Community Programs & Groups

The Brant Food System Coalition seeks to achieve a resilient local food system that is inclusive, healthy, equitable, and sustainable for Brant. 

Our key objectives are:

• To be a leader for our local food system
• To identify and respond to food systems needs, capacities, and issues in the region
• To strengthen local capacity by creating structures and process that interact with the Coalition to achieve common goals
• To increase awareness of our purpose and create opportunity for communication between partners and with the community
• To advocate for policies that support our purpose
• To identify opportunities to create intersectoral collaboration
• To learn from food systems work being done in other municipalities and all orders of government
• To participate in regional food movements
• To support food sovereignty
• To provide direction and support to designated leaders carrying out actions on behalf of the Coalition

Community Resource Service Fresh Helpings program was developed to increase the amount of healthy fresh food options to clients using food banks, food cupboards, and meal programs.  

We are always looking for community partners to play the role of donor, sponsor or volunteer. We need farmers and businesses to partner with, sponsor to purchase, and volunteers to glean and help distribute.  This project is for the community, by the community and all are welcome to participate.  

The Brant Community Food Educator program offers educational sessions to the community in the form of presentations, food demonstrations, displays and cooking classes.  The sessions are led by trained volunteers. 

Session topics include: 

• healthy eating
• Canada's Food Guide
• cooking for one or two
• healthy eating on a budget
• label reading
• safe food handling at home
• healthy snacks
• vegetarian cooking
• low fat cooking
• cooking skills

Brant Food For Thought is the lead agency that supports and facilitates Student Nutrition Programs in elementary and secondary schools in Brantford and the County of Brant.  We believe that good nutrition contributes to a child's ability to learn and that all children and youth should have equitable access to the most nutritious foods possible. Brant Food For Thought is investing in our children and youth today, for a healthy and vibrant community tomorrow! 

Child Hunger Brantford is a non-profit registered charity that promotes healthy food choices, supports and provides local food education and outreach in our community. 

Daily preparation and delivery of over 200 lunches and snacks are delivered directly to children in elementary schools in the Brantford area.

Weekly preparation and delivery of over 150 lunches and snacks are delivered directly to the front doors of children facing food insecurity. 

Gifts of the Heart program began in 2021 as a grassroots effort to feed and clothe kids in need. Starting with a simple request to Brantford’s Downtown Central Neighbourhood Association (DCNA) of seven dozen eggs for food insecure families, Gifts of the Heart has grown to currently providing 250 children with daily lunches across many Brantford schools. In addition, we provide weekend pantry item bags and weekly food bins to over 40 in-need families, as well as offer donated clothing and hygiene items to those who need it most.

Sustainable Brant supports the protection of food land and the environment.  We support inclusive, transparent governance at the municipal, provincial and federal level.