We’ve All Gotta Eat: Food Resources in the Queen’s and the Kingston Community
Being a graduate student is financially difficult for most of us. Between the cost of tuition, rent, books and materials, it can often be difficult to find the money to afford healthy and nutritious meals. And the sky-high cost of food has been a drain on all of us. To help ease the burden a little, here are some low cost and free food resources that are accessible at Queen’s and in the Kingston community. These services are here to help, we all are struggling!
On-Campus
- AMS Foodbank
Monday to Friday evenings between 5:30-6:30pm
Room 105 Rideau Building
207 Student Street, Kingston, ON
Free of Charge
- Good Food Box
Thursday’s 11:00-11:30am Room 105 Rideau Building – order 1 week in advance
Fresh Produce
207 Student Street, Kingston, ON
Free of Charge
- Mason Jar Meals
Mason Jar meals contain all the ingredients and spices to prepare a quick, easy and healthy soup or stew
Free of Charge.
- Whole Bowls
Available for purchase in the Mackintosh-Corry Hall MC2 Cafeteria
Complete and warm meal option for $4.89 + tax in MC2 (near the soups)
- Swipe It Forward
Contact one of the SIFQ program partners linked before for a referral to the program. Within 1-3 business days, SIF dining hall meals are loaded onto your student card for confidential use at dining halls on campus. Dining hall meals are not available to-go, and meals loaded are not available to be redeemed from retail locations.
Individual circumstances determine the meal allocations, with a maximum allotment of 25 meals per term per student. SIF meal plans expire at the end of the academic year. All meals are non-transferable and are only accessible by the student cardholder. Guest vouchers are not included in this program.
https://www.queensu.ca/food/swipe-it-forward-queens
- Queen’s Community Cupboard
Free Non-perishable food pantry
Located in Duncan-McArthur Hall (West Campus)
https://sites.google.com/view/queenscc/home?pli=1
Off Campus
- Kingston Food Bank
Free Food Baskets – must make intake appointment first (bring ID, takes approx. 15 min)
Non-perishables and fresh items
140 Hickson Avenue,
Kingston, ON, K7K 2N6
https://www.kingstonfoodbank.ca
- Loving Spoonful
Provides Freshly Grown Local Produce at various locations throughout Kingston
https://www.lovingspoonful.org/_files/ugd/ddf2bf_d79b920d3db64040bbc0774d15d21dc7.pdf
https://www.lovingspoonful.org
- Martha’s Table
Offering Free Take Out Meals 7 Days a Week
Also offers food delivery for free
- St. Vincent de Paul
Meal Program:
Take-out lunch Monday-Friday 10:00am-1:00pm
Emergency Food Pantry:
Monday-Friday 9:00am-1:00pm
85 Stephen Street, Kingston, ON, K7K 2C5
- Lunch By George
Mon-Fri Free Meals
Operates Monday-Friday 9:00am-11:30am
9:00am: coffee and snacks
10:00am: soup
11:00am: hot, nutritious lunch
129 Wellington Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 4W5
- A helpful link: https://www.queensu.ca/food/commitments/food-security
For those who can afford some monies toward food:
Don’t forget student discounts on Tuesdays at Loblaws (10%) & Food Basics (10%); Tues/Wed/Thur at Metro (10%); Wednesdays at Bulk Barn (15%).
Loblaws has discount shelves offering 50% bread products and fruit/veggies – double-up with student discount on Tuesdays to save even more.
Great additions, thank you!