Community Supports:
Supporting Families During COVID-19

Counselling and Assault Services

  • Sexual Assault Support Centre - Counselling, workshops, education, and advocacy for people who have experienced sexual assault or human trafficking. Call the 24-hour support line at 519-741-8633.
  • Guelph-Wellington Women-In-Crisis - Offers services for women and their children related to woman abuse and sexual violence. Call 1-800-265-7233. 

  

Food Assistance

  • Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank (Cambridge and North Dumfries) - Offers food and support to people and community groups in need. Located at 54 Ainslie St S, Cambridge, ON N1R 3K3. Call (519) 622-6550.
  • Children's Foundation "Fresh Food for Kids" Program - In partnership with other local organizations, has created a temporary emergency support program called "Fresh Food for Kids" which will provide nutritious food to local children and youth in need in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph. To apply, complete a confidential online application form.  
  • Free Meals - A map of free meal programs in Guelph during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • HOPE House Food Market - Provides once-a-month home-delivery of a family food hamper is available to residents
    of Guelph-Wellington. Registration can be done by emailing intake@lakesidehopehouse.ca or by calling 519-265-4299 Monday to Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm and Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm. During the present COVID-19 restrictions, the building is closed to visitors so they are taking grocery orders by phone and delivering food orders to homes. 
  • Nutrition for Learning - Nutrition for Learning traditionally provides nutritional snacks to children in schools. Due to COVID-19, they have shifted their focus to providing pop-up snack locations within the region of Waterloo where families can access free nutritional snacks.
  • Ray of Hope - Provides community dinner meals. Located at 230-659 King St E, Kitchener, ON N2G 2M4. Call (519) 578-8018.
  • St. John’s Soup Kitchen - Provides community lunch meals. Located at 97 Victoria St. N, Kitchener, ON N2H5C1. Call (519) 745-8928.
  • The Food Bank of Waterloo Region - Access a list of food assistance programs within the Region of Waterloo.
  • Woolwich Community Service (Elmira and surrounding Area) - Woolwich Community Services offers several food assistance programs (food hampers, Lunch Crunch program, Fresh Food Fridays and the Bread Program). Call (519) 669-5139.


Food Delivery Services 

  • Grocery Gateway - Grocery delivery service (minimum order is $50, $7.99 delivery fee).
  • Skip the Dishes - Take-out delivery service from hundreds of local restaurants.
  • Walmart - Grocery delivery service (select stores only).
  • Zehrs - Grocery delivery service.

 

Employment & Income Support 

  • Ontario Works - If you have trouble meeting basic needs, you may qualify for Ontario Works. This social assistance program provides income support for basic living expenses and can help you prepare for and find work.

 

Housing 

  • Community Housing Access Centre - Affordable Community Housing gives individuals and families with low to moderate income households the opportunity to rent a housing unit at a lower cost. Call (519) 575-4833. 
  • House of Friendship - The House of Friendship offers services related to addiction treatment, food assistance, housing and they offer various resources for families living on low-income. Call 519-742-8327. 
  • Lutherwood Housing Counselling - Lutherwood's housing services provides support to find permanent, safe and affordable housing. Call (519) 749-8305 ext. 7368
  • Wilmot Family Resource Centre (New Hamburg and surrounding area) - The Wilmot Family Resource Centre has a wide range of programs and services related to food assistance, employment and financial services, family violence prevention, parenting and family support. Call (519) 622-2731.
 

Mental Health and Wellness

  • CDC: Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event - The CDC offers resources to help support you and your family’s emotional health and well-being during an emergency.
  • Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) - Offers instructions on how to talk to your children about COVID-19.
  • EMental Health - Offers strategies/tips for managing stress/anxiety related to COVID-19.
  • Here 24/7 - A free support line operating 24/7 for access to supports for addictions, mental health and crisis services in Guelph, Wellington and Waterloo https://here247.ca/ (1-844-437-3247)
  • Kids Help Phone - Can connect you to a counselor trained to support youth (1-800-668-6868)

  

Public Health


Resources

  • Autism Ontario
  • DSRC
  • Extend-A-Family   
  • Guelph Coronavirus Community Resource Website - This website contains detailed and regularly updated information about free food, ordering food, care for pets, wellness resources as well as ways to volunteer and donate.  
  • Knights of Columbus - Birthday Present Delivery - Know of someone in the region that has a child with an upcoming birthday that might not have the finances or ability to celebrate? Waterloo Knights of Columbus is accepting applications to deliver unwrapped toys to children in need.  Contact Knights of Columbus by calling (519) 884-2060.
  • TorchLight - Support for seniors living alone and their caregivers. Call 1-888-821-3760. 
  • Waterloo Region Family Network