What We Do
Bridges to Hope provides emergency food assistance to individuals and families in the St. John’s-Metro region of Newfoundland and Labrador. The face of hunger is not always recognizable in our city: it could be the family next door, the child who sits next to yours in school, a coworker, or the person who serves you at a local business. That’s why at Bridges to Hope our focus is on Neighbours Feeding Neighbours. We strive to ensure the diverse members of our community have fair and unbiased access to our services, while also acting as advocates for increased food security. We are committed to being accountable and transparent in our actions and to ensuring the most effective use of our resources.
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Food Pantry
Newfoundland has the highest rate of per capita food bank usage in Canada. In 2023 our pantry processed over 13,000 total visits. Folks who access our services come to us from every sector of society—no one is turned away. Individuals and families can receive a monthly food hamper, as well as an emergency top-up if they are in need of additional support.
Healthy Hamper
This essential program ensures that everyone who visits our food bank has access to fresh, nutritious food options. Each hamper includes fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a rotating menu of homemade meals including low sodium chicken soup, goulash, vegetable curry, and more.
Smart Snack
This program provides nutritious snack items to the over 450 school-aged children whose families access our services each month. Each Smart Snack kit contains 4-5 days of nutritious snacks that include protein, dairy, fruit and a homemade snack such as a bran muffin or energy bite.
Bag to School
For over a decade Bridges to Hope has offered support to families in our community through our annual Bag to School program. This program ensures students go back to class in September with all the supplies they need for a successful school year.
In 2024, this program supported 725 students in the Metro region.
Holiday Support
In partnership with the Rotary Club of St. John’s, each November we register over 300 families who need financial support during the holidays. Each family receives a grocery gift card which they can use to purchase items for their holiday meal. In 2023 we distributed 315 gift cards to families in need.
Community Outreach
Bridges to Hope partners with other local organizations to distribute food hampers to those in our community who otherwise cannot access food banks. These outreach initiatives help address gaps in service delivery and ensure that seniors, those with disabilities, and those without access to reliable transportation can access emergency food assistance.