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Resources

Resources

Resources

On-Campus

  • UBC Sprouts
    • Sprouts is a non-profit student-run food security initiative. They carry vegan, nutritious, and sustainable food options that are affordable.  
    • Cafe hours: Monday – Thursday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM 
    • Their Community Eats initiative offers free lunches on Fridays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. They also offer free organic produce at Produce Market every Monday and Tuesday from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.  
    • They also provide 30 free meals per day using the meal cards provided – no questions asked. Their Community Fridge operates 24/7 year-round. Other UBC Sprouts initiatives run during the winter session only. 
  • Agora Cafe
    • Agora Cafe is a student-run cafe that has inexpensive vegan and vegetarian food options. Monday – Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, located in the basement of the H.R. Macmillan Building (2357 Main Mall). Open during the winter session. 
  • LFS|US Wednesday Night Dinners
    • Throughout the Winter terms, the LFS|US hosts bi-weekly, vegan Wednesday Night Dinners open to UBC students and staff in Agora Space in MCML. These nutritious meals are $5 for only LFS students and staff, $6 for other UBC students and staff, and the menu changes each week. For more information, follow @lfsusubc on Instagram. 
  • UBC Farmers’ Market
    • The UBC Farm runs seasonal farmers’ markets from June to November. The multi-vendor farmers’ market offers a variety of food including produce, meats, prepared foods and much more. UBC students save 10% on all products at the UBC farm stall. 
  • UBC Food Hub
    • Website offering information about low-cost and free food on campus, among other services.
  • UBC Food Hub Market
    • Located in CIRS, the food hub market provides at-cost grocery items. Open 10:30am to 3:30pm, Tuesday-Thursday. 
  • Acadia Food Hub
    • Serves the UBC community by supporting households with food and baby supplies. 
  • Campus Nutrition
    • Website offering campus food guides for students to make their own food and nutrition decisions.

Off-Campus Resources

  • Greater Vancouver Food Bank
    • Provide grocery items, including perishable and non-perishable items to registered members. See website and below for more information.
    • Full list & map of their Community Agency Partners:
    • What they do: The GVFB offers 10-15 grocery items a week, maybe more depending on the extra perishable donations they receive. The amount of food you receive is based on the number of people in your household.
    • How to access the resource: If you are a new client, you will receive food on your first visit to any location, but will need to register after the first visit.
    • To register as a client you need:
      • Picture identification
      • Proof of address (like a telephone or utility bill)
      • Care cards or any government-issued ID for all the dependents living with you
  • Vancouver Westside:
  • Vancouver Eastside:
  • Downtown Vancouver:
    • Gordon Neighbourhood House Community Lunch (Low-Cost Resource): The Gordon Neighbourhood House provides community lunches at a low cost. Runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:00 PM.
    • Gathering Place Community Centre Meals (Low-Cost Resource): Gathering Place Community Centre provides low-cost meals that are open to everyone. Meals range between $2.25-3.50. Open from 9 am-7 pm, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
    • Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen (Free Food Resource): Every Saturday at 1pm and Sunday at 12pm free hot vegetarian meals are served at the Downtown Eastside (located outside of Carnegie Centre).
  • Community Fridges and Pantries in Vancouver:
  • Richmond:
    • Richmond Food Bank (Free Food Resource) 
    • The Richmond Food Bank has four locations and provides grocery products to Richmond residents once a week. Please register online here and make sure to bring all IDs for everyone in your household on your first visit. 
  • Burnaby and New Westminster:
    • Burnaby Neighbourhood House (Free Food Resource) 
    • Food Hubs are located at the North and South locations for Burnaby residents experiencing food insecurity. Contact the Burnaby Food Hubs to set an appointment and for more information.
    • Ryan Rainbow Emergency Food Outreach (Free Food Resource): Offers food distribution on Thursdays for the Burnaby North area.
    • Don’t go Hungry (Free Food Resource): Free grocery hampers are available for residents in New Westminster and Burnaby. Open every Saturday at four locations. Registration is required for one location.
  • Coquitlam:
    • SHARE Food Bank (Free Food Resource): Provides food distribution for people living in the Tri-Cities area. Registration is in person and proof of address and  ID is needed. Refer to the website for locations.
  • Surrey and Delta:
    • Surrey Food Bank (Free Food Resource): Provides grocery items every 14 days to registered members. Potential clients must call to book an appointment before their first visit
      • To register as a client you need:
        • Must live north of 40 Avenue in Surrey, North Delta or Cloverdale 
        • Proof of address
        • Picture ID of each adult in the household
        • Proof of low income 
        • Proof of dependents 
      • More information at: https://surreyfoodbank.org/clients/
    • Sources Food Bank – South Surrey/ White Rock (Free Food Resource): Provides weekly groceries to register clients living in the White Rock and South Surrey area (from 0 Ave to 40 Ave; from 120 St. to 196 St.).
      • To register as a client you need:
        • Photo ID
        • Proof of address
        • Proof of dependence 
    • Muslim Food Bank (Free Food Resource)
      • Provides food hampers on a monthly basis to Muslims and non-Muslims. 
      • To register please call 1-866-248-3868 
    • Guru Nanak Food Bank  (Free Food Resource)
      • Provides East Indian and Western groceries and is also open to those who are not Surrey residents. Registration is online for clients to receive groceries once a month.
    • South Delta Food Bank: Residents of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and the TFN can register and pick up food hampers on Wednesdays.
  • Langley:
    • Sources Langley Food Bank (Free Food Resource): Provides groceries once per week for Langley residents (0 Ave. to the Fraser River, east of 196th St. and west of 276th St.) living on low-income.
      • To register as a client you need:
        • Proof of address
        • Picture ID of each adult in the household
        • Proof of dependents 
    • Langley Food Bank (Free Food Resource): Provides groceries once a week to Langley residents. Make sure to bring proof of your current Langley address and government ID for your first visit. Registration will be after the first visit to become a regular client.
      • To register as a client you need:
        • Proof of Current Address in Langley
        • Gov’t ID– one piece with picture and one secondary
        • Care card/birth cert. for children
        • Proof of income

Apps:

  • TooGoodtoGo (Low-Cost Resource)
    • Offers unsold and surplus food at a discounted price based on your location. 

For more Resources:

Visit the Vancouver Food Asset Map and UBC Food Asset Map which list many free or low-cost groceries, kitchen and food programs, community gardens and more

Financial Resources

  • UBC Enrollment Services
    All undergraduate students have a dedicated Enrollment Services Advisor to help with budgeting, applying for loans, and understanding UBC regulations.
  • Student Aid BC
    Loans, grants, and scholarship
  • Canada Student Aid
    Loans, grants, and more
  • UBC Scholarships and Bursaries
    UBC has a range of financial support to reward students’ academic and extracurricular achievements including scholarships and bursaries.
  • UBC Emergency Funding: UBC offers confidential emergency financial support to help students cover short  term, unexpected financial shortfalls when all other funding options have been exhausted.