Comments Off on Latest COVID-19 updates
September 4, 2020 11:30 am – Labour Day Office Closure
Please note that North York Harvest will be closed on Monday, September 7 for Labour Day. We will be back to service our community on Tuesday, September 8 as per our regular hours.
We hope everyone will continue to enjoy a safe and happy long weekend.
August 24, 2020 1:30 pm – Join the Virtual Food Drive
North York Harvest has gone virtual this year as a way of maximizing our fundraising efforts so we can get food out to even more people in need during the pandemic. A virtual food drive is like a regular food collection drive, except online and with the goal of raising cash donations to help us purchase food for people in need.
Sign up today to join North York Harvest Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive and help support thousands in need of nutritious food.
A gift of $15 will allow us to put together a hamper with the most needed food items for an entire family.
July 31, 2020 3:30 pm – August 3 Holiday Closure
Please note that North York Harvest will be closed on Monday, August 3 for the holiday. We will be back to service our community on Tuesday, August 4 as per our regular hours.
We hope everyone will continue to enjoy a safe and happy long weekend.
July 15, 2020 3:30 pm – Toronto Neighbourhood Walks
A great story behind an excellent fundraiser! Last month, Jayden Daniels came up with an idea to help people in Toronto stay active during the quarantine while supporting people who were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Realizing that there were many areas in Toronto that people didn’t know about, he created a fantastic app called “Toronto Neighbourhood Walks” that offers audio walking tours of several Toronto neighbourhoods.
The app is free of charge but Jayden encourages users who enjoyed the experience to donate to North York Harvest to support those in need over the summer months. Jayden’s Toronto Neighbourhood Walks campaign officially launched last Friday and has since received a steady stream of donations from kind-hearted patrons. We are so happy that someone as creative and thoughtful as Jayden is looking out for our community during these unprecedented times!
If you’re looking to support a great cause this summer, then look no further.
Download the free Toronto Neighbourhood Walks app on either iPhone or Android Devices, or donate directly to the relief fund on our website.
Toronto Neighbourhood Walks relief fund
July 9, 2020 10:00 am – Bathurst Finch program cancelled today
Due to flooding in our warehouse, our food bank program is cancelled today. Please note, if you had an appointment booked for today, your new appointment will be next week (Thursday, July 16) at the same time.
Thank you for your understanding.
June 30, 2020 3:00 pm – Head office closures for the rest of the week
Beginning on July 1, North York Harvest head office will be closed for the rest of the week. We will reopen next Monday, July 6.
Have a safe and happy break!
June 24, 2020 1:30 pm – CBC Community Cares
As part of CBC Community Cares (a special day of programming to support local food banks), Metro Morning interviews a couple of clients waiting in line at North York Harvest’s Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space.
The full interview can be viewed below.
June 19, 2020 3:30 pm – Making our work possible during the pandemic
The demand for food banks has risen dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a challenge for North York Harvest to keep up with the increased food distribution while having many of our sites closed. However, throughout this great time of need we have helped thousands of families, children, and seniors with emergency food support.
We have our donors, supporters, partners, and staff to thank for making our work possible. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with the rising demand and distribute hampers while maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
June 11, 2020 10:00 am – Race-based food insecurity
Black households are 3.56 times more likely to be food insecure than white households in Canada. Hunger disproportionately impacts people of colour who continue to face systemic discrimination an all fronts: whether it be rent, or employment, or access to quality food.
North York Harvest Food Bank’s vision where “all community members are able to meet their food needs” cannot be realized until we truly address structural inequality and dismantle the systems that foster discrimination.
We stand in solidarity with all those who fight against anti-Black, anti-Indigenous and other forms of racism and oppression and with all those demanding racial justice.
North York Harvest’s Anti-Black Racism Statement.
June 1, 2020 2:30 pm – Finding purpose for idle big city arenas
“It takes partnerships and some out of the box thinking.”
When the Oriole Community Centre, just north of the Fairview Mall, was shut down due to COVID-19 concerns, it meant the busy food bank in the building needed to be moved. North York Harvest worked closely with city officials, eventually reaching an arrangement to open the rink next door, which has plenty of room for safe social distancing while dealing with the food demand.
Read the full article from the Ottawa Sun here.
Before the arrival of COVID-19, we were serving 150 households per week. Now, 220 households are coming per week. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
May 24, 2020 3:30 pm – North York Harvest in the news
During the pandemic, your support has enabled us to provide emergency food support to thousands, convert public spaces into temporary food banks and much more.
Please take a moment to read about all that you have allowed North York Harvest to accomplish on our media coverage page.
May 20, 2020 2:45 pm – Give 30
Just because we have to keep apart physically, does not mean we cannot (virtually) come together in solidarity, compassion and kindness to help those in need.
During this last week of Ramadan, we welcome anyone, regardless of faith or background, to support Give 30. Even a small amount can make a difference for those who don’t have enough to eat.
May 17, 2020 12:30 pm – Victoria Day hours
Please note that North York Harvest will be closed on Monday, May 18 for the holiday. We will be back to service our community on Tuesday, May 19 as per our regular hours.
We hope everyone will continue to enjoy a safe and happy long weekend.
This Giving Tuesday, our staff wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has made our work possible: supporters, volunteers, staff, donors, and advocates.
With your support, we served 24,000 people in our community, distributed 2 million pounds of food to people in need, and took bold steps to advocate for those who live in poverty.
From all of us, this is our way of saying “thank you”.
Thank you for all of your support and please keep safe. We couldn’t have done it without you.
March 30, 2020 4:30 pm – A short video update from our Executive Director, Ryan Noble, on what North York Harvest is doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We need your support to protect the most vulnerable in our community. We’re in this together.
March 19, 2020 5:00 pm – In response to COVID-19, our food bank location and times may be subject to change.
Please call our referral line at 416-635-7771 ext.0 or email us at info@northyorkharvest.com to confirm program hours before visiting a food bank.
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March 19, 2020 3:00 pm – For all the latest updates, please follow us on social media.
March 16, 2020 2:50 pm – North York Harvest remains open and will continue to support our community with emergency food assistance.
With that said, the safety and well-being of everyone in our community, as well as our volunteers and staff, is our top priority and we are monitoring the situation closely and following the direction of Toronto Public Health, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization.
To ensure a safe environment for everyone, we are taking the following temporary measures:
- Increased our on-site hygiene to provide hand-washing stations and encourage staff and visitors to wash their hands frequently.
- Suspended volunteer operations from our premises (including our three food spaces: Oriole Food Space, Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space, Lawrence Heights Community Food Space) and are now deploying paid staff for all critical functions.
- Ensure that staff who have travelled will self-isolate themselves for the recommended 14 days.
- Encourage our staff to work at home if needed.
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