Our Free Weekly Distro Program
Our Distro program combats food insecurity for Laurier students. We provide free groceries and other essentials for students who need them.
Distro in Waterloo has a new collaboration, new hours and new location to serve students better! Please see details below.
For our hours of operation, locations, eligibility and products available on each campus, please see below.
Please note that any cancellations (e.g. Snow Days) are announced on our Instagram @laurierstudentsPIRG
We provide items such as:
- Fresh groceries such as fruit, veggies, dairy and bread
- Pantry items
- Hygiene items
- Mental health resources
- Social justice swag
Identifying Food Insecurity
If you regularly skip meals, or eat smaller quantities at meals, or choose less healthy/other food than you'd like, or have to choose between food and textbooks, rent, bills, or other financial costs... then you may be experiencing food insecurity. You are not alone!
Please reflect on the above levels of food insecurity and determine if you think accessing Distro is right for you. If you are experiencing marginal, moderate or severe food insecurity, our program is for you to come and take what you need.
Things You Need to Know Before Coming
Please reflect and assess that you are experiencing some level of food insecurity (see above). Take as much as you need. We do not limit how much students take because we don’t know how much you need. However, please keep in mind that the supplies we have must be shared amongst many.
Please bring your Laurier One Card so we can verify you are a current Laurier student
Please bring your own bags
If you cannot make it during the Distro times for any reason, please reach out to discuss pickup and delivery possibilities
How to donate items
Everyone is welcome to drop off items either during our Distro hours or a bin on campus. In Waterloo, there is a marked donation bin at the Bricker Entrance of Martin Luther University College which is open 8:30am to 4:30pm.
If your organization or workplace would like to collect items at your location, please contact tweber@luther.wlu.ca to discuss arranging pick-up.
Items we accept:
Non-perishable food (especially juice, soup, pasta, sauces, canned veggies, peanut butter, crackers, snacks, non-dairy milks)
Hygiene products (e.g. Shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, menstrual products)
Household cleaning products (especially dish soap, scrubbies, toilet paper)
These items must be unopened (Note: An open box of individually packaged granola bars is acceptable)
How to Donate Funds
If you would like to donate money to support our program, please donate through Luther’s online giving by pressing the button below and selecting “Distro”. 100% of funds go directly towards purchasing supplies. Luther is able to issue charitable tax receipts for financial contributions and substantial in-kind donations. If you are an organization or business considering donating, we can provide recognition. If you would like to specify which campus you would like your donation to go to, please add that in as a comment.
Our Values
Variety - We are committed to providing options that meet many dietary needs. We provide a variety of fresh vs. non-perishable, convenient vs. cooking ingredients, and food that varies in nutrition.
Choice - We believe everyone deserves to be able to choose exactly what they would like to eat. Whether people want to check nutrition labels, ingredients, or just want delicious flavours they enjoy, students should be able to choose what to eat, regardless of income. We aim to be set up like a free grocery store. There is dignity in choice.
Anonymity - For a variety of valid reasons, some people do not feel comfortable accessing support or sharing their identity. We understand and value the importance of your privacy. We do not ask for any proof of income.
Mutual Aid - Unlike a charity model, Mutual Aid understands the capitalist systems’ role in creating unfair distribution of resources and wealth and makes the community as a whole responsible for caring for each other.
Equity - We understand that people experiencing intersecting forms of oppression are disproportionately impacted by poverty and food insecurity. This is true everywhere, including here at Laurier, as the Food4Hawks report shows. All aspects of our program are intended to support marginalized communities.
Distro - Waterloo
Mondays to Thursdays, 10am to 2pm
Location: King St. Residence (previous location was Luther)
Accessing Distro in Waterloo
As of Oct. 1st, 2024, Distro in Waterloo and The Mini Market are now collaborating! Distro provides free items and The Mini Market is a pay-what-you-can grocery store. We now operate together at our new location of King Street Residence and offer a wider, consistent selection of products in an effort to combat student food insecurity.
The new expanded hours are Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm.
The new location is King St. Residence (200 King St. N.), beside Co-op and across from the soccer field. Once you enter the front doors, walk through the open foyer area to the Lounge doors. The Distro/Mini Market room is located on the right side of the lounge.
This collaborative program is available for confirmed Laurier students only and accessed through OneCard tap entry. Students will again show their OneCard at check-out and discreetly choose their level of food insecurity and corresponding subsidy. Limits on some items apply.
There will continue to be products available for free (all items we receive for free always remain fully free).
Free Weekly Distro - Brantford
Wednesdays 2 - 4pm and Thursdays 12 - 2 pm
Register for either Wednesday or Thursday pick-up here: https://forms.gle/4vki2RGCvTu5En726
Location: LSPIRG Office in ODB101
Accessing the Location
Distro is run out of our LSPIRG Brantford office at OBD101, the basement of the Odeon Building
When you walk in the building, head straight down the stairs and find the room next to the vending machines. There is also an elevator.
The door is open Wednesdays 2-4pm and Thursdays 12-2pm, so come on in!
Program Schedule for Fall 2024
Follow @LaurierStudentsPIRG to be notified of any unexpected cancellations or changes to the schedule.
Sep: 11th & 12th, 18 & 19th, 25th & 26th
Oct: 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, (closed 16hth & 17th), 23rd & 24th, 30th & 31st
Nov: 6th & 7th, 13th & 14th, 20th & 21st, 27th & 28th
Dec: 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th, 18th & 19th
Other Food and Essential Items Resources
In addition to our Distro program, there are other resources available that provide students with essential items and food. You can find resources within the Laurier community compiled here. Off campus, students and community members can also access free food at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, the Community Fridge of KW downtown Kitchener, the 519 Nourish Community Fridge in Waterloo and the Littlefoot Community Project’s pay-what-you-can produce market.
Volunteer with us
Our volunteers are essential to keeping Distro going. Our volunteers welcome students, keep shelves stocked, and more. If you have access to a vehicle, becoming a volunteer driver is also very appreciated - you could pick up/drop off donations or make home deliveries. Driving and some harvesting shifts are throughout the week, while all other volunteering at Distro takes places on Thursdays.
We understand that our volunteers have a lot of other things on the go, and so we do not expect that you attend every Distro. Volunteers are able to sign up for the dates and times that work best for them.
Gratitude
In the Fall term of 2020, LSPIRG and Luther recognized the serious level of food insecurity that was compounded due to COVID-19 unemployment and existing services being closed due to lockdown. We started the Distro program as two people outside with one table with some non-perishable food items, and have since grown in every way. While Distro started due to the pandemic, our community will continue to need this support until our society changes. We are committed to this permanent program and this would not be possible without our incredible community.
LSPIRG and Luther would like to thank our incredible partners and supporters:
Matthew MacGregor Giving Fund
Community Kitchen Co-Operative of Kitchener-Waterloo
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada- Eastern Synod Mission Committee
COBS Bread
Mount Zion Lutheran Church for cooking us delicious hot meals
Shoppers Drug Mart - Bridgeport
AgroHaitai seed farm
MAZON Canada
The WLU Sustainability Office
Laurier International
Grand Valley Institute Lifers’ Group
Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region
KW Microgreens
Miss Dixies Foundation
Laurier Wellness Education
Nature Plus Eggs
The SEED
WLU Muslim Chaplaincy
Aroma Acres Farm
Beautiful Souls KW
The For GOOD Foundation
Fertile Ground Farm
Our amazing team of dedicated volunteers
Our on- and off-campus community who donate, promote and connect