Author Archives: Michelle Rowe-Jardine

  1. Legacy Giving: Donating to charity in Your Will

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    Donating to charity in your Will

    An older man sits on the couch with an older woman embracing him from behind. They are both smiling. 

    Leaving a Legacy of Hope: Shaping Our Community, Together

    Imagine knowing that the values you hold dear can continue to make a difference in our community for years to come.

    At North York Harvest Food Bank, we witness the power of community every day—neighbours helping neighbours, volunteers giving their time with compassion, and donors stepping forward to ensure families have access to nourishing food.

    As Canadians, we understand the importance of looking out for one another. And when we think about the future of our community, ensuring that everyone can meet their basic needs—especially access to food—is a fundamental part of that vision.

    That’s where the idea of legacy giving comes in.

    You may have heard it called planned giving, or simply leaving a gift in your Will.

    Why Legacy Giving Is Growing in CanadaAn infographic showing the rise in Canadians leaving a gift in their will

    A recent Will Power study showed that the number of Canadians planning charitable gifts in their Wills has increased from 5% to 8%. Why?

    It’s a sign of growing awareness: more of us are realizing we can shape the future by supporting causes we believe in—without affecting what our families need today.

    Inflation and cost of living may have put pressure on Canadian incomes. But the desire to help has never been stronger

    A gift in your Will lets you create long-term impact without tapping into the money you need now. Even a small percentage—just 1%—can make a meaningful difference.

    Explore how far your legacy can go with the Will Power calculator.

    A story of care that lives onAn older portrait of a young woman smiling.

    Leaving a gift in your Will is a thoughtful, lasting way to extend your care beyond your lifetime.

    Anne was one of North York Harvest’s most cherished and long-standing supporters. She believed deeply in the importance of nourishing children and providing opportunities for all families.

    “When children are deprived of food, they are also deprived of a future,” she once shared.

    For Anne, leaving a gift in her Will to North York Harvest was more than a financial decision—it was a reflection of her values. It was her way of continuing her care for the community she loved. Her legacy gift continues to support the children and families she cared about—quietly, meaningfully, and powerfully.

    Imagine knowing that the values you hold dear can continue to make a difference in your community for years to come.

    Why you might consider a Gift in Your Will to Charity

    An older couple sit in front of a laptop, pointing at something on the screen.

    Many donors are surprised by just how far a small gift can go. Setting aside even 1% in your Will to a charity like North York Harvest can reduce taxes and still leave 99% to support your loved ones.

    You can also leave a gift outside of your Will—by naming a charity as a beneficiary of your RRSP, life insurance policy, or other assets. And remember, your Will isn’t final. Most Canadians revise theirs more than once as life evolves.

    Download our free Will planning guide for a step-by-step look at how to get started.

    We always recommend speaking with a qualified financial advisor or lawyer to explore your options.

     Learn more about how legacy gifts are changing lives

    An intergenerational family of six sits on a couch smiling and laughing

    A gift in your Will isn’t about wealth—it’s about legacy. It’s about building a future where everyone can access food with dignity, and no one is left behind.

    Whether your legacy looks like Anne’s or something uniquely your own, we would be honoured to be part of your story.

    Want to Learn More? Let’s Start the Conversation

    We’d be happy to speak with you—whether you’re just exploring the idea or ready to start the conversation. There’s no pressure, just support.

    Natasha Bowes, CFRE, MFA-P
    Director of Development and Marketing
    Natasha@NorthYorkHarvest.com or 416.635.7771×2600

    Maria Soares
    Philanthropy and Annual Giving Specialist
    maria@northyorkharvest.com or 416.635.7771 x3300

    A promotional banner for WillPower with the North York Harvest Food Bank logo. Text reads Leave a legacy of hope and make a lasting impact.

    North York Harvest Food Bank is a proud partner in Will Power, a national campaign helping Canadians use their Wills to support causes they care about. Together, we’re building stronger, more resilient communities—today and for generations to come.

  2. 8 GREAT reasons to run a summer food drive!

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    8 Great Reasons to Start a Summer Food Drive

    Food drives are essential in helping 30,000 clients across our network meet their food needs every month. They’re especially important during the summer, when our shelves begin to empty but the need in our community remains just as high.

    Here are 8 great reasons why YOU should start your very own food drive this summer!

    1. Donations are much lower in the summertime

    An empty donation box for North York Harvest Food Bank sits outside.
    As the warm weather hits, people are focused on planning vacations and enjoying the great outdoors. 

    At the food bank however, that means empty shelves. Summer hasn’t even started yet, but we’re already running critically low on many non-perishable essentials including pasta and canned fish.

    Unfortunately, there is no vacation from hunger. Summer is a critical time for community support, and community food drives play an integral role in ensuring there’s enough food for our clients.

    2. A child’s happy summer starts with good nutrition

    Three children play on a tire swing in a sandy playground setting.

    Children need their energy for all the play and activities that come with summer. But without school snack programs, many families struggle to provide their children with enough nutritious food to fuel their day.

    At North York Harvest, 1 in 4 people we support is a child. By hosting a food drive, you’ll be easing a family’s stress so they can have a great summer, too.

    3. Connect with your community & each other

    Seven people stand around a large container of donated food at a food bank warehouse, smiling and linking arms.

    A food drive unites people under a common goal: to make a difference in your community. It can be started at your work or school, your place of worship, in your neighbourhood, or even within your family.

    For inspiration, read how a food drive at the La Rose townhouse complex turned strangers into neighbours who have hosted community food drives for the past four years!

    4. You’re taking an active role in fighting food insecurity

    An older woman wearing a hat and winter jacket can be seen from behind as she waits for food to be served at a food bank.

    1 in 10 Torontonians turning to a food bank is a daunting number, and it can make someone feel powerless about the situation. By taking this step, you’re empowering yourself and others to take action and directly help people in your own community.

    5. You can inspire others to take action

    Five people pose for a photo around a large box of donated food items inside of a food bank warehouse.

    One food drive can spark more, especially when shared on social media or in your workplace. Be the reason someone you know says, “I can help, too.”

    6. Kids and teens can lead them too

    A teenaged girl stands in a delivery truck full of bags of food donations.

    Food drives teach youth about leadership, community values, and the power every person has to make a difference.

    For inspiration, check out this family food drive that has been supporting North York Harvest for 10 years!

    7. It’s easy to organize, and we’re here to help!

    In the foreground is a box of donated items, in the background a person can be seen passing more items for donation in a grocery bag to a food bank employee.

    Virtual food drive or in-person – raise food or funds it’s up to you!

    Our team will be with you every step of the way to coordinate your successful fundraiser.

    8. Reduce food waste

    Cans of fish sit on a shelf at a food bank.

    Unused but safe pantry items in your home or office can go directly to someone in need – instead of the trash.

    Get started today! To register your food or fund drive and to learn more about our most-needed items, visit here.

    Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, please contact husnia@northyorkharvest.com. 

  3. St. Philip Neri’s Table: 4 years of community care

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    Agency Spotlight: St. Philip Neri’s Table

    A mother and her two sons hold one another and smile in a food bank setting.

    In honour of Mother’s Day this month, we’re sharing how a mother and son’s volunteer work strengthens their bond at St. Philip Neri’s table, a partner agency of North York Harvest Food Bank.

    A man inspects oranges for distribution at a food bank, with shelves on non-perishables behind him.

    Every Saturday Yesmil and a dedicated team of 50 volunteers distribute essential food and other support to their community. Yesmil co-founded the food bank with the then-pastor of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in 2021, after seeing the need in their community surge during the pandemic.

    It has since become a lifeline for many in the community.

    “My family’s support makes all the difference,” Yesmil says. “The volunteers, including my sons, who have accompanied me from the beginning, help make real connections with our clients. Together, we’ve created a welcoming space for all.”

    The team’s combined efforts provide emergency food to 230 households each week, serving a diverse community in the Jane and Wilson area, including many new moms, seniors, and others struggling to make ends meet.

    “It’s not just about food,” Yesmil adds. “We

    A woman sorts tomatoes for distribution at a food bank.

     also focus on essential items like diapers, adult diapers, and baby formula—things that often take up a large portion of someone’s income.”

    One client, who is also a volunteer, shared that “If it weren’t for the baby formula I receive here, I wouldn’t have been able to raise my grandchild.”

    On Saturday, May 17, St. Philip Neri’s commemorated their four-year anniversary by serving their community soup and bread before distributing food.

    A woman wearing a brown St. Philip Neri's Table apron places a bowl on the counter in a kitchen, ready to be filled with homemade soup. In the background, volunteers load soup onto trays and stir a pot.

    “This mission would not be possible without the collective effort of the volunteers and the entire community,” Yesmil says, “ and working as a family for the community brings immeasurable value.”

  4. How your support changed a mother’s life

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    Your support changed a mother’s life

    Josephine was 20, pregnant, and terrified the first time she came to North York Harvest Food Bank.

    She was living in a shelter after fleeing an abusive relationship, unsure how she would provide food and shelter for her baby.

    Josephine was navigating motherhood by herself, but thanks to your support – she wasn’t alone.

    At North York Harvest, not only did she receive nutritious food to keep her and her baby healthy, she found support with resources like housing, furniture, clothing, and prenatal care.

    When she no longer had to focus all her energy on surviving, Josephine was empowered to return to school and start her own construction business. 

    Hear from Josephine how the care of her community helped her get back on her feet and provide food security to her family.

    A donation of any amount provides critical support to community members just like Josephine. You can change a life today by making a special gift 

  5. Welcome to Weston Area Emergency Support

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    Agency Spotlight: Welcome to WAES

    Three women stand around a counter full of potatoes, sorting them for distribution at a food bank.

    North York Harvest Food Bank is the primary food bank of Northern Toronto, but we’re more than just one organization.

    We work with a network of nearly 40 partner agencies, united by a shared mission to help our communities meet their food needs. Together we serve 30,000 community members every month, ensuring families and individuals including children, seniors, and persons with disabilities have access to dignified food support.

    One partner agency, The Weston Area Emergency Support (WAES), started the same way. Several local churches came together to create a food bank in 1986 to meet a rising need in the Weston area.

    Since then, the need in Weston has only increased, and today WAES serves 3,500 client visits every month.

    They operate with a passionate team of 50 regular volunteers, 50 casual volunteers, and one food space manager.

    About WAESA woman with glasses rests her hand on a stack of non-perishable canned beans in a food bank setting.

    • Two program days serving food to their community each week
    • Nearly 1 in 3 client visits are children
    • Seniors represent 16% of all visits
    • 3 in 4 clients identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Person of Colour)

    Diana Stapleton has been a volunteer at WAES for over 30 years. Before retiring, she worked in research and advocacy at Food Banks Canada. She says WAES strives to be a low-barrier food bank with an emphasis on providing fresh food to clients, including eggs, produce, and halal protein.

    In addition to support received from North York Harvest and Second Harvest, WAES relies on the generosity of their community to keep shelves and fridges stocked.

    “York South-Weston has always been known as one of the lowest-income ridings in Ontario,” Diana says. “We’ve got a really interesting and vibrant community, but also a lot of the issues that go along with people struggling with low income.”

    “One question I get asked a lot is: ‘Well how do you know they really need it?’ People have to spend so much time proving they’re poor enough to receive so many other supports that we are committed to being a low-barrier food bank,” Diana says.

    WAES has seen a 20% increase in client visits over last year, and it’s coming to a breaking point – to the extent they may need to cut off new client visits.

    “It’s the last thing we want to do, but with the space we have we can’t bring in enough food to give out,” she says.

    “Everyone is saying the same thing: This is the worst situation for food insecurity we’ve ever had. Everybody knows it, and still nobody is doing anything – if we as a nation are going to help people, we have to do it properly.”

    Learn more about WAES

  6. Community BBQ to Get Out the Vote this federal election!

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    Removing barriers at the ballot box

    As the need for food banks is reaching record highs, voter turnout in our community is reaching record lows.

    There are many barriers stopping people from making it to the ballot box.

    After paying rent and utilities, on average our community members only have about $7 per day to spend on food, transportation, medication and all other expenses. It’s not easy getting to the polls when getting there eats into your food budget. 

    The No. 1 reason people walk through our doors is the high cost of rent, and far too many don’t even have a permanent place to call home. It’s not easy exercising your right to vote when you don’t have a permanent address. 

    That’s why North York Harvest Food Bank held a Community BBQ to Get Out the Vote on Sunday, April 13.

    We had free food, games, raffles, face-painting, advocacy, and free transportation taking attendees to the polls to cast their vote.

    Over 600 people attended the BBQ throughout the day, with 75 folks heading to the polls. Many community members who voted said if it weren’t for this initiative, they wouldn’t have been able to vote.

    Watch a short highlight reel from our BBQ below!

    That week, our Community Engagement team also visited each of our four food spaces to shuttle over 100 clients to vote and ensure no one was turned away from exercising their right to vote. For some, it was their very first time voting.

    “This whole initiative, whether it was the BBQ or the shuttles from our food banks to the polling station was really just about making sure the people most impacted by the affordability crisis are having their voices heard in this election,” says North York Harvest’s Senior Advocacy Specialist Chiara Padovani.

    By removing barriers in the voting process, nearly 200 community members cast their ballot this federal election!

    Four people wearing red North York Harvest attire smile together at an advocacy tent at a community BBQ.

  7. Read our latest Impact Statement!

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    Building stronger communities, together

    Five people in red North York Harvest Food Bank aprons have their arms around each others' shoulders, smiling in a food bank setting.

    In this Impact Report, you’ll learn not only who you are helping today, but how we are working alongside our community to fight for long-term solutions to food insecurity.

    Emergency Food Support

    Between September 2024 – February 2025 we distributed 1.4 million lbs. of food across our network, ensuring each of the 30,000 clients we support every month received nutritious food.

    October was our busiest month, reaching 31,224 client visits.

    Our caring neighbours rallied together to hold 124 food drives to supply essential non-perishable foods like pasta, cooking oil, and canned meat and vegetables! 

    We also worked with 33 partner organizations including bakeries and manufacturers to procure additional food such as fresh produce.

    Advocacy Actions!

    With 1 in 10 Torontonians turning to a food bank, we know more food won’t solve food insecurity. That’s why our Community Engagement team was busy advocating for policy changes and mobilizing our network for real change. 

    Some highlights include:

    (September) We held our Final Community Advocacy Open House, where clients were invited to discuss the issues that are making it the mostTwo people post sticky notes ranking issues including housing and employment on to a paper. challenging for them to meet their food needs, and how we can work together to make our voices heard and demand solutions.  

    (October) Our Community Connector Daffodil spoke at Queen’s Park ahead of the Raise the Rates Rally, calling for an end to legislated poverty by doubling social assistance rates. 

    (November) Community Engagement delivered over 300 postcards from FeedOntario’s postcard campaign from clients who wrote to their MPPs about the affordability crisis and how it is impacting their ability to meet their basic needs. 

    (November) Executive Director Ryan Noble speaks with CBC, says crisis is being ignored by those in power

    (December) North York Harvest’s Senior Specialist of Advocacy, Chiara Padovani, joins a Feed Ontario panel to bust myths about food banks and the people who use them. 

    (December) North York Harvest clients joined together for a Community Art Build where they made signs, buttons and posters to use at upcoming rallies. 

    (January) North York Harvest deputes at the Toronto City Budget Committee, calling for increased funding for drop-in meal programs that serve life-saving meals all across our city. 

    (February) Ryan joins Mayor Olivia Chow to call for an expanded student nutrition program to fight child hunger. A man speaks into a microphone at a press conference for funding the expansion of the student nutrition program. In the background, fellow speakers smile.

    (February) Our Community Engagement team rented a bus to help mobilize 60+ clients to attend the City Budget Rally. Afterwards, we headed inside City Hall to hand-deliver our petitions calling for City Council to support a TTC Fare Freeze, more support for renters, an expansion of the student nutrition program, and increased funding for drop-in meal programs. Together we won all those things! 

    (February) Ahead of the provincial election, we set up Election info tables at our food spaces to share information with our community members on how, where and when to vote, and to provide non-partisan information on where the four main parties stood on some of the issues that impact our community members most.

    None of this would have been possible without your support; thank you for being there for our community.  View the Impact Statement

  8. Welcome to Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space

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    Bathurst-Finch in Photos

    A volunteer wearing a North York Harvest Food Bank apron holds a crate of fresh food in a food bank setting.

    Welcome to the Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space! It’s North York Harvest’s busiest food space, located in the Westminster-Branson community at the Herb Carnegie Centennial Centre. Follow along to learn more about Bathurst-Finch and the community we serve.

    A person lifts a box of food off of a pile and loads it onto a cart outside a food bank. In the background, someone unloads several more skids from a delivery truck.

    The North York Harvest delivery truck arrives in the morning with food for the week’s programs. In addition to essential non-perishable food received from the community, North York Harvest works with several partner organizations to procure high-quality fresh foods including meat, dairy and produce.

    A bag of potatoes are poured into a wooden bin with shelves of food visible in the background.

    Volunteers get to work unpacking the day’s deliveries onto the shelves and into the fridges ahead of service in the afternoon.

    Bathurst-Finch has three program days a week, serving over 3800 client visits per month.

    A person wearing a grey sweater smiles as they stand in a food bank.

    Bathurst-Finch has a dedicated team of nearly 40 volunteers who help out on a regular basis, including Jesse! Jesse has been with us since September, helping out with everything from client registration to receiving shipments, and helping our community engagement team with advocacy initiatives. 

    “As a person who has required food banks for most of my life, it feels good to be able to provide back to a service that has provided to me,” Jesse says.

    His favourite moment of volunteering so far was attending the Budget Rally in February 2025 at CIty Hall. The Community Engagement team mobilized 60+ food bank clients down to City Hall to attend the rally and hand-deliver petitions to our elected officials.

    A person in a red North York Harvest Food Bank sweater stands smiling in front of a banner that reads Welcome to Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space

    Julie has been working at North York Harvest since 2015, where she began as a student in community social work.

    “I like engaging with clients, you get to meet a lot of community members on different levels – not just inside the food space but in the community itself. 

    “For a lot of our members, this is their only option, it’s no longer a temporary solution. North York Harvest has been doing a lot of outreach at our food spaces to get more community members involved in our advocacy efforts to fight together for change.”

    A person stands behind the counter smiling at a food bank as they serve a client.

    North York Harvest uses a choice model as part of our commitment to dignified food assistance. Our volunteers show clients what is available on the shelves, and clients are able to choose what they would like to cook for themselves and their families. This allows clients to adhere to their own unique dietary or cultural restrictions, and it reduces food waste by not serving community members food they cannot use.

    An older adult is visible from behind as they wait to be served at the food bank. In the background, food bank staff pick food off of the shelves.

    Bathurst-Finch serves a diverse community from all walks of life, including many clients of Filipino and Ukrainian descent.

    Our Bathurst-Finch Community

    • Nearly 20% of client visits are seniors
    • 1 in 4 are children and youth
    • 57% of clients are from 1 or 2-person households
    • In the past 6 months, 25% of clients served were first-time clients

    Rows of canned tuna and canned meat sit on a shelf at a food bank.

    “Like most Ukrainians, we lived very well in our country, not needing anything. Everything was abundant. No one expected a full-scale invasion… It’s very scary to be in another country without even being able to provide ourselves with food. So we are extremely grateful to the food bank for providing us with such support. “ – Diana, client

    Four food bank staff hold various food items standing in front of the shelves at a food bank.

    There’s a reason North York Harvest calls its food banks ‘community food spaces.’ Beyond emergency food support, these are welcoming spaces where clients can connect with one another and build relationships with our volunteers and staff. 

    It’s where they can access wraparound supports for other vital resources like clothing and health services that improve their quality of life.  It’s also where community members, whose concerns are often ignored by those in power, can find platforms to use their voice for change.

    Thank you for joining us at Bathurst-Finch, 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.