If you need a hot breakfast, the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre has you covered.

The agency provides its free Breakfast of Champions take-out meal program in Belleville on the first and third Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

Breakfasts are first come first served and are available at 161 Bridge Street West in Belleville.

There is also a dinner take-out provided in Trenton from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of every month at 69 Catherine Street.

With the help of volunteers, Jennifer Allan, a Registered Dietitian runs the program that serves up breakfast with a smile twice a month to clients and community members.

"When people come they are very appreciative," Allan explained.  "They say things like 'oh my goodness.  Thank you so much.  This is great.'"

The breakfast is funded through the health center's general program funding and they may look for donations in the future.

"I try to keep it fresh and different each week," Allan stated. 

There have been pancakes, sausage, breakfast sandwiches, hashbrowns and even a  chick-pea hash for breakfast.

The program began as a dine-in breakfast service and had been operating for nearly a year before shutting down due to the pandemic.  It started up again in Oct.  

Allan said through their work with clients and community members the need for more food security became apparent.

"We decided that this was a way that we could provide some of that support to our clients," she explained.  "Food insecurity is a huge issue.  I don't think that we are solving it but we are trying to provide some support as much as possible."

It feels really good to be a part of that, she added.

"To hear the positivity that comes from clients and community members about how it impacts their day even if they are just walking by and one of my volunteers yells out the door 'hey do you want breakfast?' she explained.  "They are very shocked, surprised and grateful.  It is very heartwarming."

Before the pandemic, there was more of a social aspect to the program where people could come sit, enjoy their meal, have coffee together and chat, she explained.  On average they would serve 25 people for breakfast and now there are between 8 to 15 people.  They have to stick to take-out but they are hoping to get back to the social event someday soon, she added.

Both Belleville and Trenton programs will continue into 2022.