Seated at the Table

It has become a place where many Indigenous Peoples are experiencing increasing levels of food insecurity, rising costs of living, limited access to nutritious food, and ongoing impacts of colonization and systemic inequities.

Indigenous community members who face hunger also deal with other challenges, such as isolation, reduced physical and mental health, loss of dignity, and connection to community. There is a growing need for welcoming, culturally grounded spaces where Indigenous Peoples can come together, share food, and feel supported in their healing journeys. 

In response, the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre is launching the Nogojiwanong Community Lunch program, offering weekly nutritious meals to those in need. The lunch will be served from an Intervention location to help individuals find support for housing, justice, employment, mental health and addiction, and other community wellness programs. It will also give volunteers the opportunity to obtain their Food Handler Certification and receive letters documenting their volunteer commitment for potential future employment. The program uplifts community members to support themselves and their own healing journeys. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding for 49 weeks of the one-year pilot program to help it run smoothly and to support the Centre in assessing the benefit to community members. The Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre is highly respected in its commitment to nurture urban Indigenous Peoples to be self-sufficient and contribute to their personal wellness, families, and community. The IRF is proud to help its newest initiative become a reality and to bring hope to those in need. 

Diocese of Peterborough