Adventure4Change provides a wide range of programs for kids, youth, parents, and families. Some of the services they offer include system navigation, access to a public health nurse, help with resume writing, youth drop-ins, English conversation circles, and sewing classes.

“Adventure4Change is a non-profit organization that works primarily with people who are refugees, newcomers, are racialized, and living in low-income communities,” says Elysia Bednarek, the program director at Adventure4Change. “We work with those primarily living in north Waterloo, but we do have a few people coming from Kitchener and Cambridge to access our programs as well. Our primary focus is providing programs that are barrier-free and accessible for anybody in the community who wants to access them.”

Adventure4Change also provides snacks as part of their programming. With support from The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, they distribute snacks like fruit, juice boxes, granola bars, fruit gummies, popcorn, and ice cream.

“In each of our programs, we provide a snack because we find that food brings people in and brings the community together to socialize,” Elysia explains. “But also, we find a lot of youth, and kids in particular, if they’re coming to a program right after school, they often are hungry. Sometimes, some of them don’t have lunch or they don’t have breakfast. That’s why snacks are a huge part of our program… so everybody has at least some food in their bellies.”

On average, Adventure4Change gives out 175 snacks per month. An important, and sometimes challenging, aspect of their snack program is that all the snacks they distribute must be halal.

“Ninety per cent or more of the population that we work with are Muslim and so they need to have halal food,” Elysia shares.

The Food Bank works diligently with Adventure4Change to ensure the food we distribute meets the cultural and dietary needs of those accessing their snack program.

“We’re very grateful to have this partnership with The Food Bank and be able to receive food that we’re able to give out to the community that they really benefit from,” Elysia says.

She adds that the most rewarding part is just being able to have food that’s culturally appropriate and accessible for anyone who needs it.

She says, “We have snacks readily available for anybody who walks through our doors who is hungry. We have food at each of our programs that we can give to anybody who comes in. We never have to turn anybody away.”

Adventure4Change is one of 54 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. Visit adventure4change.org to learn more. If you’d like to help The Food Bank support Network partners like Adventure4Change, visit our Get Involved section on our website to learn more about donating food, funds, or time.