Strong Fort Erie Neighbourhoods2026-04-02T11:01:09-04:00

When people live in a strong and healthy neighbourhood, barriers are lowered, and people are freer to participate in, and contribute to, the community.

Ultimately this benefits the community as a whole.

Strong Fort Erie Neighbourhoods (SFEN) stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, deeply rooted in a call to service inspired by the transformative legacy of the pre-COVID Feeding Fort Erie faith communities food outreach model. SFEN has amplified this impact, but has also forged a dynamic coalition of local, Regional and Government organizations that identify as being able to support those facing additional challenges associated with living with low income, a disability, aging, or being a newcomer.

Mission Statement:
Support, Food, Essentials, Navigation

SFEN is celebrated as a powerful community-driven catalyst for change. Committed to building a healthier, more vibrant Greater Fort Erie, SFEN understands the power that collaboration at a grassroots level can have to support one neighbour at a time for the purposes of breaking the cycle of poverty. Join this mission serving hundreds of our neighbours from 310 Central Ave – St. Michael’s Parish Hall. Together, stronger!

CORPORATE CHARITABLE OBJECTS

  1. To relieve poverty by providing meals and supplying hygiene products and other necessities to individuals suffering from poverty in the Fort Erie area
  2. To relieve conditions attributable to being aged by providing advocacy services to aged persons who have difficulty performing everyday tasks; and
  3. To relieve conditions attributable to being aged by providing social and recreational activities to facilitate community engagement to aged persons who are experiencing social isolation and loneliness.

What are our neighbours saying?

I love Wednesdays because volunteering builds my spirits and gives me a purpose.

Beth

People here are caring, generous and make you feel like you matter.

Kayla

We know you are here to help me as I struggle with food security – access to your meals, and emergency food  helps me to have money to be able to pay my rent.

Madison

Thank you for what you do for people like me.

D.

Living in my car as a senior was not an option for you and now because of you I  have more stable housing and necessary living needs.

Gary

Thank you for helping me with all the paperwork that will change my life.

Tim

Everyone in here is “chill”- you have built a welcoming, safe space no matter what anyone’s story is.

Cameron

I’m happy to share that I’ve found a job and recently moved. Thank you for supporting me when I needed it most. As someone new to Canada, your help made a real difference in my life. I’m truly grateful for everything you do.

A. N.
Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church

Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church is our major donor – thank you for offering your hall for our outreach programs. Check them out at www.stmichaelfe.com

Service Canada in Your Community

Service Canada will be at 310 Central Ave Hall on designated Wednesdays to help you apply for the programs and services listed below.

If you or a neighbour need help with:
– Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
– Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
– Old Age Security (OAS)
– Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
– Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Drop by anytime during the scheduled hours for support!

NEED HELP? WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS ACCESS
(Toll Free) 1‑866‑550‑5205

ASSAULTED WOMEN’S HELPLINE
Mobile calls to: #SAFE (#7233)
(Toll Free) 1‑866‑863‑0511

DISTRESS CENTRE
For depression, distress and crisis.
24‑hour help line: 905‑688‑3711
Fort Erie: 905‑382‑0689

CRIME STOPPERS
(Toll Free) 1‑800‑222‑8477 (TIPS)
niagaratips.com
Text 274637 (CRIMES), keyword: Niagara, then your tip

GAMBLER’S ANONYMOUS
905‑351‑1616

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA)
Niagara North and South
905‑682‑2140

KIDS HELP PHONE
Service for youth
• 416‑586‑5437
• 1‑800‑668‑6868 (Crisis Line)
kidshelpphone.ca

IMPACT 2025

20,000+
volunteer hours

10,650
hot meals

22,176
kids lunches

1700+
personal hygiene bags

550+
community connections

SUPPORT

PARTNERSHIPS

  • Key partners in hall Ontario Works, Service Canada and Seniors
  • Connecting with 25+ other agencies

VOLUNTEER HOURS

  • 20,000+ hours @ $ 32 hr*
    *(Volunteer Canada)
    Value of People Power = $ 640,000

UNDER DEVELOPMENT

  • FORT CARES – Community Support Service Model – Getting the right resource to the right person at the right time.

ESSENTIALS

PERSONAL HYGIENE BAGS

  • 1700+ annually (150 each month)
    More than 7000 items

ESSENTIAL LIVING NEEDS

  • Seasonal clothing, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, blankets, housewares, and furniture.

NAVIGATION

COMMUNITY CONNECTS

  • More than 550 person-centred conversations
  • Hundreds of phone calls to outside agencies
  • Help filling out online forms
  • Connecting to websites of various local, regional, provincial, and federal agencies
Kids Lunches

FOOD

MEALS

  • 10,650 up 21% since last year
    * Thanks to the Italo Canadian Club for sponsoring the 1st Wednesday Meal. Now we serve every Wednesday. Thanks to Fort Erie Lions for cooking the 5th Wednesday Meal.

STREET OUTREACH

  • 700 meals delivered to unsheltered, 5 – 10 individuals weekly

EMERGENCY PANTRY MARKET

  • 500 neighbour visits
  • 5000 lbs fresh produce served

KIDS LUNCHES

  • 22,176 distributed this school year
  • 152 lunches each day
  • 3 days a week – 3 schools

Thanks to COMMUNITY CREW for paying for the food.

FOOD BANK DATA

Food bank visits in Canada have DOUBLED in six years.

Nearly 2.2M visits to Canada’s food banks in March 2025, the highest number in history.

More than 1 in 4 people in Canada now live in FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS.

With approximately 37,000 people living in FORT ERIE, 9250 are living with FOOD INSECURITY.

25% of households who rely on food banks are two parent families.

19% of people relying on FOOD BANKS are EMPLOYED. An all time high.

Food Bank Data

*Taken from/foodbankscanada.ca

Strategic Plan

2025 – 2027

1. Food and Product Distribution Programs

  • Provide a WEEKLY WEDNESDAY community meal
  • Provide at least one sit-down meal annually
  • Increase access to fresh produce
  • Offer an as-needed emergency food pantry
  • Continue to provide a Morning Mingle station -Bagels/treats with Coffee/tea
  • Provide essential living needs as is possible
  • Sustain and further develop a street outreach response for those living unsheltered
  • Explore a model to support a “warming ” station
  • Continue to distribute personal hygiene products.

2. Community Connection Supports

  • Develop “Neighbour Response Team plan”, through a triage model identifying themost immediate next step support .
  • Engage with and increase the number of service providers who come into our community hub.
  • Remain a lead and active voice in community conversations focusing on food security, solutions to support the unsheltered, and better coordination between service providers in Fort Erie
  • Support our senior neighbours through engagement with “ Seniors Stepping Out” events.
  • Increase opportunities for more social engagement to help lower the barriers associated with isolation and loneliness

3. Human Resources

  • Develop job descriptions for possible future lead contract positions:
  • Community Meals,
  • Cafe/Warming Station,
  • Community Connections

4. Fund and Resource Development

  • Align donors/grants/ resources to our programs.
  • Continue to increase collaborative support partnerships
  • Develop wedsite to help match giving hearts to specific programs

5. Communication

  • Expand our presence in the community.
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