Finding free food
Tips and links for locating free food resources in your area
Intro
Many people in Canada feel that needing help with food is shameful and some would rather go without food than reach for support. But the unfortunate truth is that food insecurity is incredibly common in this country. According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians said that they were likely to get food or meals from a community organization in 2022, and food prices have only increased since then. If you are struggling to keep food on the table, you aren’t alone, and you deserve help.
This article discusses places to look for two potential sources of assistance: institutional resources, and community resources.
Finding institutional resources
These are resources that are offered by formal organizations like the government, non-profits, and schools. They may or may not have eligibility requirements restricting who can access them, but they are usually reliable and safe to use.
- Use the 211 Resource Navigator
Link: 211 Canada
Typing “free food near me” into a search engine can get you a huge number of results, only some of which may be useful. The 211 Resource Navigator is a better place to start. This is a massive database of social, community, non-clinical health, and government services across Canada. There are over 6000 listings in Saskatchewan alone. You can use it to find food aid in your location, as well as other resources that may be helpful.
If the online database is inaccessible, 211 operates a free confidential helpline that can be called or texted 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. You can speak to a Service Navigator about your situation on the phone by dialing 2-1-1, or using the web chat function on the site. Service is offered in over 175 languages, including 17 Indigenous languages. - Find a food bank
Link: Find a Food Bank
Food banks are included in the 211 database, but if you would like a resource that lists them exclusively you can use the Find a Food Bank tool offered by Food Banks Canada. This will show you the locations of food banks in your area, as well as provide links to their individual websites and contact information.
You’ll want to check the website or contact your local food bank to find out when food is offered, and what, if any, documentation you’ll need to bring to pick it up. For example, the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Center offers two hampers a month to anyone in the Saskatoon area, with no other eligibility requirements. They ask that visitors bring ID for every member of their household and something to prove residency in Saskatoon (for example a bill, a letter, or a rent receipt). If members of the household don’t have an ID, visitors can contact the SFBLC to discuss the situation.
Food banks also sometimes offer programming other than free food that may be helpful, and they will often have a good idea what other free food services are operating in your area. If you are finding 2-1-1 difficult to navigate, you can try asking them if they have an up-to-date resource list available when you visit. - Investigate organizational resources
If you are working, attending school, belong to a union or other religious or community association, your organization may offer food aid or other assistance. If you haven’t looked into this, you may try checking your organization’s website or contacting a support person there.
For example, the University of Saskatchewan offers emergency food hampers to students through the Student’s Union, as well as a supplemental meal program that allows students to access free meals at the school’s Culinary Center. Students can also book appointments with the Student Affairs and Outreach team, who are social workers on hand to offer support and help with resource navigation. - Apply for government assistance
Link: Benefits Finder
Canada does not offer a nationwide federal food aid program like food stamps, or SNAP in the United States. Instead, federal and provincial or territorial governments provide benefits and services that are meant to support people dealing with various kinds of hardship. These range from ongoing financial support, to one-time subsidies, to assistance with paying for certain kinds of expenses, like medications or skills training.
Government benefits vary a lot from place to place and change with political administrations, so they can be difficult to keep track of. The Government of Canada Benefits Finder can help you to figure out if you may be eligible for any. You’ll answer a few questions about your demographic and specific situation, and be provided with a list of benefits and services that may help.
Applying for government assistance often takes time. If you are in need of food right away, it’s better to contact the resources above, which are more likely to offer hampers or free meals. But once your immediate needs are taken care of, it’s worth it to try applying for any benefits or services you are eligible for. They can be a better source of ongoing relief than emergency food supplies.
Finding community resources
These are resources that are offered by grassroots organizations and members of your community. Sometimes these groups operate on a political or religious basis, and other times they simply bring together regular community members concerned with hunger. They can be easier to access than institutional resources, but as voluntary organizations, they are often unfunded and can only offer limited help.
Some examples of community efforts to combat hunger:
- Community fridges and pantries, where people drop off food that anyone in need can pick up for free
- Free stuff, zero-waste, or meal-sharing groups that may redistribute extra food that members have available
- Produce sharing and gleaning groups, where people offer their extra garden produce or tree fruits
- Mutual aid, community support, or religious groups that may offer community meals or hampers on an informal basis
- Information sharing groups, where people post resources, as well as tips about free food events in their area
Most community groups can be found and contacted online through social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Try searching terms like “Community fridge”, “Free stuff”, “Meal sharing”, “Gleaning”, “Mutual aid” or “Hunger”, along with your area to see what is available near you. Because these groups are not vetted or bound by confidentiality, it’s a good idea to use caution in your communication, particularly online. Restrict the personal information that you share until you get to know the participants.
Coping while finding resources
This is a long list of potential sources of help, but anyone who has tried accessing them knows that securing assistance can be more difficult than picking up a phone and calling one number. Some barriers to consider:
- Free food or financial assistance programs can have limited space or eligibility requirements that restrict who can use them.
- Food may be offered at hours or locations that you’re unable to get to.
- The food served may not be appropriate for people with certain dietary requirements.
- The food available may not meet cultural needs.
For these and other reasons, finding free food can be challenging. You may have to contact multiple resources to find help, and will likely need food from multiple places to get enough to meet your needs. This can be very frustrating and demoralizing, especially when you are already under a lot of stress. Having support can be helpful. Some suggestions to make it easier:
- Try to set up in a space where you can be comfortable and not disturbed. Have a pen and paper ready to write down information. Keep your schedule handy to keep track of dates and times.
- If you're running into barriers, regularly check in with your emotions. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, try to take a break. Some people find it helpful to do grounding exercises like taking deep breaths, while others do better by getting up to stretch or otherwise move around. This can seem like a waste of time in an urgent situation, but pausing to tend to your well-being will make navigating websites, calls, and paperwork feel much more possible.
- Plan to do something nice for yourself when your work is done. Even having something small to look forward to, like a hot shower, a short walk, an episode of your favourite show, can make handling difficult situations a little easier.
- Don’t deal with hunger in isolation. Other people in your life are likely going through similar struggles and may empathize with you. You could share resources, make phone calls together, pick up each other’s hampers, or pool money to buy food in bulk. If in-person communication isn’t possible for you, the online community groups may offer a good place to reach out to others who understand.
- If your situation feels hopeless or you find yourself panicking, please consider reaching out to a crisis line or other mental health resource for immediate support. Wellness Together Canada operates a crisis line and provides referrals to mental health services across Canada.
Food insecurity is terrible, and reaching out for help takes a great deal of strength and courage.
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