Find Food and Advocacy

At Parkdale Food Centre, we believe in the power of food to unite and empower our community. Our space hosts a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and traditions who all share a common bond: the love of good food. 

We know that food insecurity is a symptom of poverty and our aim is to tackle this root issue. By sharing food with our Neighbours, we aim to reduce hunger and create a space where everyone is welcome and has an opportunity to be heard.

Mino'Weesini Grocery Program

Mino’Weesini is Parkdale Food Centre’s catchment-based Grocery Program located at 5 Hamilton Avenue North. Households within our catchment area can access this food bank by booking an appointment or during our drop-in times.

Schedule

Sunday: closed

Monday: closed

Tuesday:

  • 10:30 am to 12:15 pm: By appointment (no drop-ins, please)
  • 1 pm to 3:30 pm: By appointment (no drop-ins, please)
  • 5 pm to 6:15 pm: Drop-in

Wednesday:

  • 10:30 am to 12:15 pm: By appointment (no drop-ins, please)
  • 1 pm to 3:30 pm: By appointment (no drop-ins, please)
  • 5 pm to 6:15 pm: Drop-in

Thursday:

  • 10:30 am to 12:15 pm: Drop-in
  • 1 pm to 3 pm: Drop-in

Friday: closed

Saturday: closed

This is an image of the Mino'Weesini schedule.

What Does Mino'Weesini Stand For?

Mino’Weesini is an Algonquin term meaning ‘good eats’ and the transformative power of sharing good food.

To honour the land at Hamilton Avenue North, the name Mino’Weesini was selected in consultation with the Elders of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation.

Staff welcoming people to thegrocery program
community meal web

Community Meals

Join us for a community meal! Our community meals do not operate on a catchment basis. Everyone is welcome!

Community Fridge and Pantry

Located inside 30 Rosemount Ave, the fridge and pantry are open Tuesday to Thursday.

Kindly remember to take what you need and leave what you can.

Schedule

Sunday: closed

Monday: closed

Tuesday:

  • 9 am to 12 pm: Community fridge and drop-in
  • 12 pm to 2 pm: Community lunch (takeout starts at 1 pm)
  • 4 pm to 7:30 pm: Growing Futures (closed to the public)

Wednesday:

  • 9 am to 10 am: Community breakfast
  • 10 am to 2 pm: Advocacy in Motion (closed to the public)
  • 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Thirteen (closed to the public)

Thursday:

  • 9 am to 12 pm: Community fridge and drop-in
  • 12 pm to 2 pm: Community lunch (takeout starts at 1 pm)

Friday: closed

Saturday:

  • 9 am to 5:30 pm: Thirteen (closed to the public)
This is an image of the Parkdale Food Centre Hours.

Community Advocacy

Our team seeks to inspire, equip and empower Neighbours experiencing poverty by challenging chronic income and food insecurity. We do this through stronger community support networks and by promoting individual and systemic action.

Through the power of good food, community and improved healthy and affordable food access points, our team works to share information, recommend wrap-around services, referrals and support to all Neighbours.

What Is It?

Staff will be available to meet with you to understand your needs, work with you on plans to accomplish your goals, and help you get connected with community resources. We are here to listen, offer information and direction, and support you in navigating difficult situations.

How We Can Help You

  • Provide information about Parkdale Food Centre services
  • Refer you to other community programs and services (for example, ODSP application support programs, mental health supports, housing supports)
  • Help you communicate with workers and service providers
  • Print and scan your important documents
  • Support filling out important paperwork
  • Help you find job opportunities
  • And much more! 

Where?

Appointments are held in-person at 30 Rosemount Avenue during our opening hours. 

When?

Contact Rebecca to make an appointment.

Knowing Our Neighbours Survey

The community at Parkdale Food Centre has always used food as a way to connect with one another: through in-person interactions as at our community meals and community programming, fresh produce markets, grocery offerings, and virtually via cooking workshops. We collect little, if any, demographic information from the people who engage in our programs and services in order to minimize barriers for access. However, this limits our ability to deeply understand our community, especially regarding food insecurity, income, and disability statuses.

In early 2021, we completed the first-annual “Knowing Our Neighbours” survey to find the answers to these questions. The information from the survey helped us to adapt our services to better meet the needs of Neighbours and to inform our evolving advocacy work.

Sitting at the Table

The stark data that was uncovered in the Knowing Our Neighbors Survey inspired our team to breathe life into these numbers through Neighbour-led storytelling and film. Watch the film developed by the talented Hersi Osman: Sitting at the Table (video).