Food
Centre
The NAITSA Food Centre is here to help. We have a variety of resources including emergency food assistance and information for nutrition on a budget.
Food
Centre
The NAITSA Food Centre is here to help. We have a variety of resources including emergency food assistance and information for nutrition on a budget.
We are excited to announce our office is open! Hamper pickups have a 1 business day turnaround. Please wait for your confirmation email and your hamper will be ready at the NAITSA office, room O108.
Who is eligible
Since beginning in 2014, The NAITSA Food Centre has experienced significant growth, but even more so in the last year. In order to keep this vital service available and sustainable, we must limit our approved hampers to only our NAITSA members (credit students who are charged the NAITSA fee in their tuition).
How it works
• Click on “Request a Hamper” button above and log in to your “Ooks Life” account to fill out a hamper request.
• Each food hamper aims to provide 3 days’ worth of non-perishable food for emergency food security.
• You may apply twice per month; once during the first half and once during the second half.
• We will process your request as soon as possible and in less than one business day. • Hampers must be picked up within 24 hours of receiving your pick-up email. • Please bring: Your student ID, your phone to scan our QR code, and some bags to take your items in.”
For any questions please email foodcentre@nait.ca. Please see below for additional food security resources.
FAQ
How do I get a food hamper?
Submit the request form by clicking “Request A Hamper” above.You will need to create an Ookslife account to access the form.You will be asked questions about your enrollment as a NAIT Student, income, dietary preferences, and household information.We will review your request and either approve or deny your request either the same or next business day.You will receive a notification on Ookslife whether your hamper request was approved or denied, as well as an email. This notification will contain important pickup information, so please read through it in its entirety.If your hamper is approved, you will receive an invitation to the hamper pickup event on Ookslife. These invitations are completely confidential. No one will be able to see the attendees of these events except NAITSA Service Hub Staff.Come to the NAITSA office (O108) within one business day of approval to pick up your food hamper.You must bring your student ID, a box or bags big enough to fit your hamper items into, as well ID of any dependents you may have.We request that you pick up the hamper within 1 business day of approval. This is for two reasons. The NAITSA Food Centre needs to use our limited resources to help as many students as possible. If a hamper doesn’t get picked up for multiple days or weeks, the food inside isn’t being used to help other students. We also have limited storage space in our office.Scan the QR code in the NAITSA office so we can track your attendance to the hamper pickup event.Take the items in your food hamper home! You may request another food hamper in the next request period (the next 1st or 16th day of each month).
What kind of food is in the hampers?
NAITSA’s Food Centre is currently only equipped to provide non-perishable food to students. This includes products like peanut butter, canned products (inducing canned soups, vegetables, proteins and fruits), dried kinds of pasta and rice, and some snacks like granola bars and applesauce. We also provide limited hygiene items based on availability, for example, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, or razors.If you are in need of perishable food items, please contact the Edmonton Food Bank.
I have dietary restrictions, can I get a food hamper?
Yes! NAITSA’s Food Centre will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions like vegetarianism and allergies. However, we do have limited resources, so we may not be able to fully accommodate some restrictions such as gluten-free or halal.
How often can I receive a hamper?
You can receive two hampers per month. Each month has two periods, the beginning of the month (1st – 15th) and the end of the month (16th – 31st) You may only submit requests once per period. Once we approve your submission, we will also provide you the date you can request your next hamper.For example:If you submit a request on the 3rd of the month, your next opportunity to request a hamper will be the 16th.If you submit a request on the 31st of the month, your next opportunity to request a hamper will be the 1st of the following month (the day after your request).
When will I get my hamper?
We typically approve hampers on the same business day that it was requested. If you requested a hamper in the evening, we usually can have it ready for pickup the next business day. We request that you pick up the hamper within 24 hours of receiving approval, so please keep that in mind when you submit the request form.Please do not come to pick up your hamper before you’ve received approval.
Can I get a hamper for others in my family?
Yes, in the hamper request form, there will be a place for you to input household information. Here you can indicate how many dependents you have, and we can build your hamper accordingly. Dependents are family members that depend on you like a spouse or children. Siblings and roommates do not count as dependents, so we are unable to include additional items for them in your food hamper
I am an international student. Can I access the NAITSA Food Center? Will NAIT notify Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)?
The NAITSA Food Centre is a service available to all NAITSA members who require emergency food assistance. The service is confidential; NAITSA does not notify any third parties if you choose to access this service. Therefore, accessing the NAITSA Food Centre does not have any impact on your immigration status with NAIT or IRCC.
If you have any questions and concerns regarding accessing services in Canada as an international student and how they could impact your status, please feel free to submit any Immigration questions through NAIT.ca/help. You can also book an appointment with an advisor here: https://www.nait.ca/nait/life-at-nait/academic-support/advising
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Suggested Donations
- Canned Vegetables (e.g. Corn, Peas, Carrots, etc.)
- Canned Fruits (e.g. Peaches, Pineapple, Applesauce, etc)
- Powdered Milk
- Peanut Butter
- Rice Products (e.g. Uncle Ben’s Sidekicks)
- Additionally, NAITSA will gladly accept toiletries and hygiene products – razors, toothbrushes, travel size soaps/shampoos, etc.
Please Note: At this time, the Food Centre CANNOT accept perishable food items (produce, non powdered dairy,meat products). Click here to download a list of needed items.
Suggested Donations: Additional Information
- Pop-top cans are preferable to cans requiring a can opener, if possible
- Donations of items such as Chef Boyardee, etc. are wonderful, but they also are only useful for a single meal – items such as those on the above list, however, can be stretched out over meals if need be.
- Although we appreciate all donations, we would ask that donors pay attention to product expiration dates before donating to the NAITSA Food Centre.
Information on Best Before Dates
Keeping all that in mind, we here at the NAITSA Food Centre do encourage donors to pay attention to ‘Best Before’ dates on items donated, as we can make better use out of items well within their dates.
More information on the topic can be found at the following links:
NAITSA RESOURCES
NAITSA Food Centre Resource Guide on Meal Planning
FOOD RECIPES
Snack Attack – Recipes
Did someone say snacks?! Hard work should be rewarded by good food. Keep your friends close but your snacks closer. Tired of the same boring snacks? Try out these snacks, a NAITSA Food Center share, and they're simple as 1,2,3. PB & Jelly Bars Simple and...
Pasta Fagioli Italian Stew
Teeming with vegetables, legumes and pasta, this hearty soup is perfect for chilly nights. Great to make on a snowy day, tastes even better the next day. Designed with many non-perishable canned foods so including prep time this delish should be ready to enjoy in...
Weeknight One Pot Pasta Recipe
Our family favourite – comfort food at its finest. Italian sausage, cheese, tomatoes, pasta—and all in just one cooking pot? What’s not to like? This one-pot dinner brings together comforting, easy-to-find ingredients in an ultra-simple preparation to make a midweek...
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Edmonton Food Bank
The Edmonton Food Bank can provide you with a food hamper that includes perishable food items (produce, meat products, eggs, etc based on what they have).
Those in need can either call The Edmonton Food Bank at 780-425-4190 or you can contact NAITSA at 780-471-8855, email foodcentre@nait.ca or in our office O108, and we can provide a one-time referral for you.
The Edmonton Food Bank staff can provide you with a location closer to your home if you call 780-425-4190. You will need a valid photo ID and bags to carry the food when picking it up.
https://www.edmontonsfoodbank.com/need-help/
***Please note that if you request a one-time referral from us you are expected to pick it up at the Edmonton Food Bank in a timely manner.
Wecan Food Society
For more information, please visit WECAN FOOD SOCIETY website.
211 Edmonton
211 is an Edmonton-based referral phone line that connects people to social, government, and health services in their area. 211 can provide service beyond food needs and can specialize in referrals to your needs and area.
Flashfood
Flashfood offers great discounts on a variety of products that are nearing the expiration date. Flashfood is offered at multiple grocery stores.
Nutrition and Oral Health
Community Pantry
MAKE A DONATION
Thank you for considering to donate to the NAITSA Food Centre.
Since September 2014, the NAIT Students’ Association has been doing everything possible to provide emergency food assistance to students in need. We are very grateful for all the support and donations we have received throughout these years.
In 2020, with the NAIT community’s generous donations, the NAITSA Food Centre gave out 651 hampers to students in need. If you wish to contribute to the NAITSA Food Centre, you can purchase donations or meals through our website.
The NAITSA Food Centre will also gladly accept non-perishable donations. If you would like to donate in person, please drop it off at the NAITSA office.
Thank you kindly for your support, and know your contribution will not go unnoticed!
Testimonials
“The help received has been such a blessing. I am so glad that there is this resource to look to when in need. Thank you all for your efforts in helping individuals and families.”
“Very helpful! Especially when I first got here in Canada, I had a very tight budget but this really helped me get by. Thank you<3”
Let’s hear from you!
Submit a testimonial about your Food Centre experience here.