Downtown Hamilton church provides free Easter meals, care packs to those in need

A community church in downtown Hamilton teamed up with local organizations to provide meals to those in need for Easter Monday.

People could be seen leaving the back of the Restoration House church on Vine Street, near Park Street North, with a hot meal and a green bag full of essential items.

“We have bread here and a full bag of groceries,” said Eniola, someone who appreciated what the church was able to provide. “We have crispies, we have toothpaste, we have oats, tissues, drinks we have sweets, I mean it’s a whole lot!”

With the high cost of living and groceries, Eniola says this bag of essentials, which the church calls care packs or packages, will help her save money for the next few weeks.

“These are basic needs that we use every day in our everyday life, so this will take off the cost for the week or for the next two weeks,” said Eniola.

The initiative called “Meals on Us” is one of three outreach programs the church holds annually.

“People are – quote and unquote – struggling financially with family needs and all that,” said Hosea Patrick, a volunteer with the church. “And as a way of giving back to the community, the church thought it’s necessary to put in the efforts in which we can.”

Esther Dada is one of the event’s organizers.

She says this year, they are giving away 200 hot meals that includes turkey and mashed potatoes, and 375 care packages, an increase from previous years.

“We’ve definitely seen an increased number,” said Dada. “So there is a greater need that is kind of coming out. We have vulnerable populations, we have new families, immigrant families that have maybe moved to Hamilton recently.”

The church says what is different about this year’s event, is their collaboration with two Hamilton organizations that they plan on delivering vans filled with care packages to.

“So this year, we collaborated with the YWCA,” said Oyinkan Kumapayi, a volunteer with the church. “We’re taken to them one 120 packed meals and our care bags as well for the women in the shelter.

“And so this year, we’re also going to take some to the Salvation Army as well, just to the vulnerable, the most vulnerable people in the community,” said Kumapayi.

Meals were also handed out at Hamilton’s Bayfront later in the afternoon.

WATCH MORE: National Service Dogs hosts charity Easter egg hunt in Hamilton