Searching for Free / Low-cost Meals

This listing summarizes the day-by-day open hours for all food and meal programs in Burlington

• food banks usually have a wide selection and stock of items, food cupboards/pantries may have a smaller number and selection
• some may require proof of residency or income, see each listing for details
• all community meals are free, open to everyone and drop-in, unless otherwise specified

CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM, AS HOURS MAY CHANGE, OR BE SUBJECT TO VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES

Monday:

• 9 am-12:30 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273
• 9 am-9 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 12 noon-3:30 pm Compassion Society Emergency Food Cupboard, 1881 Fairview St, 905-592-3722
• 1 pm-4 pm by appointment only Salvation Army Burlington, Food Bank, 5040 Mainway, 289-230-2556

Tuesday:

• 9 am-12:30 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273
• 9 am-9 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 10 am-6 pm by appointment only Food for Life Mountainside Market, 2258 Mountainside Drive, 905-635-1106
• 9:45 am-11 am Food for Life Neighbourhood Food Program at St Luke's Anglican Church, 1371 Elgin St, 905-634-1826
• 2 pm-6 pm, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month Burlington ROCK Hub - Warwick, Our Community Cares - Food Pantry, 702 Surrey Lane
• 2 pm-6 pm, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month Burlington ROCK Hub - Warwick, Our Community Cares - Infant Food Bank, 702 Surrey Lane
• 2 pm-6 pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month Burlington ROCK Hub - Burloak, Our Community Cares - Food Pantry, 356 Burloak Dr
• 2 pm-6 pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month Burlington ROCK Hub - Burloak, Our Community Cares - Infant Food Bank, 356 Burloak Dr
• 3:30 pm-6 pm Open Doors Community Market at St Christopher's Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, 905-634-1809
• 6 pm Open Doors Community Dinner at St Christopher's Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, 905-634-1809

Wednesday:

• 9 am-12:30 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273
• 9 am-12 noon by appointment only Salvation Army Burlington, Food Bank, 5040 Mainway, 289-230-2556
• 9 am-9 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 10 am-4 pm by appointment only Food for Life Mountainside Market, 2258 Mountainside Drive, 905-635-1106
• 11:30 am, 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday of the month (Oct-May) St Luke's Anglican Church Community Lunch, Parish Hall 1382 Ontario St
• 4 pm-7 pm Compassion Society Emergency Food Cupboard, 1881 Fairview St, 905-592-3722

Thursday:

• 9 am-12:30 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273
• 9 am-12 noon and 1 pm-4 pm by appointment only Salvation Army Burlington, Food Bank, 5040 Mainway, 289-230-2556
• 9 am-9 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 10 am-6 pm by appointment only Food for Life Mountainside Market, 2258 Mountainside Drive, 905-635-1106
• 11:45 am-1:15 pm Next Door Social Space Lunch, 650 Plains Rd E
• 12 noon Open Doors Seniors Lunch at St Christopher's Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, 905-634-1809
• 5 pm-7 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273

Friday:

• 9 am-12:30 pm Burlington Food Bank, 1254 Plains Rd E, 905-637-2273
• 9 am-5 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 9:30 am-10:30 am Food for Life Neighbourhood Food Program at Grace United Church, 2111 Walkers Line, 905-335-0090
• 12 noon-2 pm Friday Hub & Lunch, Wellington Square United Church, 2121 Caroline St, 905-634-1849
• 12 noon-3:30 pm Compassion Society Emergency Food Cupboard, 1881 Fairview St, 905-592-3722

Saturday:

• 9 am-10:30 am, 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, Compass Point Bible Church, Food Market, 1500 Kerns Rd, 905-336-0500
• 9 am-11 am Next Door Social Space Toonie Breakfast, 650 Plains Rd E
• 9 am-5 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E
• 9:30 am-12 noon Open Doors Community Market at St Christopher's Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, 905-634-1809

Sunday:

• 12 noon-5 pm Community Fridge, Burlington Public Library Aldershot Branch, 550 Plains Rd E

FOOD VOUCHERS may be available from:

• Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, see listing for phone numbers

FRESH FOOD BOX FOR HALTON PROGRAM
This is not an emergency food program, but allows pre-ordering of fresh fruits and vegetables at below-retail cost, available in different sized boxes

• for details, see full listing here

Community Lunch
First, third and fifth Wednesday of each month, Oct-May, 11:30 am

• free, drop in
• all members of the public welcome

Food for Life Neighbourhood Food Program (for more information on Food for Life see separate listing here)
Tue, 9:45 am-11 am

Fresh Food Box for Halton
First and third Tuesday of each month

Free community drop-in program that offers lunch

• emergency meal bag delivery program available for extenuating circumstances
• food prepared and served by community volunteers

Community-based volunteer driven programs to help people build relationships across the diversity of income, education, age, ability and health to enhance their capacity for meaningful lives

Offers programs (all are drop-in unless otherwise mentioned) related to:

Food

• Tuesday Dinner: in-person dining, 6 pm
• Seniors Thursday Lunch: in-person dining, 12 noon
• Community Market: Tue 3:30 pm-6 pm and Sat 9:30 am-12 noon
• Community Garden: seasonally harvested food used to prepare community dinners or for pick up in the market
• Seniors' Garden Social: Thu 10 am-11 am during the growing season

Clothing Store

• offers seasonally-appropriate clothing and shoes Tue 3:30 pm-6 pm and Sat 9:30 am-12 noon
• donations of clean, gently-used, seasonal clothing and footwear are accepted Wed and Thu, 9:30 am-4 pm

Seasonal Programs

• Christmas Families: gift giving program for families (registration required)
• Backpack Program: children receive new backpacks and school supplies (registration required)

Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

• provides assistance in applying using OESP's online application system (by appointment only)

Tuesday Dinner:

• offers a hospitality hour prior to in-person dining
• no pre-registration required

Seniors Thursday Lunch:

• in-person dining
• no pre-registration required

Programs focus on social, skill, and spiritual development and are offered in a supportive environment

Programs include:

• Tuesday drop-in adult crafting
• Wednesday women's coffee hour
• Thursday free drop-in lunch
• Saturday toonie breakfast
• ball hockey: ages 7-12
• ESL
• community garden
• community cooking
• Rolling Horse Community Cycle bike sales and repairs, see full listing here

Certified commercial kitchen and space rental available, contact for more information

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program has been suspended until further notice.

Program offers Saturday morning breakfast to the community twice per month.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lunch Nook is cancelled due to risk management at this time. See website for details and updates.

Program offers free lunch for the community on Sundays.

Tech Centre: Provides public free high speed Internet access for use as a resource for job searches or to enhance digital literacy. There are also scanners and a laser printer.

Games Centre: A variety of games available including pool, foosball, air hockey, board games, ping-pong, and the latest video games.

Arts & Crafts Centre: A creative atmosphere where participants can make crafts, learn new artistic techniques, and express themselves creatively

Jam 101: A music education program in collaboration with Hamilton Music Collective's, An Instrument for Every Child Program. Introduces children to a wide variety of musical instruments to spark children's curiosity and interest.

Dinner Club: Mon-Fri 5 pm-5:30 pm - Provides young people with resources to enhance and expand their access to food, education relating to food, and the development of healthy habits and life skills.

Cool Moves: A healthy lifestyle program that tackles poor eating habits and inactivity among kids (ages 7 and older)

Currently open for takeout only.

Eatery serving affordable home made food and a venue for exchanging ideas.

Proceeds are used to facilitate local educational community initiatives such as a homework club, a youth employment program, eating well workshops, kitchen skills training and other skills training opportunities.

Offers a program to buy a button that those in need can exchange for meals.

Provides dine-in or take-out meals at lunch and dinnertime for youth.

Multi-agency resource centre for at-risk youth residing within the community. Case coordinator assists the youth in navigating community and internal services based on their identified needs.
Services include:
* 24 Hour a day intake and admissions
* Meets basic needs by providing all meals and snacks, clothing, laundry and hygiene products, etc.
* Advocacy and Case Co-ordination
* Recreational / Therapeutic programming
* On-Site Access to Mental Health Services and Consulting Psychiatry
* On-Site Access to a General Practitioner and/or Nurse Practitioner
* On-Site Addiction / Substance Use Supports (Alternatives for Youth)
* On-Site sexual health clinic
* On-Site Withdrawal Management Assessment and Monitoring (St. Joseph's Hospital)
* Aftercare services through our Community Resource Centre

The Notre Dame Community Resource Centre, is a multi-agency resource centre for at-risk youth residing within the community who are between 16 and 21 years of age. Youth have access to a number of outreach support services and programs to assist them in remaining housed; diverting them from homelessness and street involvement.

A case coordinator assists the youth in navigating community and internal services based on their identified needs.

Due to the COVID-19 virus, the King's Way Outreach is temporarily closed and this program has been temporarily suspended.

Program offers continental breakfast, hot lunches and pizza night for those in need.

Offers community breakfast for men to gather, eat, share, and pray.

Offers a noon-hour lunch and chapel service with a Christ-focused message designed specifically for street-involved youth. Offers food, music, and people sharing their personal stories. There are also opportunities for informal discussions and questions, and one-on-one chaplaincy support on request.

There are two seatings each Wednesday. Drop-in to register.

Program is part of the Oasis Coffeehouse supported through the Living Rock Cooking Programs.

Free breakfast available Mon-Fri for youth aged 13-25. Program is part of the Oasis Coffeehouse supported through the Living Rock Food Services Training Program.

Provides free snacks and light meals to youth ages 13 to 25. Program is part of the Oasis Coffeehouse supported through the Living Rock Food Service Training Programs.

Due to COVID-19 all meals and food services are currently being offered at-a-distance through the side door.

Provides free evening meals to youth ages 13 to 25. Program is part of the Oasis Coffeehouse supported through the Living Rock Food Service Training Programs.

Drop in for a quick meal and to connect with service providers, health information, emergency supplies and other items.

Program offers dinner and a movie to the community.

Provides a safe environment, forum for discussion, and a place for friends and participants to meet and enjoy a nutritious meal. Health related information is available and representatives from other service providing agencies are often on hand to talk about services or simply to answer questions that participants may have.

Serves free hot take-away meals to everyone, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Program provides snacks, lunch, worship service and fellowship.

Program seeks to improve youth life skills, leadership skills, health, and community engagement through sport, recreation, leadership opportunities, and cultural activities. A free dinner is provided in the first hour of the program Monday-Thursday and after dinner the program activity takes place. Bus tickets are provided to program participants as transportation to and from the program.

Provides free daily breakfast to individuals in need. Friday meals are provided as a BBQ. Located in St. Patrick Parish with meal service area in St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School.