About
Our Good Food Centre is free and accessible to those with low income.
We provide emergency food and hygiene supplies for 7 days.
If you have any questions stop by during our service hours.
Please bring ID for all family members (photo ID for adults), proof of address, income statement, rent or mortgage statement & copies of utility statements (if applicable).
Location and Hours
196 Wentworth Street North – Community Services Entrance*
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
*Wheelchair accessible
**Please note, we will be undergoing some changes in our Good Food Centre over the summer months**
These changes may affect our hours of operation and service times
* While we are undergoing these changes, visits will be limited to 1 per month
(Appointments are not required)
Donations
Food donations can be dropped off between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm Monday-Friday at our Food Services Compound. When you arrive, please ring the buzzer on the gate. For all major food donations or inquiries for food drives, please call 905-528-4211 ext 3131
The Good Food Centre aims to give our community food that has high nutritional value. In order to meet our goal, we ask that all food donations are healthy, and do not contain high-salt or low nutritional-value foods such as chips and candy.
Please note that we DO NOT accept donations of used clothing, household items or furniture. Our focus is on food and hygiene items. The only exception is during the winter months, when we gladly accept donations of gently used coats and boots.
We welcome donations of food, baby food/formula, diapers, and hygiene items. Currently, most-needed items are diapers sizes 3, 4, and 5, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toilet paper.
You can also make donations over the phone at 905-528-4211 ext 3113, or online.
Our Philosophy
We at Food Services believe that every person has the right to safe and nutritious food. We will provide culturally sensitive food while offering as much choice as possible. We serve with dignity, compassion, integrity while maintaining privacy. We strive to provide referrals and supports and advocate in a nonjudgmental way to reduce poverty, food insecurity and homelessness. We provide a safe space that respects all who seek emergency food assistance. We believe that the power of healthy and nutritious food is essential to improve physical health and emotional wellbeing.
The name “Good Food Centre” was inspired by the Good Food Principles developed by Community Food Centres Canada. These are a set of principles to guide organizations who fight poverty and food insecurity and help organizations across the country coordinate their efforts and learn from one other. To hold ourselves accountable to these principles, we became a Good Food Organization member in 2015 and, as part of our membership, regularly evaluate how well we are realizing the five Good Food Principles.
The Good Food Centre receives funding from the following partners: the City of Hamilton’s City Enrichment Fund, Arcelor-Mittal Dofasco Employee Donations’ Fund, AlectraCares Community Support Program, the Martin Foundation, Lilly, and the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Through their Resilient Communities Fund, OTF is providing $200,000 to our food programs to help ensure our community members receive the nutrition they need in 2023 and 2024.
Mission Services thanks John Bear Automotive Group on Upper James for the complimentary lease of our Chevrolet Spark. The Spark has been very beneficial for running smaller errands between buildings and picking up supplies. The Spark is used by Operations, the 196 program, and the Good Food Centre.