Your participation allows us to support food banks, food education programs, community kitchens and more. These programs not only help people access food but bring people together all year long!
Comments Off on Setting the Table – The Power of a Meal
A message from Aniska Ali, North York Harvest’s New Director of Development and Marketing
As Thanksgiving approaches, I, like many of you, am preparing to welcome family and friends to my home. Pumpkin printed napkins have been fished out of storage containers, recipes have been bookmarked, and shopping lists have been made. My daughter has been collecting leaves for weeks for our table’s centerpiece, her part of our family’s annual tradition. On Monday, she’ll help set the table, and I’ll fuss in the kitchen, bickering with my husband and my sister about how much sage to add to the stuffing and how frequently to baste the turkey. These are our rituals, these are the acts that make Thanksgiving familiar and special – these are things I’ll remember as time goes by.
Food is a big part of my life. Talking about the power of it, and sadly, the lack of it for so many in our community fills my days. What often gets lost in our rush to make sure there’s enough is an understanding of the role food plays in uniting us. The sharing and enjoyment of a meal is a simple, but profound, pleasure that brings us together, across cultures, ages and backgrounds. Eating together is, and should be, a daily experience of connection.
Unfortunately that is simply not the case for the 15,000 people we serve each month. Skyrocketing housing prices, precarious employment and social assistance rates that have failed to keep up with the cost of the living put the joy food brings out of reach for so many of our neighbours. Sadly, we know all too well that loneliness and isolation go hand in hand with living in poverty.
That’s why North York Harvest offers programs like community kitchens to give people in our neighbourhood a chance to meet friends, cook together, and share a meal in a welcoming place.
As Maudlyn, one of our members and a retired caterer told us recently, “This program is a commitment to myself. It gets me out of the house to socialize with others. My favourite part is actually setting the table, it feels like we are having a real family meal”.
Thank you for making stories like Maudlyn’s possible. Thank you for believing as we do that, everyone deserves a safe place where they can meet people, build friendships, feel included and eat delicious food regardless of their income. Thank you for investing in programs like these that make North York Harvest so much more than a food bank. We hope you know just how much your support means to us and the community we serve.
Comments Off on Who’s Hungry in Our City?Each year North York Harvest Food Bank teams up with the Daily Bread Food Bank to release the annual “Who’s Hungry” report. It is a snapshot of food bank use in Toronto.Surveys were conducted on a completely voluntary basis within participating food banks. 33 food banks participated and over 1400 surveys were used to create the report.This report always releases staggering numbers and highlights the problem with food insecurity in our local community and the affect it has on our neighbours in Toronto.
Food Bank use in the Inner Suburbs has grown 68% since 2010
We have been seeing a major increase in visits to the North York Harvest Food Bank. Residents may be forced to leave the city core to find more affordable rent. Though being able to afford both rent and food is still out of reach for many.
Who's Hungry
The growth in the east end has increased dramatically. Food bank use in this area of the city has increased 30% compared to 4% or less in other parts of the city. Many of the residents there are newcomers, having fled due to international conflict or natural disasters - most paying around 82% of their income on rent alone.
“I HAVE COPED BY NOT EATING WELL OR SOMETIMES I DON’T EAT. ACTUALLY I DON’T EAT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK BECAUSE THERE ARE EXPENSES FOR MY ILLNESSES.” ~ SURVEY RESPONDENT
Social Assistance just isn’t enough anymore
The lack of sufficient income brings many people to food banks. The average monthly income for clients is just $816.50. For a city like Toronto that will not even pay for rent on a one bedroom apartment.34% of adults have gone hungry at least once every week because they spend all of their income on rent and utilities leaving them struggling to pay for other items such as food, clothing and transit. Sacrificing food can lead to poor mental and physical health.
Who's Hungry
“I AM DEPRESSED, HAVE GAINED 50 POUNDS. I HAVE LOST FRIENDS AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO SOCIALIZE OR HAVE TTC FUNDS TO GO TO THEIR HOMES.” ~ SURVEY RESPONDENT
Usage of food banks by seniors has skyrocketed
Within just a year, food bank usage of people ages 65 and up has increased by 26.8%! It is also quite possible there is a higher need among seniors but many may not be able to attend the food bank due to barriers such as transportation or lack of physical ability.
Who's Hungry
22% of seniors have skipped meals for an entire day because they couldn’t afford to eat – for many of them, it happened almost every month. Many report using their small amounts of money on prescription medications. Lack of food can worsen any pre-existing health problems seniors may have.Another reason that seniors are accessing the food bank more than ever is that many aren't getting a boost to their income through the Guaranteed Income Supplement they may be entitled to receiving. The reason many are not receiving this benefit could be sheer lack of awareness, the difficulty in applying do to lack of technical support or language barriers.
Every day, people in your community rely on food banks to put food on the table for their families. In fact, North York Harvest helps more than 15,000 people meet their basic food needs each month. Many people don’t know that over 30% of people using our food bank are children – and a growing number of them in our community will be going back to school this year without enough food to be healthy and successful in school.
Tricia is a teacher at Beaumonde Heights Junior Middle School, one of our local schools. She sees many students coming to school with empty stomachs. Her students understand what it is like to use a food bank – either because their own family uses one, or one of their friends.
Beaumonde Heights JMS has hosted food drives for North York Harvest for 15 years, and this year is no different. All students get involved in the food drive to support their school, friends and neighbours. They know just how important these programs are.
Of course, childhood hunger is a symptom of family poverty. North York Harvest and our agencies are on the frontlines of a childhood poverty epidemic: according to a recent report, nearly 27% of children in Toronto live in poverty. In the North York community, that percentage is much higher. In some of our neighborhoods, almost 44% of children are living in poverty – and are much less likely to have access to enough healthy food to be successful in school.
We are facing serious challenges in this community. But every day, we are inspired by acts of compassion from people like Tricia who are determined to make a difference in the lives of kids in North York.
Today you can take action to join Tricia and the students from Beaumonde Heights in making a difference for kids heading back to school this fall. By making a gift to North York Harvest Food Bank you will be helping thousands of kids and their parents that rely on programs that provide healthy meals and snacks.
All children, no matter where they live or what their circumstances, deserve the same opportunity to succeed.
Comments Off on Community Food Spaces The North York Harvest Food Bank offers a number of programs and services in addition to our warehousing and distribution operations. Our top priority in running these spaces is to have incredible customer service for anyone that comes to our programs.
Find out more about each of these amazing community spaces and those that we serve in these programs.
Learn more about Oriole Food Space
Learn more about Bathurst Finch Community Food Bank
Learn more about Lawrence Heights Community Food Space
Oriole Food Space
The Oriole Food Space, located in the Oriole Community Centre at 2975 Don Mills Road West, is a multi-use community food space designed to build a healthy community, together, through food. It does so by offering a variety of programs, including community kitchens, drop-in food bank hours, food skills workshops, gardening workshops, and farm trips.
Bathurst Finch Community Food Space
The Bathurst-Finch Community Food Bank supports local individuals and families with food assistance and helps to create connections with other neighbourhood resources. The program also works to foster community participation and action around food-related issues and it will regularly host visiting agencies, deliver workshops and run field trips for participants.
Lawrence Heights Community Food Space
The Lawrence Heights Community Food Space is located at 6 Pengarth Ct. The program provides an on site community food bank, community garden, as well as information and referral services to a wide range of community resources and supports, extending beyond food assistance.
Would you like to support these amazing programs?
We're always looking for donors to sponsor daily food bank activities, community kitchens, community gardens, farm trips and events that mean so much to our community members! Contact Leslie to get involved - 416-635-777 x 21 / leslie@northyorkharvest.com
Maybe you’re looking for a great snack, dessert, dinner or potluck idea?
A cherished recipe can either come down from a long family tradition or even just a favourite cookbook. In search of some new recipe ideas, I asked my fellow foodie co-workers what their favourite foods are to share with friends and family.
Hopefully you’ll feel inspired to give them a try and let us know how they turn out!
Tofu Scramble
Photo: Hot for Food
“One of my personal favourite things to make is tofu scramble. It’s easy, delicious, affordable and it wins over everyone I know that tastes it (even if they say they don’t like tofu)! Usually I make it without a recipe and it’s different each time, but when I first started out I used a recipe. Try this one from Hot for Food!” – Lauren, Communications (NYH Blogger)
“I’m sharing my secrets with you. I make this pasta salad for literally every potluck.
It’s super fresh and great for summer because you get to use up so many herbs and tomatoes which I always have a ton of in the garden. Plus it’s vegan.” – Sahar, Community Engagement
“Lasagna, a more costly dish to make, can be much less expensive w/ tofu and egg and fancied up if rolled instead of layered. I have tried this recipe with family, friends, and program participants over the years and all loved it. In fact, all program participants thought the beef lasagna that we also made would taste better. In the end, all couldn’t believe it how good the tofu was and all liked it more than the beef for its taste and price.” – Irene, Community Engagement
“Carrot & Lentil Soup has full flavour and texture. Carrots give the soup its colour. Cumin gives the soup its wonderful aroma and flavour. Blending the soup gives it its rich creamy texture but without the fat and is a great way to sneak veggies into the meal of kids (or big kids) who don’t like veggies = )” – Irene, Community Engagement
“This cookbook (Healthy Eating by Anne Lindsay) is my favourite one because my parents gave it to me on the first day of university. It is my favourite recipe because both of the girls like to help with the preparation and they both enjoy eating it as well as their friends when they come over. It is also quick and easy to capture the interest of the kids.” – Leslie, Fundraising
“I love this recipe because it is a traditional popular food which provides me the tropical taste I am missing so much. Also, the ingredients are easy to get wherever you are in the world, it provides several vitamins, and it has been proved that most of the people from abroad are likely to like this recipe than other African food.” – Hawa, Fundraising
“This is my dish of the summer because it’s quick, easy, light and DELICIOUS! No cooking involved and makes use of a food that if you have a garden you have way too much of!” Rowena, Operations
“Growing up with my grandparents in Jamaica was amazing. My Grandmother would always be in the kitchen handling business. We’d wake up breakfast and come home to dinner. The kitchen is always smelling delicious from the aroma of flavors. I was always the pickiest eater in the house so most things I wouldn’t eat. However, while mama was in the kitchen cooking I would keep her company by reciting Louis Bennett ( A Jamaican poet) poems to her. We were never forced to learn how to cook but she is always willing to teach us. Instead of her cooking extra just for me to eat I would ask her, ‘Mama, what’s the easiest and quick food I can cook that would also be filled with flavors?’ and of course she said curried chicken. Up to this day if you ask my friends what’s the first food I’ll offer to cook them when they visit? The answer would be curried chicken.” – Kadian, Fundraising
“Here is my fave recipe, Banana Bread. It is originally from my friend Lillian. She is Italian, and the recipe is from her grandma. She called it Nonna Banana Bread. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago from cancer. Our family loved this recipe from the day I got it from her, which was 28 years ago. My 2 sons and even my dog Peanut would wait for me to take out from the oven. In less than 5 minutes, one loaf would disappear. It reminds me about Lillian every time.” – May, Accounting
It’s always great when we can provide fresh and healthy food to people using the food bank!
Did you know that local farms are also amazing supporters of the food bank? We rely on farms in the area to provide fresh food donations each week!
Because of our incredible donors at Lincoln Mushroom Farm, we’re able to ensure that our neighbours have access to great, organic produce!
I joined NYH driver, Alberto on a road trip to Stoney Creek, ON for a lovely tour of the farm as well to pick up a large donation of delicious mushrooms!
Check out our photo tour!
Alberto and our tour guide Bob are showing off only SOME of the mushrooms at the farm!
Did you know mushrooms were grown inside? This is one of eighteen growing rooms!
Baby mushrooms in one growing room
Ready to be picked
I love portobellos!
Filling one of the grow rooms with compost for the next batch
Employees packing mushrooms for the food bank!
Behind them is the size of delivery Lincoln Farms made to the food bank that day!
After loading the truck with mushrooms to help the food bank, meal programs, community kitchens and much more!
Mushrooms are a great source of B vitamins, fibre, minerals and vitamin D – a perfect addition to any meal.
Do you or someone you know have a farm and would like to donate fresh produce to help over 15,000 people that use NYH services each month?
We’d love to share your passion for healthy food with our community! Contact Rowena at 416-635-7771 ex 30 / rowena@northyorkharvest.com to learn how you can help!
There are amazing things that you can donate to help your neighbours that use local food bank programs. There are also some questionable items that make it into the bins as well.
The staff of North York Harvest Food Bank made a fun video of what should and shouldn’t be donated to the food bank using real donations. Enjoy!
Make a Donation 
Run a Food & Fund Drive
Donate Food
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Alberto and our tour guide Bob are showing off only SOME of the mushrooms at the farm!
Did you know mushrooms were grown inside? This is one of eighteen growing rooms!
Baby mushrooms in one growing room
Ready to be picked
I love portobellos!
Filling one of the grow rooms with compost for the next batch
Employees packing mushrooms for the food bank!
Behind them is the size of delivery Lincoln Farms made to the food bank that day!
After loading the truck with mushrooms to help the food bank, meal programs, community kitchens and much more!