Our Food First program aims to address the growing issues of food and health insecurity among Canadian post-secondary students. Food banks, meal programs and other resources in the Niagara community can also offer support to students in need.
How does it work?
The Food First program provides support to students in need with a local grocery store gift card. This service is designed to assist with food and health accessibility and is not intended to be a primary source of food for any one undergraduate or graduate student.
Program requests are reviewed every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm to 4pm.
Students will receive an email to confirm approved requests, as well as an electronic code to access their gift card.
Requests can begin May 21, 2024 (subject to change).
Request Support
Free Breakfast & Food Events
In addition to the Food First gift card program, BUSU also provides students with free breakfasts one week each month. This typically consists of 3-4 days of our grab-and-go table (juice, yogurt, apples, granola bars, etc) and one day of a full hot breakfast.
BUSU also hosts a number of other free food events through out the year. Upcoming food events will be listed below if available.
Community Resources
Food Fed Forward
Looking for fresh locally sourced produce? The Food Fed Forward program by Small Scale Farms has emergency food available to those in need. They also have pay what you can produce pick up available in Niagara.
VISIT FOOD FED FORWARD
Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold
Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold Food Security program can be accessed by visiting their locations at 12 North Street, St. Catharines, and 19 Albert Street West, Thorold. Make sure you take with you: identification, proof of income and expenditures (rent), proof of current address.
VISIT COMMUNITY CARE WEBSITE
If you are looking for further community resources visit 211ontario.ca and use their handy search function.
Food Savings apps
Flipp collects all store fliers in an area and provides easy access to all deals in 1 place. Using this in combination with WalMart’s price matching policy will allow you to get all available deals in 1 location.
You can download Flipp for Android or iOS HERE
Flashfoods will tell you what nearby grocery stores are selling foods that are approaching their best before/expiration date and will be marked down considerably from their original price.
You can download Flashfoods HERE
On-line Recipe forums
If you’re looking for a community that shares cheap and healthy recipes check out the r/EatCheapandHealthy subreddit. There are recipes and tips for saving money.
VISIT THE EAT CHEAP AND HEALTHY SUBREDDIT
Want to support our Food First Program?
*Please note, for security purposes, you will need to log into our site to donate. Select the login option in the top right corner. If you are not a student at Brock, select "Register New Account". Thanks for your support!
Thank you to our Partners!
Brock Dining Services, Brock Housing Services, Brock Sports, Pen Centre, BMO, CIBC, City of St. Catharines, Zehrs – Pen Centre, Prime Student, TD, TBooth, Scotiabank, Rogers, Foundry Lofts, Parkway Lofts, Town of Lincoln – Youth Skills Studio, Anytime Fitness, Shoppers Drug Mart – Pen Centre,