Welcome to Lawrence Heights

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Lawrence Heights in Photos

Did you know North York Harvest Food Bank’s very first Community Food Space was in Lawrence Heights?

Finding a long-term permanent space has been challenging, but for the past three years, our Lawrence Heights Community Food Space has been located within the Lawrence Heights Community Centre — nestled in the small dance studio.

We’ve been here for a few years, but our history in Lawrence Heights goes back much further.

A man stands in the middle of a busy North York Harvest Food Bank warehouse with his arms outstretched.

Our History in Lawrence Heights

The neighbourhood of Lawrence Heights was planned in the 1950s as the first large-scale public housing project located outside of the former City of Toronto boundaries. It’s spread across 100 acres in an area north of Lawrence Avenue between Bathurst and Dufferin.

In 2002 North York Harvest moved into Bathurst Heights Secondary School at 640 Lawrence Ave. West, where we launched the Community ActionA door with the North York Harvest Food Bank logo and text that reads "Community Action Resource Centre" Resource Centre (CAR-C): An in-house emergency food program providing groceries to nearly 6,000 Lawrence Heights residents each year.

In 2005, the City of Toronto identified Lawrence Heights as one of 13 ‘priority neighbourhoods’ that required more investment to address high levels of poverty, lack of affordable housing and social infrastructure including libraries and schools, and community programs like employment services and food banks.

CAR-C evolved to meet the needs of the community by supporting clients with referrals to English programs, settlement services, healthcare, and tenants rights organizations.

While North York Harvest moved to 116 Industry in 2015, we continued operating a food space to serve the Lawrence Heights community.

Our Lawrence Heights Community

A person works in front of a mirror, loading food onto a table at the North York Harvest Food Bank.

At Lawrence Heights we serve a diverse and vibrant community, supporting 1500+ clients every month.

  • Two community food programs run every week
  • Nearly 30% of clients are 55+
  • 1 in 4 are children and youth

The Food Space operates as a pop-up; every day before service, volunteers set up tables and shelves, configure the registration  area, and stock the food space with non-perishable and fresh foods.

Since 2018 we have also offered home delivery to a very small number of eligible clients who are unable to make it to the food bank.

Meet Ayten!

A woman with long brown hair and glasses wearing a red North York Harvest Food Bank shirt smiles.

Meet Ayten, the Food Space Manager at Lawrence Heights!

How long have you worked at North York Harvest Food Bank?
“I began my work with North York Harvest Food Bank in 2018 through a partnership with the Flemingdon Health Centre at the Oriole Community Food Space, where I focused on community outreach. I officially joined North York Harvest in 2020, and for the past two years I’ve been working as the manager at the Lawrence Heights site.”

What do you like about working at North York Harvest?
“I enjoy working with a team that cares about making a difference.

Working at the food bank isn’t just about distributing food to clients. I’ve seen that anyone can have a hard time getting enough food, for a little while or a long time. Parents especially want to make sure their babies have what they need; providing help with diapers and formula is very important when things are difficult.”

Green Markets

A sign for the Lawrence Heights Green Market listing prices for various fruits and vegetables.

In the summer, we operate weekly green markets to provide fresh and affordable produce to our clients. 

North York Harvest Food Bank purchases produce from our social enterprise, FoodReach, and sells it at cost to community members.

FoodReach uses bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower prices with suppliers, which we can then pass on to our community.

The same quality produce you’d find at a grocery store, but without the high mark-up – because everyone should have access to healthy food!

Meet Catalina!

Two people wearing red North York Harvest Food Bank aprons stand at an outdoor market in front of trays of produce.

Catalina (right) started working at North York Harvest in 2023 as a placement student. She has since worked as both relief staff and a Community Food Space Trainee as part of the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Catalina has helped out across all of our food spaces, but during the summer she is supporting the green market at Lawrence Heights!

What’s your favourite part of working at North York Harvest?
Genuinely some of the loveliest people I’ve ever worked with! Across the different sites, all of the volunteers do such great work making food service smooth and welcoming. I also feel that this organization is led with a real passion for progress that I see reflected in the work we do.”

What’s something everyone should know about NYHFB?
“We want to help you find what you need, be it food or connection to resources or help finding a network of support. There’s a lot of us working here that have been in your shoes and want to make a welcoming, respectful experience for you.”

Advocacy

A woman holding a yellow clipboard with a red North York Harvest Food Bank sticker on it stands outside.

Across each of our Community Food Spaces, you’ll find our Community Engagement team onsite working with clients to ensure their voices are heard through petitions, rallies, and more. They also provide platforms for people to share their lived experience and join our Community Advocacy Group to help shape North York Harvest Food Bank’s advocacy strategy.

Our Community Engagement Ambassador Fe was at Lawrence Heights recently to collect  signatures for the No One Left Behind petition, which demands immediate action from all levels of government to protect community members from the impact of tariffs through a rent freeze, a moratorium on evictions, and by providing affordable food prices.

A table with literature and a petition sign-up for the North York Harvest Food Bank.

Thank you for joining us at Lawrence Heights!

Four people wearing North York Harvest Food Bank aprons stand together for a group picture.

And thank you to our donors, staff, and volunteers who help make this critical work possible every day.

Together we are working toward our vision of a community where all members are able to meet their food needs.


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