FnB Purpose

A part of the Food Not Bombs network - a movement for social justice that includes more than 170 groups across North America, Europe and Australia. For over two plus years, on every Saturday, free food is served to hungry people in front of Kitchener City Hall. The food is vegetarian, and is collected from local businesses that would otherwise throw it away. At these servings, the group tries to feed as many people as possible, build community, and raise awareness about war, poverty, the food industry, etc. Food is a right not a privilege and poverty is a form of violence not necessary or natural. We need community not control. We need homes not jails. We need Food Not Bombs!

Food Not Bombs is an international organization (click here for other FNBs) attempting to provide free hot vegetarian meals for those in need while drawing attention to the vast wasted investment of the state in military expenditures and war. First world states will spend billions upon billions of dollars on arms and warfare while they refuse to provide their population (and other people around the world who are in need) with proper nurishment.

Food Not Bombs has been active for many years here at WPIRG and has done several terms of providing free meals in downtown Kitchener. It has been the policy of the group to redistribute food that would otherwise be wasted to those who need it most. Food is a right, not a priviledge. More recently, Food Not Bombs has been serving free meals every Saturday afternoon in front of Kitchener City Hall.

Public Statement (September 1999)

This statement has been produced by K-W Food Not Bombs. It is intended to inform members of our community about Food Not Bombs - who we are, what we do, and why we are doing it. The statement is necessary because the activities of Food Not Bombs serving free food to hungry people in front of Kitchener City Hall - has created considerable controversy and generated some opposition. We have been asked by city security, Waterloo Regional Police, City Councillors and downtown businesses to leave our present location. We have decided to stay and here is why:

Goals of K-W Food Not Bombs

A central goal of Food Not Bombs is to feed people, however we intend to do more than act as a service group, and many of our goals relate to achieving social justice.

1. Through action and education we wish to inform the public about:

2. Demonstrate grassroots solutions to the global problem of hunger and inadequate food distribution

3. Contribute to the movement for social justice

4. Create an environment (inside and outside our group) where diversity is valued and encouraged

5. Create positive ties between people in the K-W community, the businesses that support us, and other social justice groups.

6. Spread a message of non-violence

And of course,

7. Feed people

8. Have fun