Food banks provide free food to low-income individuals and families, including those who are on Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
The Food Access Guide also lists places in Hamilton, Ontario where you can receive free or low-cost food.
Offers an affordable meal program where people can purchase buttons that those in need can exchange for menu items.
Offers purchase of local and organic fresh fruits and vegetables at low cost, and low-cost baked goods and hot drinks to enjoy at the café.
Provides meals prepared from fresh foods and frozen the week prior to delivery or pick-up. Offers 35 different entrées and desserts and 7 different soups each week over a 5 week rotation. Meals are delivered to the door or can be picked up at the ACS office. Cooking times and instructions are provided on the cellophane cover of every entrée. Some dietary restrictions available.
Emergency food bank providing non-perishable food and personal hygiene products to income-challenged residents of Ancaster and the surrounding area.
Delivers hot meals to the homes of elderly, convalescent, disabled persons, or any person in need of a meal and unable to provide for themselves. Available on both a short-term and long-term basis to eligible clients. Meal delivery is prepared by Set the Table Kitchen & Co. Food Delivery Service and delivered by volunteers. Specialty diets (celiac, diabetic) may be accommodated upon request.
A regular Meals on Wheels delivery consists of:
Provides free baby clothing and other essential gear to local families in need.
Accept used and new baby clothing in sizes 0 to 2T as well as coats, diapers, blankets, wipes, Vaseline, baby lotion, baby shampoo, diaper cream, new towels, and new or used washcloths.
Items that will not be accepted include used swim suits, used towels, used underwear, reusable diapers, stuffed animals, used toys, or any adult clothing.
Donations can be dropped off at one of three drop-off locations in the city. Please call for locations.
Food bank using a gift card system; monthly reloadable gift cards are distributed to be used at a local partner halal food market.
Offers free, confidential emergency service for women distressed by pregnancy. Services include information about pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, prenatal care, community programs, parenting skills, and child care. Provides referrals for medical support, financial resources, housing, legal support, social assistance, and professional counseling. Provides free pregnancy tests, as well as maternity and baby items.
Provides food and clothing to individuals in need. Donations are welcome.
Drop-in warming center, offering a continental-style breakfast and a hot lunch. Also provides access to washrooms, relief from inclement weather, and a variety of activities, services, and programs.
Operated in partnership with St. Matthew's House, The City of Hamilton, and Hamilton Out of the Cold.
Provides a free lunch and coffee on Tuesdays for those in need.
A community fridge and pantry with 24/7 access, in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave food donations.
Provides food assistance to individuals living in the Lower Hamilton Area.
Provides free community meals, including lunch on Saturdays and dinner on Wednesdays.
Provides a bag of non-perishable food to people in need on the third Wednesday of every month.
A monthly gathering for older adults, including a free lunch.
A community fridge in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave food donations, in the spirit of mutual aid. See website for list of donation guidelines. Volunteer opportunities available.
Provides free daily meals to individuals in need, year round. Offers light breakfast and coffee, as well as a hot lunch, with a barbeque every Friday.
Program offers a monthly nutritious meal and social time at a location in Glanbrook/Binbrook. Participants from outside of Glanbrook are welcome, but must arrange their own transportation. Transportation can be arranged for participants who reside in Glanbrook.
Provides flash-frozen meals for older adults, adults living with a disability or recuperating from surgery, or anyone not able to cook a meal for themselves. Pick-up and delivery options are available. Special diet types available; cooking instructions are provided on the packaging. Meals prepared at Ina Grafton Gage Village in Niagara, specialty meals prepared by Set the Table in Ancaster.
Provides a hot, nutritious meal for older adults, people with disabilities, or anyone not able to cook for themselves, delivered to their own home or apartment at lunch time. No deliveries on holidays and weekends, but additional meals may be requested to accommodate. Special diet types available. All meals are prepared at Wentworth Lodge Long-Term Care Facility.
On-site food bank at Delta United Church serving families and individuals in the community. Clients can visit once a month to select a limited number of items from a variety of packaged/canned foods as well as health and hygiene items.
Food donations welcome during church hours.
Provides supplementary food support every two weeks to families that live in Flamborough.
Donations are welcome at the food bank or the drop off locations:
Helps fight food insecurity for those in need, by providing food vouchers and offering feeding programs.
This program provides emergency food parcels and personal care items for families and individuals in need of assistance, operating by appointment at the door.
Donations of non-perishable items can be dropped off in the Food with Grace boxes at Sobeys, Fortinos, or No Frills stores in Waterdown, or at Grace Anglican Church on Monday and Tuesday mornings (10am-11am.) Monetary donations can also be made to the church.
A program designed to address the issues of food insecurity by assisting clients who are facing financial issues and food insecurity. Through food drives and donations from the community, the program distributes donated food to families in need. This program also promotes healthy eating on a budget.
A community pantry in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave non-refrigerated food and essential good donations, in the spirit of mutual aid. See website for list of donation guidelines.
Food pantry, stocked with non-perishable staples for those in need in the neighbourhood. Clients can shop once every calendar month, using a points system.
Community food bank that provides emergency help to individuals and families.
Service provides frozen meals prepared from fresh foods to seniors and those requiring additional nutritional assistance. Meals are delivered weekly, or can be picked up at the Glanbrook Community Services office. Special diet types available, cooking instructions are provided on the packaging. Meals provided by Ina Grafton Village in St. Catharine's and by Zarky's in Hamilton.
Hot, nutritious, three-course meal delivered during lunch hour. Meal includes salad, main course of meat, potato and vegetable, and dessert. Specialized meals can be made upon request. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday, excluding holidays; additional meals may be requested to accommodate weekends and holidays.
Provides emergency access to 7 days worth of food and hygiene supplies in a community-based setting, while providing as much choice as possible, including culturally appropriate food.
Distributes free packed meals for anyone in need.
Volunteer-based outreach that distributes free premade meals, groceries, and other essentials.
Provides Kosher food and personal care products to families and individuals. Allows clients to collect their own goods once a month according to the size of the household and their needs.
Addresses food security challenges to Indigenous community members by providing emergency food assistance.
A pop-up market for groceries, offering items such as bread, dairy, cereal, meats, personal hygiene items, and occasionally produce.
A community pantry with 24/7 access, in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave non-refrigerated food and essential good donations in the spirit of mutual aid.
A community fridge with 24/7 access, in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave food donations, in the spirit of mutual aid.
Provides emergency supply of infant formula, baby food, and diapers to families with children aged 0-3 years.
Offers free pizza and refreshments, as well as community connections.
Provides access to a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and packaged foods as available. Clothing racks may be available. Please bring reusable grocery bags.
Offers a monthly drop-in lunch program in Ancaster, serving a variety of soup and sandwiches, along with dessert, coffee, and tea.
Provides community support services to urban Indigenous clients, regardless of age, who are disabled, chronically ill, frail, or elderly.
Services include:
A community fridge in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave food donations, in the spirit of mutual aid. See website for list of donation guidelines.
Volunteer opportunities available.
Lunch program, offered every other month, with free soup, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and dessert. There is a free will donation for those who are able.
Weekly program offering volunteer gardening tasks and a free family dinner.
Provides dine-in or take-out meals at lunch and dinnertime for youth.
A student-run food bank and food security resource, located on McMaster University's campus. Services include:
Provides emergency food/clothing/household supplies to Indigenous people living in the Hamilton area who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Supplies are delivered to the applicants homes.
Offers emergency food support for residents of Hamilton mountain by providing 5-7 days of essential food, including fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and vital non-perishable items.
Provides food to Hamilton residents in need. Limited delivery is available to seniors and those not able to pick up.
Provides a free warm, nutritious meal on weekday mornings for youth aged 13-25. Also provides access to showers, hygiene products, clothing, wi-fi, computers, and crisis and housing support. Program partners are on-site to give resources and support. This program is part of the Oasis Coffeehouse supported through the Living Food Training Service Programs.
Distributes food to Hamilton residents through donations from local bakeries and grocery stores. No appointment necessary, service is first-come, first-served. This is not a food bank, but can occasionally supplement what individuals or families receive from food banks.
Offers emergency non-perishable food assistance to all persons living in poverty and with low incomes.
A program that focuses on leadership, health and diabetes, physical activities, and cultural components, available for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Meals are provided to all attendees.
Provides emergency help in the form of a community food bank.
Provides emergency help in the form of a community food bank.
An outreach van that delivers food, clothing, and spiritual and emotional support to impoverished people in the community, five nights a week.
Offers emergency services to families and individuals of any religion to assist in meeting immediate needs. Services include regular distribution of food and gift cards through the food bank, as well as occasionally providing clothing, furniture, and household items.
Offers immediate support to older adults needing a rapid crisis response due to mental health, poverty, addictions, disabilities, and other vulnerabilities. The team includes emergency food delivery and follow up supports to alleviate a future crisis.
Emergency services and grocery support for youth in the Hamilton community. Provides food, clothing, baby products, and hygiene items. Also offers nutrition and budgeting programs as well as referrals to Living Rock's Wellness Works Coordinator.
A food bank providing food to residents of Stoney Creek who are in need.
A community pantry in which anyone in the neighbourhood can take or leave non-refrigerated food and essential good donations, in the spirit of mutual aid. See website for list of donation guidelines.
Food bank and support services for transgender and non-binary people and their families.
A dignified, efficient, and safe space providing easily accessible emergency food and clothing to registered clients.
Provides delivered meals for residents who are unable to attend to their own nutritional needs, yet wish to continue living independently in the community. Volunteers are selected through a screening process and provide social contact as well as monitor the well-being of the client.
Meals on Wheels (Frozen) - Clients are given several frozen meal options to choose from and special dietary items are also available. All meals can be easily reheated in a microwave or conventional oven.
Meals on Wheels (Hot) - Affordable, hot, and nutritious meals, delivered to clients' doors.
A weekly dining program for older adults, offering a home-cooked meal and social engagement. Lunch is followed by an afternoon program including live music, guest speakers, games, and more.
Emergency food bank providing food and personal hygiene items to individuals and families. Can be accessed once per month per household.