Client Services

Welcome to Greener Village, your community food centre dedicated to providing essential services and support to those in need. We are here to help you access nutritious food and quality clothing, learn valuable skills, and connect with the resources you need to thrive.

What We Offer

Food Assistance

Nutritional Education

Clothing & Housewares

Community Gardens

Support Services

Food Assistance

At Greener Village, we provide a variety of food assistance options to ensure that you and your family have access to nutritious meals. Our food bank offers fresh produce, canned goods, dairy and meat products, and more, all available to our clients on a monthly basis.

Our grocery boxes can be customized for special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, heart healthy, diabetic, and Halal options.

Food Assistance

Nutritious Meals for Every Table

Service Description

Emergency food assistance includes a grocery box filled with a variety of items including:

  • Canned goods
  • Milk, eggs
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Bread
  • Meat
  • Other optional items as available

How to Access

Food assistance hours:

  • Monday to Thursday
    9:00 am – 3:00 pm
    We are closed for lunch from 12:00-12:30 pm
  • Bring your ID to register on your first visit
  • If you require delivery, you must contact us by phone each month to register for the delivery service

Additional Information

  • Emergency food assistance is available once per calendar month
  • Grocery boxes are designed to provide three to four days of emergency food
  • We have special items available upon request, including dog/cat food and baby items, when available

Nutritional Education

Greener Village is committed to helping our clients make healthier food choices through our nutritional education programs. We offer client-centred workshops in the Learning Kitchen to help with meal planning, cooking skills, and healthy eating habits from the food provided in our grocery boxes.

Become more confident in the kitchen and learn how to make the most of your food budget and avoid wasted food.

Nutritional Education

Empowering Healthy Choices

Service Description

We offer:

  • Workshops on meal planning, cooking skills, and healthy eating habits
  • Collective Kitchens classes where clients cook recipes together and take home portions to enjoy
  • Facebook Live videos every Wednesday teaching simple, budget-friendly recipes

How to Access

  • Check our events calendar on Eventbrite to register for upcoming nutritional education sessions
  • All Learning Kitchen workshops are free for clients – just contact us to obtain your free ticket
  • Collective Kitchens classes offer additional food assistance at no cost. These classes are for clients only. Register on Eventbrite

Additional Information

Topics covered include:

  • Budgeting for groceries
  • Reading nutrition labels
  • Preparing balanced meals
  • Materials and recipes are provided in each session

If you have registered but cannot make the class, you must inform us 24 hours in advance or as soon as possible. Failure to do so could result in loss of privileges to attend free classes.

Clothing and Housewares

Greener Village provides more than just food. Our Unique Boutique ensures that you and your family have access to essential items that support your daily living needs. Find gently used clothing and essential household items, including seasonal attire, work clothes, and accessories.

We issue free client cards to food bank clients, which supports one of our organization’s pillars of providing emergency food and clothing to those in need. These client cards can be used for necessities as well as a few frills, bringing a little joy and dignity to those who need it most.

Clothing and Housewares

Quality Essentials for Your Family

Service Description

The Unique Boutique offers:

  • Gently used clothing for the entire family
  • Seasonal attire, work clothes, and accessories
  • Housewares, home decor and essential household items
  • Entertainment (CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, books, toys, games)
  • Baby and children’s clothing and accessories
  • Shoes
  • Jewellery

How to Access

The Unique Boutique is open to the public:

  • Monday to Friday
    9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Saturday
    9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Client cards can be obtained from our Client Services Manager through our Food Assistance service.

  • You can request a client card once per calendar month
  • Client cards expire at the end of the month they are issued
  • Client cards may only be picked up by the person they are issued to without express permission from the client given to the Client Services Manager

Additional Information

  • We accept donations of gently used clothing and household items during operating hours only
  • Please use the pink donation drop bins next to the Unique Boutique entrance
  • Never leave items unattended outside
  • All proceeds from paid purchases in the Unique Boutique directly support our food assistance program
  • Client cards have no cash value and no change is given for purchases made with client cards

Community Gardens

Our community gardens offer a unique opportunity for clients to grow their own fresh produce. This initiative promotes self-sufficiency and provides a rewarding way to supplement your diet with homegrown vegetables.

Join our community gardening program to cultivate your own raised plot, equipped with tools, seeds, and expert guidance. Whether you’re a novice or experienced gardener, our gardens provide a supportive environment to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Community Gardens

Grow Your Own Fresh Produce

Service Description

Community garden plot rentals include:

  • Gardening tools
  • Water access
  • Soil, compost and fertilizer
  • Seeds (when available)
  • Expert guidance

Garden plots are available for use from the second Monday in May to the end of the third week in October.

Volunteering in our greenhouses is a great way to gain experience and valuable skills. Apply here.

How to Access

Sign up for a garden plot by calling us or visit our admin office at the beginning of the season.

  • Registrations begin in March
  • Access to plot daily until 8 pm, 7 days a week
  • Gardening workshops are also available to help you learn best practices and connect with fellow gardeners

Additional Information

  • Garden plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis
  • You must visit your plot at least once a week to weed, water, and keep it tidy
  • Plants not permitted:
    • Potatoes
    • Large vining tomatoes
    • Corn
    • Mint
    • Squash
    • Perennials

Support Services

Greener Village is dedicated to supporting families through a variety of programs that address their unique needs. From tax support to school supplies and holiday gifts, we aim to provide comprehensive care to enhance your family’s well-being.

We understand that every family has unique challenges, and our goal is to offer tailored assistance that makes a real difference in your daily life. Our programs are designed to provide not just immediate relief, but also to foster long-term stability and growth, leading to greater self-sufficiency.

Support Services

Comprehensive Care for Families

Tax Support

Service Description

How to Access

  • Schedule an appointment during tax season by calling our office
  • Bring your tax documents and identification to your appointment
  • Tax appointments begin sometime in February

Additional Information

  • Please ensure all forms are complete. Missing information can cause delays in completing your returns
  • Tax returns are filed by a CVITP volunteer trained in tax returns

School Supplies

Service Description

  • Essential school supplies for children in grades K-12
  • Clients will receive a backpack for each child filled with age-appropriate school supplies, including:
    • Backpack
    • Lunch bag
    • Pencil case
    • Water bottle
    • Facial tissues
    • Large Ziplock bags

How to Access

  • Request a backpack for your child when you pick up your monthly grocery box
  • Backpacks filled with supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last
  • You must be a registered client to access this program

Additional Information

  • Greener Village cannot guarantee that special requests will be fulfilled

Christmas Program

Service Description

  • Angel Tree program provides Christmas gifts for your children, sponsored by community members
  • Children are registered to a paper angel hanging on the Christmas Tree at Regent Mall
  • Community members can sponsor an angel and purchase the requested gifts
  • Special Christmas hampers provide a turkey and all the fixins for a holiday dinner

How to Access

  • Register online here or visit our admin office
  • Submit registration information for each child
  • Sponsors will be matched to fulfill these wishes
  • Gift distribution occurs in December
  • You must be a registered client to access this program
  • Holiday dinner hampers can be requested through this application process

Additional Information

  • Every child receives gifts suited to their age and interests
  • Greener Village cannot guarantee that special requests will be fulfilled

Frequently Asked Questions

Greener Village services are available to all residents in need, as long as you have not visited any other food bank during that month.

None of our services have income requirements, but we do collect demographic data, such as age, employment status, family makeup, and income information.

All services provided by Greener Village are free of charge to our clients, except community garden plots which are offered at a reduced rate.

Yes, please bring a valid ID with proof of address when visiting Greener Village for the first time. Additional information may be requested from our office by follow-up.

  • Food Assistance: Mon-Thurs 9am-3pm (closed from 12:00-12:30 for lunch)
  • Admin Office: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
  • Unique Boutique: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm

No appointment is necessary. You can visit during our operating hours.

Clients can visit the food bank for a grocery box once a month. Additional food support may be available through our Learning Kitchen programs, such as Collective Kitchens.

If you wish to transfer from another Food Bank to Greener Village, contact the service provider you are currently registered with and request they email us at chris@greenervillage.ca.

We offer a variety of food items including fresh produce, canned goods, dairy products, and more. Grocery boxes include staple pantry items, including up to 60% fresh and frozen foods.

We can provide grocery boxes that are diabetic friendly, gluten-free, Halal or vegetarian upon request.  On occasion, we can provide dairy-free milk (subject to availability).

Our grocery boxes are packed ahead of time and unfortunately we cannot make substitutions. We provide a cart at the pickup area where you can leave behind unwanted items, and help yourself to items others have left behind.

You can call us at (506) 459-7461 to give permission for a friend or family member to pick up your grocery box on your behalf.

The grocery box is designed to provide 3-4 days of emergency food assistance.  It is not meant to provide a full week’s or month’s worth of groceries.

We offer gently used clothing, seasonal attire, work clothes, accessories, essential household items, kitchenwares, small appliances, dinnerware and silverware, home decor, entertainment (CDs, DVDs, movies, books, toys, games), and more.

You can visit during our open hours. There is no limit to how often you can access the boutique; however, you are eligible for one client card per month per family. A client card can be exchanged for up to $20 worth of goods.

Sign up for a garden plot at our admin office or contact us by phone. Plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

We provide a prepared bed including soil, compost and fertilizer, tools, seeds, access to water, and expert advice to help you get started. Volunteering in the greenhouses is a great way to gain experience. Gardening workshops are also available to build your gardening skills.

You will need to pick up and fill out a tax package from us before making an appointment. Please bring your tax documents and identification to your appointment.

Registration is not required to receive school supplies. Backpacks can be picked up with your monthly grocery box during the school supplies program period on request, while supplies last. Supplies are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registered food bank clients can submit their children’s information to get registered. Gift wishes are written onto paper angels and hung from the Angel Tree at Regent Mall. Donors select angels from the Angel Tree to fulfill these gifts, and gift distribution occurs in December.

Donations of food, gently used clothing and housewares, and financial support are greatly appreciated.

You can also donate your time as a volunteer in the food bank warehouse, gardens and greenhouses, Unique Boutique thrift store, or the Learning Kitchen. To volunteer, apply online here.

For general inquiries, you can contact us by phone at (506) 459-7461, email at info@greenervillage.ca, or visit our website at www.greenervillage.ca. Questions related to client services can be directed to our Client Services Manager, Chris Fougere, at chris@greenervillage.ca.