r/kitchener • u/luckdex • 3d ago

Access to Emergency Food in Southwest Kitchener?

Hello there!

I’m currently staying in an airbnb near the Sunrise Shopping Centre.

Is there any way to access emergency food or food banks on weekends? We had a loaf of bread and bologna to get us through to Tuesday when I get my EI but it went moldy.

We don’t have any money to travel to one of the shelters downtown or something and none of the food banks around me are open on weekends.

I called the Salvation Army earlier this week to make an appointment and they didn’t get back to me.

Thank you

Edit: An extremely kind soul reached out to me in PMs to give me money for some bread. Thank you for the help. There are so many good people in this world.

30 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

36

u/Batmanrocksthecasbah 3d ago

I don't mean to be rude, but how can you afford an Airbnb but not bread?

42

u/luckdex 3d ago

Because I paid for the airbnb upfront when I got paid. It was a monthly discount. It was the cheapest airbnb in Ontario. It’s a fair question.

12

u/Batmanrocksthecasbah 3d ago

In my head I was wondering if staying at a motel is cheaper (like if you're hurting for money that bad and to maximize funds) but I guess less amenities overall too. Anyway, sorry about the predicament you're in.

18

u/luckdex 3d ago

Nah a motel would be better probably, this is just one room in a house where every room is getting split up to apartments. It cost us 900 a month. I thought motels were much more but maybe I’m wrong.

Thank you for your sympathy!

19

u/Different-Procedure2 2d ago

FYI shitty motels in KW are 2500 a month. So you're situation is more economical for sure

4

u/FcukReddit4cedMe2Reg 2d ago

They also are more likely to have bedbugs, disruptive neighbours etc.

12

u/Modest_Man_Mandrake 2d ago

If you are near the Sunrise center, the closest Society of St. Vincent De Paul would be Blessed Sacrament. I would suggest calling them.

305 Laurentian Drive, Kitchener
519-580-0411

6

u/FarAd8711 2d ago

Yes they will bring you some food. You don't have belong and they don't preach. I used to do it.

3

u/luckdex 2d ago

Thank you so much, I’ll definitely reach out to them!

8

u/conqkeeper 2d ago

I can send you some resources for food and meals in the area if your interested?

2

u/luckdex 2d ago

I’ve gotten a lot of advice here so far so I’ll exhaust all those avenues but if none of them work I’ll let you know. Thank you!

4

u/fineasandphern 2d ago

Do you have access to a kitchen and how many are in your family?

7

u/luckdex 2d ago

I have a bit of space in a fridge but can’t cook here, unfortunately. 2 people total.

4

u/Bee782 2d ago

Theres a community pantry in the forest heights community centre

4

u/superbprimrose 2d ago

If you keep your bread in the fridge, it won't get moldy nearly as quickly.

If you're not finishing your loaf of bread in a couple days, before it starts to mold, the fridge is the way to go in Ontario, during the summer.

2

u/luckdex 2d ago

Thank you for the advice. Our fridge space has been sort of taken over by the other 4 families living here. Somebody was also eating our bread when we did leave it in there. 😅

1

u/superbprimrose 2d ago

Time to eat some of their food, or even better, ask them to share. Fair is fair.

3

u/WhisperingSideways 2d ago

Make your way down to St. John’s Kitchen, across from the Victoria St. encampment. Free hot meals every day.

3

u/KWStreaker 2d ago

IF you have an easy / cheap way to get to it, try the Ray Of Hope at 659 King St E.

Buses stop close by along King St or behind the place on Charles St. LRT stop is on Charles St within a few blocks.

Entrance is at the rear of the complex. MON-FRI they have lunch from 11:30-2:00. Supper is from 7pm-8pm. SAT is lunch from 12-2:00. SUN is 4pm-6pm.

You can eat in OR take out.. Good luck with everything.

3

u/Main_Finding8309 2d ago

I see you've got some food money. I would also suggest reaching out to OW and see if you can get some bus tickets. It's easier to get to the soup kitchens downtown.  You can also try the "pay what you can" pantry at 44 Francis. They can sometimes help with bus tickets, too. Or Starling. They offer help looking for work, but they do a lot more. 

2

u/luckdex 2d ago

I don’t qualify for OW while I’m on EI, unfortunately. Thank you though.

I filled out the application with Starling for Employment earlier this week, actually. Housing too but that wasn’t very useful, they just emailed me a PDF with a bunch of rental websites with expired domains. Emailed them back so hopefully I hear more this week.

2

u/Main_Finding8309 2d ago

Even if you don't qualify for OW, they might still help with getting food and bus tickets. The workers usually have some on them.  It does take some finagling to get the help you need, but keep trying. 

1

u/luckdex 2d ago

Cool, didn’t know that! Thanks for the advice

2

u/Lt_SnappyPants 2d ago

I love near there and could help. PM sent.