House of Friendship changes Christmas Food program, points to year-wide options
Posted Oct 28, 2025 10:26:25 AM.
Last Updated Oct 29, 2025 03:02:45 PM.
With the holiday season fast approaching, House of Friendship has announced it will be making changes to its Christmas Food program, looking to reshape its focus towards supports that will last through the entire year.
The local organization said the anticipated demand had become too high for the program to be run the same way it had, instead, pointing members of the community towards other local, year-long options.
“By connecting people to local emergency food programs year-round, including in December for Christmas meal items, community members can also access other resources, such as tutoring programs, peer groups, and one-on-one family support services, to help them thrive,” said Clare Wagner, Director of Community Services with House of Friendship.
Wagner said the changes mainly involve no longer offering delivery services as it did previously, but now, residents across the region are no longer required to register for the program. The program now says they can go to its listed emergency food programs across Kitchener and Waterloo through the month of December.
She said it has become clearer that the support usually offered during the holiday season is something that is needed during the rest of the year, pointing to growing numbers and increased demand over recent years.
“Last year alone, we supported about 4,750 households through this program, and registration filled up in just four days, showing just how many people in our community are reaching out for support,” Wagner stated. “This December, we anticipate that more than 6,500 families will need food support, highlighting the importance of ongoing access to food resources, not just during the holidays.”
House of Friendship is calling it a “more than food” approach, hoping its efforts can help direct community members to vital services that can aid them throughout the course of the year.
While House of Friendship is looking to widen its scope towards potential longer-lasting support options by moving away from its Christmas Food program, she still pushed that other holiday programs remain important in the region.
Wagner mentioned that, on a larger scale, the move will have more lasting impacts on members of the community, benefiting them because it’s not just a one-off program.
“We dream of a Christmas where no family in our community must face the impossible choice between buying a toy for their child or putting food on the table,” Wagner said. “At the same time, with poverty on the rise, we want to connect people to emergency food programs available year-round through the Community Food Assistance Network.”
Wagner stressed that other programs and fundraisers, including the Kitchener Conestoga Rotary Turkey Drive fundraiser, will still be continuing as usual, saying they remain essential across Waterloo Region.
“We also know that people want to find the best ways to help neighbours in need, and we’re grateful for everyone’s continued support as we move forward with this new approach to better meet those needs.”
House of Friendship is encouraging members of the local community to head to the new Community Food Assistance Network, supported by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, to find their closest food assistance program.
