The following list of Food programs in Durham Region. The meals and grocery items are free, but there may be eligibility and timing restrictions. Contact the organization first for more details.

Contact Kujenga at: 289-624-9431 if you need assistance accessing resources in the community. We are here to help.

The Salvation Army Hope – Ajax

• 122 Hunt Street, Ajax, ON
• Services residents of Ajax, Pickering and Uxbridge.
• Offers emergency food, clothing, and furniture based on income and situation.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-3:00pm
• Please call to make an appointment at 905-427-7123
• Community meals lunch program takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00pm-1:00pm on a bi-weekly basis. Currently this program is suspended due to Covid-19, however, staff and volunteers will place granola bars, juice boxes, and a sandwich into a bag and will distribute at the back entrance of the building.

Simcoe Hall Settlement House -Oshawa

• 387 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, ON
• Phone: 905-728-7525
• Foodbank Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:00pm.
• Holiday hours vary, please look online before accessing foodbank.
• Virtual after school program for children in grades 1-8

Gate 3:16 – Oshawa

• 64 Albany Street, Oshawa, ON.
• Is a Christian drop-in centre for peoples ages 24 and up who are homeless.
• Hours: 8:00am – 2:00pm
• Provides breakfast and lunch: Monday to Friday, take-out only due to Covid-19.
• Provides counselling services, medical services, emergency dental work, foot care, emergency bus fare, hairdressing, laundry services, clothes, hygiene supplies, and showers.

The Back-Door Mission – Oshawa

• 66 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, ON, L1H 4G3
• Provides help to individuals living off a set old age or disability pension, unemployed individuals or those struggling to make ends meet, homeless individuals, individuals in low-income housing, and more.
• Provides meals (boxed lunches) everyday from 10:00am-1:00pm.
• Food pantry is open Monday to Friday from 10:00am-1:00pm.
• Clothing assistance is available Monday to Friday 10:00am-1:00pm.
• Monday to Friday from 10:00am-3:00pm they also provide help by providing medical help, crisis and mental health supports, a rest centre, harm reduction supplies, withdrawal management, and financial assistance.

The Refuge – Oshawa

• 300 Court Street, Oshawa, ON, L1H 4X4
• Religious drop-in centre for youth 26 and under who are homeless.
• Breakfast and lunch are served each weekday through the Second Chance drop-in program.
• Every Sunday evening, a family style dinner and discussions about the Bible take place through Levi’s Table.
• Showers, laundry, bus tickets, and more are available.

The Salvation Army -Oshawa

• 45 King Street East, Oshawa, ON.
• The food bank is available to anyone living in Oshawa or Port Perry who are in need of food.
• Clients are provided with a 3-4 day supply of food, as well as hygiene and infant supplies.
• Please call 905-723-7422 ext. 221 to make a food bank appointment, as they can only serve the first 25 households.
• Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30am-12:00pm, please arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
• Please bring photo identification for adults, identification for each family member, proof of address, income and rent required, and grocery bags.
• Individuals can also access the thrift store to receive discounted or free clothing and furniture through a voucher program. Thrift store is open Monday- Friday 11:00am-4:00pm, and Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm.

Carea Community Health Centre – Oshawa

• Oshawa Location: 115 Grassmere Ave., Oshawa, ON, L1H 3X7
• Provides a fresh produce/dry goods box on a weekly basis. Must be a registered, active, and a qualified client who was referred by your provider. Oshawa site only.
• Call: 1-877-227-3217 for program information.
• Also provides free programs, workshops, and groups that focus on health issues and wellness.
• Carea CHC is staffed with family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Counsellors, and Administration Support staff. Oshawa, Ajax, and Pickering sites serve all ages.
• Due to Covid-19, Carea staff are only seeing clients by appointment only.

Adventist Community Services Centre- Oshawa

• Food and clothing blank available once a month to residents of Courtice and Oshawa.
• 1170 King Street East, Oshawa, ON, L1H 1H9
• Centre is currently closed due to Covid-19, however, if in desperate need of food please call on Wednesdays from 9:30am-3:00pm. Food should be delivered the following day (Thursday) between 9:00am-1:00pm.
• Must present photo ID, provide ID for each family member, and provide a proof of income.
• Proof of income can include: Government pension stub, Ontario Works information, Employment Insurance pay stub, Disability income pay stub, or bank statement showing income deposited directly into the bank account.
• Phone: 905-433-8800

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church -Whitby

• 209 Cochrane Street, Whitby, ON, L1N 5H9
• Provides fresh produce/perishable food items, baby supplies, incontinence products and personal hygiene items to clients.
• Available at all members of the Durham community who require assistance.
• Please call 905-668-4022 if you require assistance.

Learn more about resources in the community

Kujenga Wellness Project supports parents, caregivers and guardians as they provide for their families, their extended relatives and their community. The following list of employment services in Durham Region are available to guide you on your journey. Not sure what you need? Need help accessing these resources? Our Family Outreach Worker can guide you on your way and provide you resources you need. Seeking guidance on your path... Consider Life Coaching as a way to learn more about your goals, your interests, and the best type of employment that can support your success.

Agilec -Ajax, Courtice, and Oshawa

• Provides help with writing resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, job searches and more.
• 250 Bayly Street West, Unit 19, Ajax, ON, L1S 3V4
• 1403 King Street East, Unit 6, Courtice, ON, L1E 2J6
• 419 King Street West, #3560, Oshawa, ON, L1J 2K5

META Employment Services –Whitby

• 15 Thickson Road North #6, Whitby, ON, L1N 8W7
• Open by appointment only. Please call 613-966-9069 to book with an Employment Counsellor.
• Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
• Provides insight on what jobs are available within the Durham Region, will help create or edit resumes and cover letters, help with job applications, and can help with interview preparations through mock interviews.

YMCA Employment and Community Services – Whitby and Pickering

• Provides resources, employment services, career planning, and more.
• 3000 Garden Street, Unit 100A, Whitby, ON, L1R 2G6
• Phone Number: 1-905-668-0044
• Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:30am-5:00pm, Thursday 8:30am-7:00pm, Friday 8:30am-5:00pm.
• 1550 Kingston Road., Unit 16,  Pickering, ON, L1V 1C3
• Hours: Monday 8:30am-5:00pm, Tuesday 8:30am-7:00pm, Wednesday to Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

Unemployed Help Centre -Oshawa and Pickering

• Provides help with resumes and cover letters, one-on-one employment counselling, and more. Services can be done in-person, online, or by telephone.
• Please call to make an appointment.
• Hours: 8:45am-4:00pm
• 272 King Street, Oshawa, ON,
• 1410 Bayly Street, Unit 4, Pickering, ON
• Pickering location can specifically help newcomers and immigrants.

John Howard Society of Durham Region -Oshawa and Whitby

• Provides assistance with resumes and cover letters, job searches, mock interviews, and more.
• All appointments with an Employment Advisor are virtual due to Covid-19, please book an appointment online.
• 75 Richmond Street West, Oshawa, ON, L1G 1E3
• Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm, Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
• #200-114 Dundas Street East, Whitby, ON, L1N 2H7

Need more resources? Read our Posts

There is a time when we need someone to talk to... but no one is there. No one is available. Sometimes the easiest person to talk to is the one who does not know you, does not know your story, and won't judge your thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, the easiest person to talk to is the one that just listens.

Crisis lines are free, available resources with skilled counsellors who can listen to you, give guidance, and provide assistance.

The Black Youth Line is a successful youth line, geared specifically for Black youth in Ontario.

Kujenga Wellness Project offers a Navigation System, designed to support you locate resources that fit your personal needs and situations.

Phone and Text Support

Good2Talk

• 24/7 hotline for post-secondary students in Ontario.
• Post-secondary students can receive professional counselling, and information and referrals for mental health, addictions, and their well-being.
• Can text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 to receive support over text.
• Phone: 1-866-925-5454

Kids Help Phone

• 24/7 support by phone, text, mobile app, or through the Kids Help Phone website.
• Offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to youth and children (help in English or French is available).
• Text a Crisis Responder at 686868
• Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Pride Line Durham

• Operates from 6pm-10pm daily.
• Provides emotional support, crisis intervention, and community referral information.
• Available to individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ within Durham Region or a parent or sibling of someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ and has questions or needs to talk about how they are feeling.
• Phone: 1-855-877-7433

Featuring...

Free 2 Talk is a free, nonjudgment, no health card needed service. Our clients range from 14 to 45. Both men and women. Individuals call in and speak to the available therapist and leave the call feeling better than how they started. 

Distress Centre Durham

• Provides emotional support and encouragement, crisis management, suicide risk assessment, community resource/referral information, and emergency intervention.
• 24/7 Helpline at 905-430-2522 or 1-800-452-0688

ONTX – Ontario Online & Text Crisis Services

• Text support is available from 2pm-2am daily.
• Can be accessed by dialing 258258.
• Will be required to complete a pre-chat survey.

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline

• Available 24/7
• Connects victims and survivors with social services, legal help, emergency services, and will also receive tips from the public.
• Online chat is available the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline website.
• Phone: 1-833-900-1010

Community Resources to support you...

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It is a week-long, seven day program designed to celebrate the fruits of harvest. The Kwanzaa celebration began in the United States by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. Today, in Canada, many people celebrate Kwanzaa as they highlight the accomplishments of the year, give homage to our ancestors and our journeys, and plan for the new year.

Kwanzaa

The word, Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits". The symbols of Kwanzaa include crops (Mzao)- is the reward for collective labour. The mat (mkeka)- foundation for self-actualization. The Candle holder (Kinara) is a reminder of the ancestral origins in one of the 55 African countries. The corn (muhindi)- signifies children and the hope invested in the younger children. The gifts (Zawadi) represent commitments of the parents for the children. The Unity cup (Kimbe cha Umoja) is used to pour libations to the ancestors. The candles (mishumaa saba) remind participants of the seven principles and are the colours of the African liberation movement.

The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa

Umoja

Unity. To strive for and maintain unity within your family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia

Self-determination. To strive to define, name, creating and speak for yourself.

Ujima

Collective work and responsibility. To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa

Cooperative economics. Uplift your community economically. To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia

Nia means purpose. To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba

Creativity. To do always as much as we can, in the way we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani

Faith. To believe with all our heart in ourselves, our community, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Embark on your own journey of self awareness

Whether you celebrate with friends and family, remotely, or in solo use this time to self -reflect, to give thanks, to create new year goals, and to explore ways of building community and self.

Exercise

In a book, journal, or one your table, think or mediate on these questions:

1. What fruits do you enjoy due to your ancestors hard work and sacrifice?
2. How can you build and support your community? List actions you wish to undertake.
3. How can you encourage, support, or invest in your community's businesses and economics?
4. What is your purpose? How can you live your purpose every day?
5. How do you express yourself? How can you use your creativity to build and grow yourself and your community?
6. Describe what faith means to you? How can you live a faith-filled life and give back to your community?

Journey Within

Learn more about our: FAMILY OUTREACH WORKER to guide your path and support your family

Our core team members has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help you and your family in many ways. Visit our Core Members Team page to learn more about our members. Send us an email to connect: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Articles & Blogs

In June 2020, the Kujenga Wellness Project was selected for funding with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The first few months of the delivery of the project, the grassroots organization sought to engage the community virtually through focus groups and workshops. After three months, the core members solicited the support of an Advisory Council, co-chaired by Cristal Hines and Jazmyne Julien (Project Coordinator). By our sixth month, we secured additional funding to support Black families impacted by the COVID-19 disease pandemic.

As an organization, we sought to create and develop programs and support for Black families. We recognize that the impact of anti-Black racism and system oppression has had an harmful effect on our community, and creates mass disproportionality and disparities in mental health, education, child welfare, health, criminal justice system and more. Thus, our programs and support aims to assist families with navigating these systems to empower their family using a culturally-informed approach.

In our next six months, join us for intriguing educational workshops, support groups and monthly Lets Talk Cafe's meetings. To enrol in our programs, contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We hosted 8 Lets Talk Cafe's for over 180 participants

Lets Talk Cafe's are virtual informal listening circles that are geared to providing a safe space for community members to discuss and describe their experiences on issues that matter to them the most. The cafe's also provide an opportunity to hear about community members share their experiences. These spaces will provide an opportunity for our organization to shape our programs and advocate for change in the province.

We facilitated 9 Educational Workshops for over 300 participants and started a You Tube Channel

Navigating the New Normal

A Guide for Parents with the Global Pandemic presented by Melissa Perryman and Lisa McGregor

To access our educational workshops, visit our You Tube Page. Access our resources and blogs by visiting our online Resource Library

Hosted a six-week Queen's Unite women's program

Join us for our upcoming support groups for support with: co-parenting, healthy relationships, mental health, parenting and more. Email our team at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We rallied 20 volunteers who gifted over 2000 hours of their time to support the community, and elicited the support of community leaders who donated funds and gifts to our community members

The Gift Project was a 30-day initiative that donated $10,000 in food, gift cards, and gifts for Black families located in the Durham Region. Through the generous donation of our community leaders, we supported 10 families in Scarborough and 10 additional families in need.

To Learn More about our Accomplishments, read our Semi-Annual review.

How Kujenga addresses Health Inequities

Education

Black youth experience discrimination (i.e., differential treatment), stereotypes (i.e., false beliefs about Black bodies), and racism (i.e., targeted systems designed to create barriers due to race) within schools from junior kindergarten to post secondary. As a parent, these experience can influence how you parent your child and your relationships with your child. Your child may internalize these experiences and begin to decrease their participation and engagement in school.

Suggested Tips:

1. Contact Kujenga Family Outreach worker for individualized support and coaching.
2. Enrol your child into group or individual programs to help build their self-esteem, confidence, and cultural and ethnic pride. Ifarada: Centre for Excellence hosts groups for youth ages 5 and up. Many organizations in the GTA also support Black youth. Contact us to learn more.
3. Consider advocating for your child with the school administrator. We can assist you with the process.
4. Document concerns your child or youth share with you about the school and the experiences they may have.
5. Consider joining our Parenting Program to strengthen your skills and provide you strategies for managing your child's experiences successfully.

Employment

While Kujenga Wellness Project is a small organization, we are committed to creating employment opportunities for Black people. In addition, we seek opportunities for Black individuals to share their experiences and knowledge within our community.

To learn more about employment opportunities in your community, see our post:

Empower and support your youth to achieve their best outcomes for education and employment. There are many youth programs available to support youth accomplish their goals. Consider our initiatives:

 

Upcoming Initiatives

OSAP/ Scholarship Loan Webinar... helping youth prepare for post secondary studies and success in their employment. Learn how to complete the OSAP, bank loan and scholarships to fund education. Learn how to deduct school fees and materials on your taxes.

Guidance Support Initiatives... not sure how to choose the best career for work or what school program to consider. Join guidance support drop-ins to meet with and consult with adult mentors in the field.

Recently the Divorce Act was updated to include new information, and addressed outstanding issues that impacted families and parents.

Family Dispute Resolutions are "out of court" decisions that parents may make about children, parenting, child support, and property issues. Some of these issues can be resolved if the parties are able to collaboratively work together to address these issues moving forward for the family.

For more information visit:

To assist in the process of resolving the couple relationship, and planning for the children, the Justice Department, Government of Canada provides a wealth of information on their website. In this page, we highlight some of the resources which may be helpful for you and your family. For direct referrals with navigating systems, contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connecting via the link at the end of this article.

Making Plans: A guide to parenting arrangements after separation or divorce

Parenting Planning tool is an online resource designed to assist parents with exploring the different areas they need to consider when planning to separate and divorce. A parenting planning checklist can also provide parents with a guide on the steps they should consider when making changes in their family, and supporting their children in the process.

To access this tool visit:

The Department of Justice, Government of Canada website lists information pertaining to access legal resources for Family Matters. You can access their website directory here:

Family Violence

The updated Act includes an understanding and assessment of family violence which could impact the divorce and separation proceedings, and make co-parenting difficult between the partes. Under the new Act, the definition and assessment criteria for Family Violence expanded, and included acts that were both criminal and disruptive within relationships. The Act considers the impact of family violence on children, which includes whether the child is the victim of violence or abuse, witnesses or hears someone being violent towards a family member, or sees a family member scared or injured due to violence. The Divorce Act also includes assessment criteria family court judges can use to determine the best case scenario for children within a separation or divorce.

For more information visit:

Resources for Children

Children also experience grief and loss when their family changes or there is a divorce or separation within the family. In Western culture, families are envisioned to consist of a "mom, dad, children, and a pet". When a family composition looks different, or changes children can experience feeling different than their peers. It is helpful to talk to children about their family, and create a normalized narrative about how special, unique, and loving their family is. It is further important to support children when a family changes due to a separation, or divorce.

The Government of Canada published a PDF book that can provide information to children, in a child friendly way. You can access the information here:

Articles & Support Groups

Looking for resources or support? We are here to support you create a healthy, nurturing village for your child.

Kujenga Wellness Project, Nicole Perryman collaborated with the Black Youth Space to support their parent session. The sessions were geared to supporting parents with their role, seeking supports, and ensuring they invest in their wellness and health.

Black Youth Space is hosted by the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. The Urban Alliance on Race Relations is a non-profit charitable organization that works primarily and proactively with the community, public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research, which are critical in addressing racism in society (see website for further details).

The Black Youth Space is working on nine projects currently to support the community. To learn more see: Urban Alliance Projects.

Black Youth Space: Kujenga Wellness Project (Parent Session Videos)

Black Youth Services: Black Moms and Self-Care

Black Youth Space: Black Family Wellness

Learn more about community organizations with our community showcase