Community Food and Essentials Support
Food Cupboard
Food Box eligibility is specific to youth ages 16-24 who are currently connected to YES, and families with a dependent who are currently connected to YES.
The food cupboard is open Tuesday and Thursday, noon-2pm.
To find additional food banks or free meals in the community, please visit the Peterborough Food Calendar.
We could not offer this without significant help from Kawartha Food Share, and community donors and volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive a food box? Food Box eligibility is specific to youth ages 16-24 who are currently connected to YES, and families with a dependent who are currently connected to YES.
What are the current food box hours? Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2pm.
What is the process of picking up a food box? Come to the door at 196 Brock St and ring the buzzer. A volunteer or shelter worker will meet you at the door to fill out an info sheet.
How often can someone get a food box? If eligible, you can receive a food box monthly.
What information do we collect from food box recipients? We require, full name, birthday, and address in order to provide a food box.
What can people expect to receive in a food box? We rely on donations and we try our very best to accommodate allergies and food preferences.
Interested in donating food to the shelter?
YES provides shelter clients with three meals/day, and offer food boxes to those in need. To do this, we depend on food donations. Non-perishables are always appreciated, and fresh produce and meats are also very useful. Unfortunately, we cannot accept expired foods or food in opened packages.
The best way to donate food, is to drop it off at the shelter – 196 Brock St. in Peterborough. Ring the lower level buzzer when you come, and someone will gladly accept your donation. If you are bringing food that will require refrigeration, please call ahead so we can ensure we have space. 705-748-3851
Clothing and Essentials
When people arrive in shelter, they often have very little in the way of clothing or hygiene items. YES works with the community, PATH, and Vinnie’s to ensure that we always have the basics to keep clients warm and comfortable.
Interested in donating to our clothing cupboard?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept used clothing from our community members. This is because we do not have the capacity in shelter to sort, clean and re-donate a lot of the items that come in through donation.
If you have used items to donate, please give them to Vinnie’s or PATH! Our partnership with Vinnie’s allows us to use vouchers and get clothing items we need from Vinnie’s for free. That means, donating to Vinnie’s or PATH, helps the young people and families at YES.
We do gratefully accept new clothing that is listed as needed on our wish list directly at the shelter. Items like hoodies, cotton t-shirts, underwear, track pants, pajamas, weather-proof winter gear are ALWAYS appreciated. The best way to donate new clothing items is to drop it off at 196 Brock St. Ring the lower level buzzer when you come, and someone will gladly accept your donation. Thank you!
If you’d like to help YES provide the basics to young people and families when in Shelter or in our RISE Youth Housing Program, consider donating to YES and specifying that the funds should be directed to food and supplies.