Agency spotlight: Ray of Hope

For people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and other challenges, Ray of Hope is a place where support, dignity, and community come together. Serving Kitchener-Waterloo, the organization offers employment services, youth support programs, and a range of community services designed to help people navigate difficult circumstances.

At its community centre on King Street East in Kitchener, Ray of Hope operates both a food hamper program and a community meal program, supported by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

“Our relationship with The Food Bank has made this possible for us to serve the people we do,” says Sara McKnight, program supervisor at Ray of Hope. “The majority of our food comes from The Food Bank.”

Some of the food available at Ray of Hope.

Food support with dignity

Ray of Hope’s food hamper program, known as the Marketplace, is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals and families living within the program’s neighbourhood boundary can access the service once a month. Participants can choose from a variety of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable foods to build a hamper that best meets their household’s needs. On average, the Marketplace supports 53 households each week.

“If you access the program, you will be called in and assigned a volunteer who will walk you through the Marketplace,” Sara explains. “You get to pick your own food, and the volunteer will let you know how much you can receive from each section that day based on your family’s size. They can also help you come up with healthy meal ideas using the food available. It really helps build relationships!”

Sara McKnight placing food on a shelf.

The community centre is also home to a busy meal program that welcomes anyone in need. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., while dinner is available on weekday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Weekend meals include lunch on Saturdays and an early dinner on Sundays. Meals can be enjoyed onsite or taken to go. Lunches are prepared by Ray of Hope staff and guest volunteers, while local groups buy, prepare, and serve evening meals. Together, these efforts help provide more than 10,000 meals every month.

“We believe in nutritious and diverse meals,” Sara says. “Our staff take pride in offering a variety of delicious meals and our meal teams put lots of love into their menu planning. A fan favourite is our pulled pork!”

Meal ideas from The Food Bank on a bulletin board.

Meeting the growing need

Like many organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network, Ray of Hope continues to see increasing demand for food assistance.

“The largest demographic would be those accessing the shelter system or who are unhoused,” Sara shares. “We are seeing a lot of working families come down in the evenings simply because times are tough and they are welcomed in.”

For Sara, one of the most meaningful aspects of providing these food assistance programs is seeing the relief they can bring.

“People are so grateful and kind when they come through our programs,” she says. “I think it helps take some of the burden off of them and allows them space to breathe for a moment. It is not a solution but a hand up, and people are so grateful for the extra help.”

Ray of Hope is one of 66 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. If you’d like to help The Food Bank support Network partners like Ray of Hope, visit our Get Involved section on our website to learn more about donating food, funds, or time.