Author Archives: Michelle Rowe-Jardine

1. Why Dixon Hall has partnered with FoodReach for over 8 years

   March 31, 2026 2:36 pm 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.”

2. Sonya’s Story: Starting over with community support

   12:59 pm 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.

3. $4M gift from The Sprott Foundation Launches 5X Match

   March 30, 2026 11:46 am Comments Off on $4M gift from The Sprott Foundation Launches 5X Match

   Transformational $4M gift from The Sprott Foundation Launches 5X Match

   North York Harvest Food Bank is proud to announce a transformational $4 million donation from The Sprott Foundation in support of its new Community Food Hub, alongside a powerful matching initiative that will multiply community giving and expand impact across Toronto.

   This is the single largest donation in North York Harvest Food Bank’s history and a landmark investment in vital community infrastructure in Toronto that supports much more than emergency food access.

   The Community Food Hub is central to our bold strategy to address hunger and poverty in our community. This innovative, community-driven space is designed to meet immediate needs today while tackling the root causes of food insecurity. It will significantly expand North York Harvest Food Bank’s capacity to store, prepare, and distribute fresh, nutritious food, while also supporting long-term solutions such as a shared food procurement and distribution system through its social enterprise FoodReach, skills training, and workforce development. The project represents a shift from emergency response toward sustainable, systems-level change.

   The Sprott Foundation is dedicated to addressing homelessness and hunger in Canada and is particularly focused on innovative approaches that promote self-sufficiency and dignity. Its support reflects a shared belief that lasting change requires new models, deep collaboration, and a commitment to learning alongside communities. 

   “North York Harvest Food Bank is building more than a food facility, they are creating an innovative, community-centered model that addresses hunger with dignity and purpose,” said Megan Lorius, The Sprott Foundation. “We are proud to support this bold approach, which not only increases access to fresh, healthy food, but also tackles the underlying challenges that lead to hunger and homelessness. This is the kind of innovation we believe can create lasting impact.”

   The Community Food Hub will serve as a central anchor for food access across Toronto, while strengthening partnerships with community-based food programs, the food bank’s social enterprise FoodReach, and training programs that help people build stability and economic opportunity.

   “This gift from The Sprott Foundation is truly transformative,” said Ryan Noble, Executive Director of North York Harvest Food Bank. “It allows us to reimagine how food banks operate, moving beyond crisis response toward long-term solutions that restore dignity, build skills, and strengthen our community. The Community Food Hub will change how we support people today and for generations to come.”

   Make 5X the Impact

4. NOTICE North York at City Hall!

   February 25, 2026 2:42 pm Comments Off on NOTICE North York at City Hall!

   

   Advocacy is a key pillar in North York Harvest Food Bank’s mission. Not only sharing what we know through research including our Who’s Hungry Report, but also providing platforms for our community members to share their lived experience and use their voice for change.

   Together we are fighting for a fairer city for all through NOTICE: A community-powered movement supported by North York Harvest. This movement aims to put the drivers of hunger and poverty on NOTICE with a collective voice that can’t be ignored.

   Last year food insecurity was declared an emergency in Toronto — so our community sprang into action. Ahead of City Council’s vote on the  2025 budget, we collected 100’s of petition signatures and letters, and brought 60+ clients with us to City Hall to hand-deliver them to elected officials.

   Together we helped to secure increased funding for drop-in meal programs, increased funding for tenant supports, a TTC fare freeze and an expanded School Food program.

   That’s the power when community comes together. So this year, we brought two buses full of community members to rally at City Hall, with four of our clients speaking about what it’s like to live with the affordability crisis.

   We joined a coalition of community organizations to rally for City Council to fund a more affordable Toronto.

   

   “Seniors need help,” says Joyce, a member of our Community Advocacy Group. “Seniors built this country, they work hard, they pay taxes and they raise families.

   “Today too many seniors are struggling, and we live on a fixed income. Seniors are forced to choose between food or rent. Food or medicine. This is not right, and this is not dignity.”

   

   Our community met with Mayor Olivia Chow to discuss how the proposed budget would work toward a more affordable Toronto where everyone has the opportunity to live and thrive.

   When policymakers listen to the community members living with the affordability crisis every day — real change can happen.

   Because of the joint advocacy of community organizations across our city, and under the leadership of Mayor Chow, in the 2026 budget we won:

   • A TTC fare freeze for a 3rd year straight AND the first TTC fare cap
   • An expansion of the Student Nutrition program to help an additional 62,000 children meet their food needs
   • More investment in the RentSafeTO and Rent Bank programs to protect renters from unsafe living conditions and evictions

   There is still work to be done at every level of government to fight the affordability crisis in Toronto and across our country.

   But this is what can happen when community speaks truth to power, and elected officials take NOTICE.

   

   ---

   Do you agree that hunger and poverty in our city have gone unnoticed and underfunded for too long? Join NOTICE and fight for a city for all of us!

5. Welcome to Oriole Community Food Space

   2:07 pm Comments Off on Welcome to Oriole Community Food Space

   Oriole in Photos

   Our Oriole Community Food Space opened in 2013, and it’s been an important hub for community support ever since!

   Nestled in the Oriole Community Centre, the space operates in partnership with Flemingdon Health Centre and Working Women Community Centre. Together, our space fights food insecurity through food support and advocacy while providing wraparound supports for our community. 

   Our Oriole Community

   

   Oriole Community Food Space operates two program days per week, serving 2,610 clients per month.

   • 25% of clients are children and youth

   • 16% are 65+

   • Nearly half (47%) of clients live in 1 or 2-person households

   • In 2025, 36% of clients turned to our food bank for the first time

   Meet Nisha!

   

   Nisha, above right, first joined North York Harvest in 2015 as a volunteer before becoming relief staff. From 2020-2025 she was the Manager of our Albion Library Community Food Space before making the switch over to Oriole.

   “The reality is that it is not only people who are homeless or unemployed who need to use the food bank, which is what I think many people still believe,” Nisha says. “Many of our clients are households where multiple adults are working, yet they are still unable to provide enough food for themselves after paying for other necessities.

   “It is also the fact that not only can people not afford enough food, but that they are unable to access healthy, nutritious food,” Nisha says.

   Healthcare support for food bank clients

   

   As part of our partnership with Working Women, ambassadors from North York Toronto Health Partners are a regular fixture at Oriole, providing a range of supports with resources, events, and more including:

   • Mobile cancer screening
   • Mobile Dental Bus
   • Finding a primary physician
   • Support with specific client healthcare issues

   Meet Maura!

   

   Oriole Food Space has about 37 volunteers who dedicate their time to making their community a better place for everyone — including Maura!

   “I have volunteered at the food bank for over two years. What I look forward to and enjoy, is that each week is different. I’m usually at the fresh produce/eggs-milk station,” Maura says.

   “I look forward to the familiar faces each week and getting to know them better — their humour and their individual quirkiness. It is also a plus to work with and know the other volunteers who come from many walks of life.”

   Thank you for joining us at Oriole 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.

6. FoodReach: 2025 Year in Review!

   January 23, 2026 2:28 pm Comments Off on FoodReach: 2025 Year in Review!

   

   Our social enterprise FoodReach is a community impact powerhouse! In 2025 FoodReach continued to advance North York Harvest’s mission, increase food access for non-profits, and keep money and jobs flowing within our local economy.

   What is FoodReach?

   
   

   2025 Highlights

   Keeping costs down
   2025 was another record-breaking year of food insecurity for communities across Ontario. Food prices in Canada also increased 6.2%, squeezing food budgets for community members and non-profits serving essential meals every day.

   This year, FoodReach grew its network of customers by 49%. By utilizing this network’s bulk purchasing power, FoodReach was able to reduce costs on key food items to help more food banks, drop-in meal programs, libraries, and schools nourish their communities.

   

   Feeding more kids

   

   In February 2025, North York Harvest Executive Director Ryan Noble joined Mayor Olivia Chow at a press conference calling for the expansion of the Student Nutrition Program. Together they helped secure funding for the program in the 2025 City budget, so more children could focus on learning, not hunger.

   In partnership with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, FoodReach grew from supporting 38 school food programs, up to 82! That’s over 31,000 students receiving nutritious food at school every day — powered by FoodReach.

   Building shared prosperity
   This year FoodReach furthered its commitment to local procurement, with over 50% of the food in its purchasing portal sourced from regional producers! That means FoodReach can keep money circulating within our economy by supporting local businesses, while also protecting the non-profit supply chain against harmful disruptions, like tariffs.

   Revenue earned also supports North York Harvest’s operations and workforce training program, Leadership in Logistics. This is North York Harvest’s Community Wealth Building Model in action: Local dollars are reinvested while food access is improved for thousands of people across food banks, shelters, libraries, and schools — affordably and equitably.

   In 2026 FoodReach will grow again when we move into our new Community Food Hub. More food for more non-profits, more Leadership in Logistics graduates, and more sustainable revenue to support North York Harvest as we work toward our vision of a community where all members can meet their food needs.

7. 7 Reasons to run a Virtual Food Drive this winter

   12:50 pm Comments Off on 7 Reasons to run a Virtual Food Drive this winter

   

   A Virtual Food Drive is an online fundraiser you can start with your work, your neighbours, your sports team – any time, anywhere. North York Harvest Food Bank relies on community food drives to collect essential food donations, but we understand a physical fundraiser might not be for everyone.

   A Virtual Food Drive raises essential funds instead, so we can purchase our most-needed items and distribute them quickly to meet the urgent needs of our community today.

   Here are 7 reasons why this may be the fundraiser you’ve been looking for!

   1. It’s winter-friendly
   Snowstorms, icy sidewalks, and freezing temperatures can make in-person food drives challenging. A Virtual Food Drive keeps generosity flowing, no matter the forecast.
   

   

   2. Every dollar goes further, $1 donated = $2 Food
   Virtual Food Drives allow North York Harvest to purchase food in bulk — stretching each donation to provide more essential food to our neighbours.
   

   3. It’s easy to start, anywhere
   No shopping, storing, or transporting bags of heavy food required. Virtual Food Drives can be set up in minutes with minimal coordinating and logistics on your end. Just rally your network, set a goal, and watch the community impact fill up your team’s fundraising page.
   

   

   4. No effort is wasted
   Online donations don’t expire, get dropped and dented, or need to be thrown out. You can know that 100% of your fundraising efforts = 100% impact for our community.
   

   5. It’s more accessible for everyone
   Virtual Food Drives remove physical barriers, making it easier for people with mobility challenges, busy schedules, or limited transportation to participate.
   

   6. Support when demand is highest
   Winter is one of the hardest times of year for food banks, as heating costs rise and household budgets are stretched. Your Virtual Food Drive delivers help when it’s needed most.
   

   7. Turn any occasion into community support
   Birthdays, milestones, team challenges—whatever the occasion, a Virtual Food Drive is a meaningful way to connect with others while making a real difference in North York.

   

   Ready to get started? Your Virtual Food Drive can be run as a standalone fundraiser OR with a physical food drive to give everyone in your network a chance to participate. 

   In just a few clicks, you’ll be on your way to helping neighbours fill plates and nourish belonging across North York. Register your Virtual Food Drive today!

8. A Message from Executive Director Ryan Noble

   December 30, 2025 10:26 am Comments Off on A Message from Executive Director Ryan Noble

   A Message from Executive Director Ryan Noble

   I am sometimes asked about how things are going at North York Harvest.  It seems like a simple question, but I struggle to answer it properly.  If you follow our regular communications you already know that this has been one of the most difficult years we, and food banks all across Canada, have ever faced.

   Exceptionally high demand is placing enormous pressure on the organization and our partner agencies.  There never seems to be enough to meet the challenge.

   But that’s not the whole story.  I have the privilege of seeing the other side of our food bank: The thousands and thousands of donors, volunteers, partners and supporters who make up North York Harvest.  Each of them does something tangible and meaningful about the crisis we face.  These are the acts that don’t always make the headlines, but when I think about them, it fills me with an overwhelming sense of hope. 

   

   The term food bank is misleading.  It implies that there are deposits and withdrawals.  That may be technically true, but is much too simple.  When I look around our food bank, I see people that care about each other and that get and give so much, whether they receive food, donate it or distribute it.

   When we’re at our best, all people here build a sense of themselves, a stronger connection to their community, and relationships that often last for years.  It is an honour to be a part of that. 

   As the year comes to an end, I want to thank everybody who makes North York Harvest Food Bank the organization we are.  Together I know that we can reach our vision of a community where everyone can meet their food needs.

   I wish you a joyful holiday season and a bright start to a healthy and prosperous New Year.

   Ryan Noble
   Executive Director
   North York Harvest Food Bank