Access To Free and Low-Cost Food In Nanaimo
This guide provides information on local emergency food providers, low-cost groceries, and free community meals across Nanaimo.
Loaves and Fishes plays a vital role in Nanaimo by ensuring that high-quality, abundant food is available to all. They act as a central hub for food security in the region, bridging the gap between food waste and community need.
Their food recovery program intercepts surplus food from local grocery stores and producers, redirecting it to their warehouse. This food is then distributed through their Free Food Markets, where community members can select the items they need in a grocery-store style setting.
Everyone is welcome at Loaves and Fishes. There are no income checks or eligibility requirements to access food. They believe that food is a basic human right and strive to remove all barriers to access.
Beyond their direct markets, they support over 90 other community groups, schools, and agencies by providing them with recovered food. This ripple effect strengthens the entire social support network in Nanaimo.
Please note that depots and schedules are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on depot locations and current market times, please visit their official website.
Free Food Market Schedule
Day
Location
Hours
Access
Monday
Christ Community Church
1 PM–2 PM
By appointment
Monday
Native Victory Church
5 PM–7 PM
Drop-in
Tuesday
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
11 AM–12 PM
By appointment
Tuesday
Brechin United Church
1 PM–2:30 PM
Drop-in
Tuesday
St. Philip Anglican Church
3 PM–4 PM
By appointment
Wednesday
Native Victory Church
10 AM–2 PM
Drop-in
Wednesday
Nanaimo Alliance Church
2 PM–3 PM
By appointment
Thursday
Native Victory Church
1 PM–3 PM
Drop-in
Thursday
Neighbourhood Church
6 PM–8 PM
Drop-in
Friday
Salvation Army Church
12 PM–2 PM
Drop-in
Friday
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian
12 PM–1 PM
By appointment
Saturday
Generations Church
10:30 AM–12 PM
Drop-in
Sunday
Harvest Church
2 PM–3 PM
By appointment
Community Food Programs and Supports
A directory of local organizations and initiatives supporting food security and accessibility in the Nanaimo community.
Connects people with resources for food skills and healthy food through workshops, farmers markets, and urban farming initiatives.
A community kitchen providing hot breakfast, bag lunches, and resources to the city's vulnerable population in Nanaimo.
Offers a range of services including health clinics, youth programs, and food security supports with an Aboriginal focus.
Operates the Nanaimo New Hope Centre and provides essential meal services, emergency food hampers, and transitional housing.
Empowers the community to grow food locally through community gardens, seed saving, and educational workshops on gardening.
Delivers nutritious, hot meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities, supporting independence and health at home.
A community kitchen initiative focused on food sharing, nutrition education, and fostering hope through shared meals.
Supports provincial-wide food security through the Food Hub network and local community investment programs.
Ensures students are fed and ready to learn through school-based breakfast, lunch, and snack programs in the district.