Comments Off on Take a Virtual Tour of our new Community Food Hub!
With the arrival of spring, we’re seeing rain, renewal, and growth!
All of those are things happening here at North York Harvest Food Bank too — yes, even the rain. As we continue to grapple with leaky infrastructure and insufficient space to support the growing needs of our community, we’re beyond excited to share an update on our new home.
Construction contracts have officially been signed for our new Community Food Hub, opening later this year!
Our new home will help North York Harvest Food Bank realize the most transformational chapter in our history. The 30,000 sq. ft. space will be 10x larger, which will allow us to distribute more fresh food, train more people for full-time employment, and support even more non-profits with access to affordable food.
We’re looking forward to opening our doors and celebrating this milestone with you in just a few months!
In the meantime, we invite you to take a virtual tour of our new home. Renderings of both our warehouse and office space will guide you from the reception area, sort room, fresh food kitchen, and more.
Thank you for your partnership in reimagining what a food bank can be, and redefining how we fight food insecurity in Toronto.
Comments Off on North York Harvest expands workforce training to fuel pathways to employment in Toronto
We’re proud to announce Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) as the lead Workforce Training Partner for our Leadership in Logistics program, an innovative workforce development initiative that connects individuals to meaningful employment and long-term stability.
This partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as North York Harvest Food Bank prepares to open our new Community Food Hub, a 30,000+ square-foot distribution centre designed to expand access to fresh food while investing in long-term solutions to food insecurity.
Leadership in Logistics is a paid, four-week hands-on training program that equips participants with in-demand skills in warehousing, distribution, and supply chain operations. Through a combination of technical training, certifications, and wraparound support, the program is designed to create real pathways to employment, helping individuals move beyond crisis and toward stability.
Hear from a recent LIL grad, Olusola, about how the program gave him renewed energy and hope for his life in Canada with his family.
With the opening of the Community Food Hub, the program will expand – training more participants, increasing job placements, and strengthening connections to employers across the sector. This growth will not only support individuals, but also help build a stronger workforce pipeline and keep economic opportunity rooted within the community.
“Food security is about more than food, it’s about income, opportunity, and access,” said Ryan Noble, Executive Director at North York Harvest Food Bank. “Leadership in Logistics is one of the ways we’re working to address the root cause of food bank usage by connecting people to meaningful, full-time work. With the support of Canadian Tire Corporation, we can expand this program and reach more people at a time when it’s needed most.”
As lead Workforce Training Partner, Canadian Tire Corporation will play a key role in supporting program delivery and creating employment pathways for participants. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building stronger communities by investing in people.
“At Canadian Tire Corporation, our purpose is to help make life in Canada better – and that means investing in people and the communities they call home,” said Caitlin Patterson, Manager, ESG Strategy and Community Impact at Canadian Tire Corporation. “We’re proud to support North York Harvest Food Bank’s Leadership in Logistics program and help connect people to skills, training and meaningful job opportunities.”
The Community Food Hub will serve as both a food distribution centre and a space for innovation, bringing together food access, workforce development, and social enterprise under one roof. By expanding programs like Leadership in Logistics, North York Harvest Food Bank is not only addressing the symptoms of food insecurity, but helping to build long-term economic resilience and community wealth.
This partnership underscores a growing recognition that solving hunger requires more than just food, it requires long-term solutions that create opportunity, build local capacity, and keep resources circulating within the community we serve.
Comments Off on Hannah’s Story: Why food banks are a lifeline during illness
Recently, we received a letter from a client named Hannah from our Lawrence Heights Community Food Space. Hannah is 52, she lives alone, and due to injuries and health issues, she relies on ODSP for income support.
She asked if we would share her story with you, because she wanted the people who support North York Harvest Food Bank to understand what their kindness truly means to someone going through life’s hardest moments.
“My name is Hannah, and I want to share a story that is close to my heart. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the light you have brought into my life during its darkest chapters. Life has tested me in ways I never imagined. After losing my husband and battling cancer myself, I found myself physically and financially exhausted. Later, a severe car accident and multiple surgeries—including my recent knee replacement—made it impossible for me to work—that I first encountered the food bank.
At first, I’ll admit, I felt a sense of shame. It wasn’t easy to reach out and ask for help. However, as I faced further challenges, the food bank became my steady anchor. Even now, as I recover from knee replacement surgery and remain unable to earn an income, this support continues to be my lifeline.
I am profoundly grateful for the kindness and the resources provided to me during my darkest hours. You didn’t just provide food; you provided hope.
Every time we meet, the volunteers greet me warmly and ask about my recent activities, so they are very kind and friendly. For me, who doesn’t go out and just stays at home, meeting them is also a great joy.
As someone who relies on and deeply appreciates this service, I would like to offer a small suggestion. While all help is welcome, I have noticed a need for more diverse nutritional options, such as fresh meats and vegetables. For those of us recovering from surgery and illness, these fresh ingredients are vital for our physical healing.
Thank you for being there for me when I had nowhere else to turn. I hope my story encourages others to both seek help when needed and support this wonderful cause.”
Food is never just food, it restores hope, it is stability when income disappears, it is dignity after loss, it is strength while healing from surgery. And Hannah is right, fresh food should not be a luxury. North York Harvest Food Bank’s new Community Food Hub, opening later this year, will vastly increase our capacity to distribute fresh food to community members just like Hannah.
You can be there for neighbours facing food insecurity, and right now you can provide 5X more support thanks to a matching gift from The Sprott Foundation. Turn $25 into $125 of food support.
Comments Off on A message from Executive Director Ryan Noble: What we receive when we give back
Ryan Noble; Executive Director, North York Harvest Food Bank
Volunteering is one of those unique activities that is easy to define but harder to fully explain. Like telling someone a joke or celebrating a friend’s birthday, we volunteer to help somebody or an organization we care about. And yet, anyone who has made a room erupt in laughter or taken the time to select just the right gift knows the sense of satisfaction one gets from it. We clearly do these things for others, but in doing so we also nourish ourselves.
North York Harvest Food Bank is made up of hundreds of dedicated volunteers. They help to deliver food through our warehouse and trucks, serve clients in our food spaces, interact with donors and support our advocacy and community events. We couldn’t do the work that we do without them, and I am incredibly grateful for their time and effort.
At the same time, I often have volunteers thank North York Harvest for the opportunity. I’ve come to realize that in many cases this is a very reciprocal relationship. Just as the clients we serve get more than food, volunteers do more than just a job. They report that volunteering helps them build new relationships, develop new skills, makes them feel good and connected to their community, and provides them with the opportunity for physical activity. Volunteering is an important way that people participate in the community that North York Harvest is a part of.
I was reminded of this recently when Daffodil, from our Community Engagement department, volunteered to make phone calls to thank donors. Daffodil served as the manager of the Oriole Community Food Space for many years and as such, is often thanked by the clients she assists. She told me that the few hours she spent thanking donors was one of the most impactful experiences she’s ever had at North York Harvest. She told me that she had many warm conversations with the donors she thanked, and that it felt great to speak with supporters for no reason other than to express gratitude. Later that day, one of the people she spoke with called to tell us how great the conversation made her feel as well. There wasn’t a giver and a taker, a donor and a recipient – there were just two people sharing a connection over a common vision.
Following National Volunteer Week, I want to express my gratitude to all the volunteers who contribute to North York Harvest. When so many people are suffering not only from food insecurity but also from a lack of real social connection, I am incredibly thankful for everyone who believes in our vision of a community where everyone can meet their food needs and who joins the effort to help make it a reality.
Comments Off on National Volunteer Week: Meet Melina!
North York Harvest Food Bank has hundreds of dedicated volunteers who show up every day to make a difference in their community; by sorting food in our warehouse, serving clients in our food spaces, supporting with events, and so much more. People from all walks of life unite under a common goal: To care for their neighbours and fight food insecurity.
People just like Melina, a volunteer at our Lawrence Heights Community Food Space.
For National Volunteer Week, hear from Melina about what she loves about volunteering, why she thinks everyone should do it, and how everyone has the power to make a difference.
Comments Off on A Bigger Vision for Our Community Food Hub
A Bigger Vision for Our Community Food Hub
When we launched our capital campaign, we set out to build something bold: a Community Food Hub that could meet today’s needs while helping create long-term solutions to food insecurity.
But as we’ve continued meeting and listening to our community, our partners, and hearing the realities our clients face everyday, one thing has become clear:
We need to go further.
That’s why we are increasing our campaign goal to $8 million.
Why the Change?
Our original plans included cold storage that would expand our capacity. But over the past years, demand has surged, and conversations with our network of over 300 community partners have reinforced the same message:
Access to fresh, nutritious food is one of the biggest gaps in northern Toronto.
To meet this need, we are significantly expanding our cold storage capacity.
Our new fridge will be nearly 5,000 square feet…almost the size of our entire current warehouse!
It means more fresh produce, more dairy, more culturally relevant food, and more dignity for the people in our community.
Building for What Comes Next
Through our partnership with the City of Toronto, we were proud to be part of a winning solution in theBloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge recognizing a new approach to school food that reduces costs and increases access.
At the same time, the Government of Canada is advancing a national school food program.
These are once-in-a-generation opportunities, but without the right infrastructure, we can’t scale to meet them.
The Community Food Hub is the missing piece that allows us and our partners to deliver on our vision.
More Than Food: Strengthening the System
This investment goes far beyond storage.
It will allow us to grow FoodReach, our social enterprise that helps hundreds of non-profits and community organizations access affordable, reliable food.
By increasing our capacity, we can:
Reach thousands more organizations across Ontario
Purchase more food from local farmers and suppliers
Invest millions of dollars back into our local economy each year
At the same time, we are expanding Leadership in Logistics and developing new workforce training programs with community partners.
These programs create pathways to stable employment, because addressing food insecurity requires more than just food.
This is a major step toward our vision: a community where everyone can meet their food needs.
Help Us Close the Gap
Our goal is $8 million. We’ve raised $5.5M so far.
Right now, your gift goes further. Through a transformational match from The Sprott Foundation, every $1 becomes $5.
Every dollar brings us closer to opening our Community Food Hub and scaling solutions that will last for generations!
Comments Off on Why Dixon Hall has partnered with FoodReach for over 8 years
Our FoodReach social enterprise works with hundreds of food banks, drop-in meal programs, shelters, libraries, and schools to provide affordable, high-quality food, so organizations can help more people meet their food needs, for less.
For more than eight years, Dixon Hall has partnered with FoodReach to power several of its community food programs. Dixon Hall is a multi-service charitable organization supporting clients with everything from affordable housing, employment services, to essential food programs.
Their Sumach location operates drop-in meal and food hamper programs, and delivery options for clients who are unable to come in person.
Before partnering with FoodReach, sourcing food for programs meant long trips on foot to the grocery store — rain or shine. “It was inefficient, and it doesn’t work when you’re running 4-5 programs a week. We started partnering with FoodReach because we needed better food access,” says Gregory, Food Access Supervisor with Dixon Hall.
With FoodReach, Dixon Hall now has access to a wide range of affordable, high-quality foods including fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and shelf-stable items. This expanded selection has made it easier to plan and deliver diverse programming across multiple sites.
But for Dixon Hall, the value of FoodReach goes beyond logistics and affordability; it’s about partnership.
“It’s not like working with a big corporate supplier,” Gregory says. “FoodReach has been very good to us, and they understand community work. When we were first building our hamper program, they helped us find the right products. They’re always open to feedback and even update their catalogue based on what we need.”
That responsiveness reflects FoodReach’s roots as a social enterprise of North York Harvest Food Bank. Every purchase supports a broader mission of community wealth building: Community food programs are strengthened, regional food suppliers are supported, and local jobs are created, with surplus revenue reinvested into North York Harvest.
Together, FoodReach and community partners like Dixon Hall are proving what’s possible when organizations work collaboratively to reimagine the food system—one that is more equitable and responsive.
“At Dixon Hall, food is sometimes the first point of connection for people who are facing barriers,” Gregory says. “For the youth, seniors, newcomers, and community members we serve, having access to nourishing food can mean feeling seen, supported, and cared for.”
Comments Off on Sonya’s Story: Starting over with community support
When Sonya* arrived in Canada in 2015 with her 11-year-old son Eric*, she was starting over completely.
She was a single mother in a new country, navigating an unfamiliar language, searching for housing, and trying to figure out how to access basic supports — all while making sure her son had enough to eat.
In August 2015 Sonya was connected with our Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space, where right away she felt at home.
“Coming to Bathurst-Finch with a large population of Russian speakers, It was very comforting that someone could communicate with us without a language barrier issue,” Sonya says.
There, she found food and clothing support, support with immigration papers and documentation, and staff helped Sonya figure out how to apply for ODSP.
Eventually they met Elis, our Community Services Manager, who has been a steady support as Sonya and Eric have built their lives here in Canada.
“We have known Elis for 11 years. She has helped us get on a waitlist for subsidized housing, receive lower-income TTC Presto cards, access medical care before we became permanent residents, and during summer heat waves, Elis connected us with a program to receive a free A/C for our home,” Sonya says.
For Sonya and Eric, this support made all the difference.
“We don’t know what we would have done without North York Harvest,” Eric says. “It’s the kind of support that changed our lives here.”
Today, Eric is studying business marketing, a future that once felt out of reach.
But like many families across Toronto, Sonya and Eric are still navigating rising living costs. With rent and food prices continuing to climb, North York Harvest Food Bank remains an essential support.
“If we didn’t have access to these services, we would be in a very different situation right now,” Eric adds. Because I’m a student and my mom’s on ODSP… There’s not much left over after rent and food expenses. Everything that the food bank provides helps us a lot.”
*Names have been changed to protect client identity.
