- Summer Orientation Programming
- QSuccess Peer Mentoring Program
- Fall Orientation
- First-Year Off-Campus Community Orientation
Upper-Year Undergrad
- Upper-Year Undergrad: How to Prep; What to Expect
- Upper-Year Peer Mentoring Program
- Student Clubs Directory
Graduate Students
- Here are some things you need to do and information to know as you prepare for your graduate studies
- Start your graduate journey with our grad orientation program for a smooth transition into the new academic year
International Students
- QUIC International Student Orientation
- NEWTS (New, Exchange, Worldly, Transfer Students) Orientation
- School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA) Resources
Food Access Resources
Expand All Collapse AllWondering or Worried About Food?
This section provides a list of free or inexpensive food access resources for students both on campus, and in the Kingston community.
Visit the links below for up-to-date information on where to get food, learn about food, purchase food with discounts, and much more!
If you are consistently finding it difficult to afford food, financial aid options can be explored with the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) - Financial Aid and Awards Office.
Food Access Resources on Campus
AMS Food Bank
Weekly access to fruits, vegetables, grain products, and proteins for students in need. Open to undergraduate, graduate and professional Queen's students.
Swipe it Forward Queen’s
Run by Hospitality Services and Student Affairs.
During the academic year, if you don’t have enough money for food, you may access up to 25 meals per semester on campus by being referred to the program. To get referred, you need to connect with a program partner.
If you currently have a meal plan, you have the option of donating one meal per day, up to five per semester, from the current week’s meals (past unused, or future weeks meals cannot be donated). Just let the cashier at the dining hall or retail outlet know that you want to “swipe it forward”!
More information is available on the Swipe It Forward Queen’s webpage.
PEACH Market
PEACH, the Providing Equal Access, Changing Hunger Market is a food-forward initiative operating on a sliding scale. Patrons can select the amount they pay for their food from a list of suggested prices. This operating model strives to uphold people’s dignity and autonomy by providing access to high-quality and nutritious food at a low cost.
With a fresh menu updated daily, PEACH Market welcomes you to stop by to grab a snack or a meal to fuel your day. We are excited to serve and support you during fall and winter terms.
You can find PEACH Market in the School of Medicine Building, Arch St. entrance.
Whole Bowls
Available for purchase year-round in the Mackintosh-Corry Hall MC2 cafeteria, and at the Stauffer Library Cafe and Goodes Cafe during the academic year. Anyone (students, staff, and faculty) can find a complete and warm meal option in MC2 (near the soups). Whole Bowls are made and delivered fresh daily. Check hours of operation for MC2.
Fresh Food Boxes and Mason Jar Meals - check websites for dates and times
Peer Health Educator volunteers put together $5 Fresh Food Boxes and FREE Mason Jar Meal kits for students to purchase and pick up throughout the year. Registration is required.
Good Times Diner
A local student-run service that provides a wide variety of freshly prepared meals to any individuals in the Queen’s community. Open through the fall and winter terms at Chalmers United Church (212 Barrie St, Kingston, ON K7L 2L8).
If you would like to volunteer, applications open in September. For more info, follow on Instagram @queensgtd or like on Facebook at ASUS Good Times Diner. Please email queensgoodtimes@asus.queensu.ca with any questions.
Good Food Box
Accessed through the AMS Food Bank. This program provides students with monthly access to fresh produce. Community partners provide 20 boxes free of charge to Queen's students; further boxes may be purchased through their discounted pricing program. See the AMS Food Bank website for registration and ordering details.
Events, Education, Workshops, & Outreach
BeWell Blog
Recipes, articles, and more!
Healthy Cooking Sessions – check website for dates and times
Join Peer Health Educator volunteers for a $10 interactive cooking session to learn how to prepare a healthy and budget-friendly 3-course meal, while connecting with other students.
Queen’s Soul Food
Student run organization which delivers the unconsumed food from Queen’s University campus cafeterias to local Kingston shelters every night. The organization was founded in 2007 and has now expanded to bring the unused food from both Leonard Hall and Ban Righ Hall cafeterias to four local shelters as well as the Kingston Street Truck Mission in the winter.
Food that is not collected by Soul Food is also shared with Loving Spoonful Kingston to support their food reclamation program. These food items are distributed to a variety of agencies within the community, providing quality and fresh meals for those who are in need.
Off-Campus – Food Access Resources in Kingston
Partners in Mission Food Bank
Food hampers with several days worth of groceries; baby supplies and pet food may also be available
No referrals are necessary – clients are required to come in or call to arrange a time for an intake interview.
Martha’s Table
A caring place where people in need can have a nutritious meal and find the social support of a community of friends and volunteers.
Grocery Store Discounts for Students
Student discounts are available with the presentation of a valid Queen’s University student card at many grocery stores in Kingston:
- Metro, 310 Barrie St - 10% discounts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
- Loblaws, 1100 Princess Street - 10% back in PC Optimum points every day with a valid PC Optimum card
- Food Basics, 33 Barrack St. - 10% discount on Tuesdays
- Bulk Barn, 145 Princess St., 1201 Division St., and 830 Norwest Rd. - 10% discount on Wednesdays
Other Resources
Healthy Eating on a Budget - Tips by Canada’s Food Guide - Healthy eating doesn’t have to cost more. You can choose many different healthy foods when eating on a budget.
Good and Cheap PDF Recipe Book (PDF, 7.7 MB) – by Leanne Brown - Kitchen skill, not budget, is the key to great food. This cookbook is a celebration of the many delicious meals available to those on even the most strict of budgets.
Food Insecurity and Mental Health - A third to one half of students being classified as food insecure globally. This info sheet outlines some of the impacts of food insecurity on mental health, as well as some examples of food security programs that have been developed on campuses across the country.
