Searching for Free / Low-cost Meals

Community Market (food bank), Community Kitchen and New For You thrift shoppe

• donations welcome

Emergency food bank

• access once a month or more under extenuating circumstances
• no appointment needed but must take a number and be seated until you are called.
• Closed at noon for lunch

Informal breakfast drop-in program

• information about resources and services
• opportunity for social interaction
• community building
• one-on-one support if requested
• activities

Two free weekly morning drop-in centres

• open to everyone
• free breakfast
• an opportunity to: socialize, play games, do crafts, attend a presentation, and get information about local services and resources

Programs:

• Dinner on the House: sit down meal every Thu, drop-in style, no appointment needed
• Drop-in Lunch: sit down meal on the 2nd and 4th Thu of the month

Community kitchen

• drop-in lunch and fellowship
• wellness groups (grief, anger management, depression/anxiety)
• free counselling services
• free clothing distribution for community

Community church and cafe

• bible study
• various groups (ladies, children, youth, etc.)
• monthly community supper
• Love Your Neighbour Fund: emergency fund for individuals in critical need (based on availability)
• summer and March break camps, as well as recreational club for children

Cafe:

• coffee shop run entirely by volunteers
• provides a list of recovery cost prices for donations
• offers fair trade coffees and teas at cost
• art from local artists is displayed on the walls

Two free weekly morning drop-in centres

• open to everyone
• free breakfast
• an opportunity to: socialize, play games, do crafts, attend a presentation, and get information about local services and resources

Programs:

• Dinner on the House: sit down meal every Thu, drop-in style, no appointment needed
• Drop-in Lunch: sit down meal on the 2nd and 4th Thu of the month

Poverty reduction initiative

• public education
• information on community services
• calendar of events

Lunch and Learn:

• monthly program
• residents can attend an hour of education and/or entertainment followed by an hour for lunch and socializing
• free transportation to and from the program available

Green Food Box:

• monthly program offered twice per month, once in North Dundas and once in South Dundas, where residents can buy produce as a collaborative

Good Neighbour Award:

• an annual award given to one adult and one youth in each of the two townships within Dundas County
• nominations come from residents who want to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and kindness of neighbours

EXPO:

• annual March Break fun day at Maple Ridge Centre that includes a host of "exhibitors" consisting of agency representatives ready to discuss/explain the services and resources available to Dundas County residents

Welcome Dundas:

• welcome bags consisting of information about agencies, organizations, municipalities, and businesses are available to newcomers to North and South Dundas

Project Warmth Dundas County:

• Dundas County's low-income individuals and families receive free window insulation kits in the fall

Heat for the Holidays:

• Dundas County food bank clients who heat with wood are eligible to receive a free month's supply of wood

Information Forums:

• these change year to year, in 2017 there was a Basic Income Forum; in 2018 there will be a housing event called Home Sweet Home where there will be information related to housing issues from one end of the spectrum (hidden homelessness) to the other (buying or owning your own home)

Frequent changes in programs. See website or Facebook page for most up to date offerings.

Church offering community services

• community meals program "La Soupière"
• may provide emergency assistance when the Hawkesbury Food Bank is closed or cannot assist
• Christmas baskets
• church hall provided at low cost to some community organizations
• friendly visiting

Free weekly meals at the local high school

• dinner served every Wednesday from 4:30pm to 6 pm
• program runs through the school year until June 14th

Food Bank:

• can provide hamper once every two weeks
• mostly non-perishables
• bread, milk, eggs, butter, meat, sometimes fresh produce, baby food and diapers when available

Advocacy and Referral Services:

• Help for Heat
• Low Income Energy Asistance Program (LEAP)
• Homelessness Prevention
• literacy related assistance
• medical and dental services

Other services:

• pastoral care
• transportation assistance
• Christmas hampers
• Angel Tree toy drive
• back to school campaign
• volunteer program
• friendship lunch
• snowsuit fund
• emergency assistance for overnight accommodation
• emergency disaster relief for fire victims
• visitation for various needs including hospital and home visitations
• assistance for those suffering abuse
• Christian Summer Day Camp
• Overnight Camp

Integrated social services for community within Ward 13

Poverty Reduction:

• emergency food service (see separate record)
• community gardens
• collective kitchens
• community meals
• baby cupboard
• Market Mobile (see separate record)

Counselling services:

• social services
• referrals
• crisis intervention
• short-term counselling

Skills Development:

• housing support
• employment support
• health promotion and awareness
• referrals

Children, Youth & Families:

• playgroups
• parenting support program
• violin course
• after-school program
• sports and arts programming
• youth leadership program

Community Support and Development:

• community development
• community events
• Post-Incident Protocol
• CDF activities

Community Support:

• group support
• low-income energy assistance program
• voicemail
• free access to computers

Carson Community House: see separate record

Other services: Gift-in-kind

Services and activities to the residents of the Carson area such as:

• homework club (HWC)
• after school programs (ASP)
• youth groups
• sports activities
• volunteer programs
• crisis intervention
• referrals
• short-term counselling
• group support
• low-income energy assistance program
• voice mail
• early years play groups

Delivers special activities such as:

• community bbq
• holiday dinners

Saturday evening meals

• regular and vegetarian menu options
• opportunity to socialize
• children are welcome

Hours of Operation and events are regularly updated on their Facebook page and Google Directory.
Drop-in centre for adults located in Centretown

• supportive counselling
• referrals
• crisis intervention
• advocacy
• free condoms and SITE supplies (needle exchange, Safe Inhalation)
• hygiene supplies, including menstruation supplies
• emergency telephone
• light meals
• coffee and tea served
• free WIFI
• recreational activities
• Volunteer Opportunities

Drop-in services on the 2nd level of Centretown United Church are NOT ACCESSIBLE. Take-out or Dine in options available to each walk-in during meal times.

Licensed child care and recreational program provider

• develops and delivers recreation programs as a community partner of the City of Ottawa
• licensed child care (Before- and After-School in Manor Park, Manor Park Playschool)

Programs for kids:

• summer and March Break camps
• sports
• workshops (babysitting, Dungeons and Dragons, etc)

Licensed Child Care:

• Before and After-School in Manor Park
• Manor Park Playschool

Programs for adults:

• sessional arts (watercolour, acrylics, drawing, etc)
• adult fitness
• Heart Wise programs
• yoga
• Manor Park talks
• workshops

Activities for everyone:

• Rock the Block, first Friday following September long weekend
• Pints in the Park, last Saturday in July
• Sunset Soiree, early July
• Holiday Night Market
• Skating Part - first Saturday in February
• Outdoor skating rinks

Collective kitchen for and by the students

• plant-based meals

A supportive and inclusive community where women gather to connect and build on their strengths

• delivers programs that support women in meeting their basic needs, making their life choices and participating in their community

Drop-in day program for women with their children of all ages

• peer, personal and group support
• advocacy
• outreach
• crisis intervention
• free light breakfast (8 am-10 am) and nutritious hot lunch (12 noon-1 pm)
• social, recreational and educational programs
• personal hygiene products and other practical supports
• Internet access

Christian interdenominational charity serving those experiencing poverty and homelessness in downtown Ottawa

Tuesday Door Service

• takeaway soup and sandwiches
• takeaway grocery hampers
• takeaway toiletries, including menstruation supplies
• pastoral care

Street Outreach

• seven evenings and one afternoon of mobile outreach downtown, providing emergency provisions and care

Innercity Arts Program

• for homeless and at-risk youth and young adults, 16-32 years old

Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support

• drop-in and support for homeless and at-risk veterans
• access to resources and literature
• phone and computer
• individualized support
• recreational activities
• refreshments

Various special events and community meals

St Joe's Supper Table offers coffee and sandwiches to-go Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:30 am-12 pm. Dinner, Dine-in or Takeout, is available Tuesday through Friday between 5 pm and 6 pm. 1 meal per person. People cannot pickup meals on behalf of others. NO PUBLIC WASHROOMS AVALABLE. The Food Bank Program in person shopping is offered once a month for people who reside within the Sandy Hillarea at two locations, days, and times:

• Thursday, 12:30pm- 2:30pm, 151 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa ON, K1N 6N8
• Friday, 12:30pm- 2:30pm, 300 Wiggins Priv (Community Room, access in back), Ottawa, ON K1N 1B2
• Home Delivery available 3rd Thursday of the month. register with the Supper Table.

Home Delivery available 3rd Thursday of the month for those who are unable to attend either food bank. Please contact the Supper table to arrange delivery. Please note the food banks do close early if we run out of supplies.

Day program

• offering nutritional breakfast and hot nutritional lunch
• personal and practical support
• shower access
• laundry facilities
• telephone
• referrals and advocacy
• computer with high speed Internet
• emergency grocery cupboard program

COVID-19 (April 14, 2020): Free store program will operate as a "take out" style * garden space is operating with limited access to active collective members * this information is regularly updated on their Facebook page

Community kitchen providing free vegan meals and other social justice services to Carleton University and the wider Ottawa community

Community meals - to be served indoors

Seasonal publications

Active Publications:

• List of Out-of-the-Cold Programs, Free Meals, Snacks and Drop-Ins (2023-2024)

Archived Publications:

• Holiday Meals (2022)​
• List of Free Easter Meals 2023
• List of Free Thanksgiving Meals 2023

Emergency shelter for adult men - day services available for residents and community members

Free community meals, 7 days a week

• drop-in for non-residents
• meals served to residents three times daily

Community Meal Food Truck

• Weekly offerings at various sites, changing schedule. See website for details.

Client services

• personalized case management
• housing assistance
• employment support
• educational support (Stepping Stones Learning Centre and Discovery University)
• mental health support

Health supervision and counselling services

• offered for substance use issues

Primary care clinic

• provides accessible health care to homeless people who have n access to family medical care
• hosts specialty care clinics, including foot care and women's health

Spiritual Christian counselling offered by chaplain on premises

• chapel services

Free clothing offered to men

Addiction and Trauma Services at the Ottawa Mission

• drop-in group support to men
• structured live-in program with beds and aftercare

Dental program

• emergencies
• preventative
• surgical
• restorative
• removable denture care for people in shelters or living on the street

The ID Project Drop in Clinic: see separate record for more information