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Albion Library Community Food Space in Photos
Albion is our smallest Community Food Space—but it still has a big impact in the Rexdale community!
During the pandemic in 2020, many food banks shut down to maintain public-health protocols. Toronto Public Library (TPL) stepped up to ensure people could still get food support by setting up outdoor food banks across 9 TPL locations.
North York Harvest Food Bank worked with TPL to open a distribution site in the parking lot of Albion Public Library. The pandemic restrictions eased, but the need in the community soared as the affordability crisis worsened.
Today, we continue to partner with TPL to run our Albion food space out of two shipping containers, serving 2,400 client visits every month.
Despite its size, Albion is an important hub of support and community connection.
Our Community
We hold two community food programs every week, serving individuals and families in the Rexdale area.
Our Albion food space serves a large number of seniors, newcomers, and single-parent families.
- 31% of clients are children and youth
- 49% of clients are from 1-2 person households
- In the past 6 months, 25% of clients have been new
Meet Chashma!
Chashma is the new Food Space Manager of Albion, but she’s been working with North York Harvest since 2023, when she started as a volunteer.
“Something I’m happy to see us do as an organization is implement our own clients as ambassadors for our Albion Food Space to support the community engagement work we do,” she says. “I think a key part in our mission, and what we are fighting for, can only be pushed forward by the voices of our own clients and community members.
“I am happy to learn how important this influence is at North York Harvest, and happy to be a part of our mission.”
Community Partnerships
FoodieFest
Every June North York Harvest participates in Rexdale Community Health Centre’s Foodie Fest, which draws hundreds to the Albion Library for live entertainment, information on community resources, and, of course, food.
We purchase fresh produce through our social enterprise FoodReach and distribute it to our community, which has become a huge hit!
From You to Them
Clothing is a big need among our community members, but taking transit to a clothing bank can be a barrier for clients. This year we’re grateful to partner with From You to Them – a mobile clothing bank that comes to Albion once a month.
The Career Foundation
The Career Foundation joins us in the summer to help reduce barriers to employment in our community. Every week, they’re onsite to provide information on free workshops, resources, and employment opportunities.
Summer Green Market
For the first time this year, we launched a green market at Albion to make healthy food more affordable for everyone!
Similar to the green markets at our Bathurst-Finch and Lawrence Heights food spaces, we order fresh produce from FoodReach and then sell it at cost to our community.
Thanks to a generous grant from Toronto Public Library, we were able to lower food costs even further.
On average, our Albion community paid 40% less for fruits and veggies than they would at the grocery store!
Meet Leila!
Leila (left) is a placement student from Northern College in Timmins, and she’s been volunteering with us since the beginning of September.
“Working at North York Harvest Food Bank has been nothing short of incredible, I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” she says.
“It’s been fulfilling, challenging, it’s been enlightening … food insecurity does not discriminate, that’s something that has been a huge eye opener for me since I started working here – it could impact any one of us.”
Thank you for joining us at Albion Library Community Food Space!
And thank you to our donors, community partners, 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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