Helping Toronto’s refugees access good food

Want to combat food insecurity one can at a time? Here’s how you can do it in Toronto.

The Faithful Companions of Jesus Refugee Centre, makes easy to help fellow Torontonians. The FCJ runs a Food Security program where it delivers around 300 food hampers monthly. Its goal is to provide nutritious food to refugee claimants, families and those living with precarious status. 

Every other Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m., the centre hosts its biweekly Food Bank Pick-up Day. This is when you can drop off donations at the office located on 208 Oakwood Ave. during business hours.

• Canned meat soup
• Canned tuna
• Canned beans
• Canned fruits
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Cereal 
• Rice
• Coffee
• Peanut butter
• Sugar
• Dried herbs and spices
• Hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and diapers
• And more!

FCJ is accepting:

• Canned meat soup
• Canned tuna
• Canned beans
• Canned fruits
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Cereal 
• Rice
• Coffee
• Peanut butter
• Sugar
• Dried herbs and spices
• Hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and diapers
• And more!

The FCJ holds sessions regularly and future dates are published on the organization’s website. 

Beyond food support, the FCJ Refugee Centre offers a variety of opportunities and services, which include settlement assistance, refugee protection support, language programs and community-building events. The organization emphasizes supporting vulnerable populations, specifically older adults, women and children. 

If you need some help getting nutritious food, the FCJ also has its own interactive Food Banks map of the Greater Toronto Area,  mainly in the downtown Toronto core.

If you click on the markers, you can see the addresses and contact information of different food banks. Green markers are for food banks that accept people who are already in the refugee process or fall under precarious status. FCJ adds new food banks all the time, so the list isn’t stagnant. 

Looking for more ways to access or support food initiatives in the community? Explore food banks, meal programs and affordable grocery options across the city by using The Green Line’s own interactive Neighbourhood Food Access Map. It’ll help you find the best places for a free box of fruits and veggies, or food for your furry friend. 

Want to see your favourite spot on the map? You can also enter your own submissions.