli=1