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Food Programming
There is a wide variety of food program models available
to Edmontonians. These may share shelf stable goods, fresh
produce, fresh breads, and/or meat and proteins.
It is important that food programs operate from a place of
dignified food access, which means “providing quality food
choices, in a respectful way, in welcoming places.”Roots to Harvest
(2021). Dignified food access: A framework for action and handbook for organizations.
Roots to Harvest: Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Food hamper programs:
• Collect food from donations or bulk buying and then distribute
it to clients through pre-packaged hampers of food.
• Examples: Edmonton’s Food Bank, CANAVUA Food Hamper
Program, Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative Grocery
Run and Campus Food Bank.
Market model:
• Collect donated food and hygiene essentials, and allow clients
to shop these items for free or at subsidized costs.
• Examples: C5 Community Market, Food4Good Market.
Hot meal programs:
• Deliver hot meals directly to where people are — organizations
may ‘patrol’ neighbourhoods or locations with known needs,
and hand out meals, set up food trucks or deliver meals
directly to clients’ homes.
• Examples: Nekem, Bearclan, CANAVUA Community Food
Truck, WeCAN Food Basket.
Low cost food boxes and markets:
• These programs allow individuals and families to
purchase boxes of fresh food in a market for 30-50%
below retail value.
• Examples: Food4Good boxes, Riverbend Good Box
Food Program, WeCAN Food Basket.
Faith-based programming:
• Many faith centres in Edmonton provide groceries,
hot meals and free bread.
School food programs:
• Provide a meal or snack to children during
school hours.
Note: This is not a list of all services available. Edmonton’s food programs
are rapidly changing, and as such, some programs listed here may no longer
be active at the time of report publication and new programs may have
been created.
Food and Ethnocultural Communities
60% of participants experienced severe food insecurity:
• 24% said they often cut the size of their meals or skipped meals
because there is not enough money for food
• 36% said they sometimes cut the size of their meals or
skipped meals because there is not enough money for food
Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (2021). The housing stories of
newcomers in Edmonton: A snapshot of the lived experience 2020.
One in five
households of
recent immigrants to
Canada experience
food insecurity.
Community University Partnership (2017) CUP
impacts 2017.
A survey of newcomers accessing
services in Edmonton found that
62% pay 50% or more of their
income on their rent or mortgage.
This leaves very little
money for food.
Food Insecurity is a Challenge
in Ethnocultural Communities.
There is no shame in asking for food.
Vital Signs
Data reflects the most up-to-date available information. ecfoundation.org 25