Focus on Stability:
A Stable Path to Support
The Not Just A Food Program is your source for dependable, immediate relief right here in Oshawa. We are committed to making basic necessities stable and accessible so you can focus on building a better future.
Your Stable Support: Free Lunches and Starter Care Packages
When you connect with us, you can count on two immediate resources:
Consistent Meals: We provide free, dependable lunches every Tuesday and Friday.
Essential Starter Care Packages: These packages include vital food items and hygiene products. Please know that the contents currently depend on what our generous community has donated, so the items may vary from week to week.
A Crucial Step for Oshawa's Unhoused
We are taking a small, yet crucial step to support our neighbors experiencing homelessness. We are developing specific outreach and support for those unhoused and on the streets of Oshawa to ensure they can easily access our basic meals and resources.
We recognize the immense struggle of life on the streets: a lack of reliable internet or phone access, the difficulty of remembering passwords when basic safety is the priority, and the constant stress of being sleep-deprived. Here in Oshawa, as in many communities, unhoused individuals are often forced to move on or are mistreated, increasing their trauma.
A kind word, a small smile, or someone just willing to listen can brighten a day filled with hardship. We are not here to judge or solve every problem—we are here to be a spark of light in a dark place, offering love and compassion.
Your Next Step: Entering the ILFJL Collective
To offer you better, more predictable support, we ask that all participants join our private, secure digital space: ILFJL Collective.
Why Join ILFJL Collective?
The ILFJL Collective is the secure, digital space where you access and manage your support options. While the Collective hosts a wider array of community resources, this section details the direct services offered through the Not Just A Food Program component:
The Not Just A Food Program is for anyone in Oshawa struggling with basic necessities—whether you're unhoused, a family juggling bills, or a couple trying to make ends meet. By joining the Collective, you connect directly to our basic support foundation: Consistent Meals and Essential Starter Care Packages.
Secure & Compassionate: This space is built on the clear mandate that all individuals must act with love and compassion for everyone—participants, volunteers, and staff alike. We believe operating from the belief that love is for everyone creates the safest space for growth, free from judgment.
Unlock Your Options: Committing to regular communication within The Network is the first step of personal responsibility that unlocks the choice-based support we offer. This includes:
Prioritized Access: Ensuring you and your family can easily access our free meals and Starter Care Packages.
Future Resources: Getting first access to the additional support options we will soon be introducing for our services.
Building Stability: This structured approach best helps those who are actively trying to improve their situation, providing a solid foundation for you to focus on a better future.
Taking Greater Impact: Become a LIFE Community Partner
We are always seeking those who want to take a greater impact and assist individuals directly on the streets. If you are already assisting or wish to do more, we invite you to become a LIFE Community Partner.
This role is not for everyone, but for those who are called to it, it is a deeply rewarding way to make a difference.
What is a LIFE Community Partner?
A LIFE Community Partner is an essential lifeline who provides a friendly, non-judgemental presence on the streets. You can be the crucial starting point for someone to access our growing resources.
This is not about solving complex issues like addiction (which are best left to specialized agencies), but about showing kindness, listening, and offering practical, basic support:
Connection: You can connect with individuals regularly, offering a kind smile, a friendly ear, and asking how their day is going.
Essentials: You may bring a small amount of support, such as arranging for a free lunch, a warm blanket, a jacket, or a rain poncho. This immediate, unconditional care saves lives.
Direction: When an individual is ready to ask for help, you can provide direction on where to go for a free meal, or if they are ready, connect them to the Not Just A Food Program and our next steps.
A Key Connection for Those Without Internet or Phones
The LIFE Community Partner role is especially vital for individuals who do not have reliable internet or phone access, including many of our unhoused neighbors and seniors.
A LIFE Community Partner can act as a designated contact point for the program. They can:
Communicate on Your Behalf: For those unable to access the ILFJL Collective regularly, the Partner can communicate with the program on their behalf to ensure they are registered and their needs are known.
Ensure Consistent Support: By connecting with a Partner, you can ensure a reliable channel for receiving information about meal times and resource availability, removing the barrier of needing an email or phone number.
Connect Seniors to Care: This is a great option for many of our seniors who do not have or are unable to use the internet, allowing them to connect with us to get regular, dependable support through a familiar and trusted face.
Connect with us to be a LIFE Community Partner; you can be the starting point for so many beautiful things.
Are you interested in joining The Network to access support or learning more about becoming a LIFE Community Partner?
