Tag Archive: canada

  1. Nutrition for a Lifetime

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    One of the amazing things about working with North York Harvest is getting the chance to meet so many different people in our community.  Earlier this week I took the time to visit the Jane St. Hub and meet with Kathryn Walton.

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    Every week there is a drop in program, “Jane St. Hub Prenatal Nutrition Program” for women hoping to learn about having healthy pregnancy, including improving their access to healthy food.  These women get together for a chance to meet other pregnant people, have a snack, discuss issues relevant to pregnancy and access the food bank.  Kathryn has worked with the prenatal program there for 2 years as a Registered Dietitian and assists these women with all of their needs involving nutrition.

    I popped into the program right before their group chat began and met up with Kathryn in the kitchen.  She was busy at work preparing snacks and a hot meal for the women to enjoy while having drop in.

    “Some of these women haven’t eaten all day and it really means a lot to them to come in and have a hot meal waiting for them,” Kathryn tells me.

    The food bank runs out of the small kitchen and provides extra food for the women to feed themselves and their families.  One thing I absolutely loved was the thoughtful and educational notes that Kathryn makes to go along with the food bank items.  These lovely notes contain messages about nutrition info and tips to prepare food bank items at home.

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    As part of the educational aspect of the prenatal program, Kathryn motivates the women to pay attention to proper nutrition.  The women love learning about nutrition labels on foods as well as how to prepare the items from the food bank.  “Some items will go untouched in the program simply because the women don’t know what to do with them.  So I’ll discuss what options they have and how to easily make a healthy meal using the item”.  Sometimes Kathryn will have food demos in the kitchen using canned items such as beans, tomatoes or salmon to prepare the group meal.

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    “Education about proper diet and nutrition really sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy food choices.” Kathryn says.

    It was such a nice experience taking the time to visit with Kathryn, the clients and the other women working in the program. It is so great to know that regardless of someone’s income or circumstances in life, they are able to access these kinds of programs.

    Without you programs like this would not be possible!

    Your support touches the lives of others in many ways and can prepare people and their children for a lifetime of healthy choices.

    Make a donation today to support the programs in your community.

     





  2. Volunteers: Vital to Our Community!

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    Without the help of our INCREDIBLE volunteers it would not be possible to serve over 13,000 people every month!

    VOLUNTEER WITH US!

    amazing-volunteers

    Check out the PDF Here!





  3. Linking Poverty & Poor Nutrition

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    One of my favourite pastimes is looking up recipes on Pinterest and being able to cook new and exciting meals for my friends.

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    When you make your grocery list, you might be thinking of recipes for your family that include fresh ingredients such as vegetables, milk and meat.

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    Unfortunately, for some people in our community, trying many of these new recipes is a luxury they don’t have because they can’t access fresh ingredients.   Many of our neighbours struggle to afford any food let alone food that’s healthy and nutritious. This can lead to choices between filling your belly with healthy items or filling your belly with empty calories to avoid hunger.

    You’ve seen it at the grocery store – the chips, ramen noodles and other processed foods are so much cheaper than what’s in the produce section. I find sales all the time on microwave dinners and sugary cereals, but rarely deals on ingredients for my next salad. Considering how low our dollar currently is, it’s hard for many to afford any fresh produce at all.

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    Lack of proper nutrition is linked to low incomes and food is the most flexible item in a family budget.  During tough financial times, people will purchase the cheaper items in order to save money.  In fact, 54% of North York Harvest’s clients have reported skipping meals in order to pay for bills such as rent, utilities, transportation and food for their children.  33% of our clients go without food at least one day a week.

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    A poor diet can also prove disastrous to one’s health as well.  Some effects of a poor diet include:

    • Fatigue
    • Weight Gain
    • Lowered Immunity
    • Diabetes
    • Dental Problems (bleeding gums, cavities)
    • Poor Sleep
    • Moodiness

    Here at North York Harvest, we strive to provide healthy food items and food education to our community. Every month over 15,000 people depend on North York Harvest for hampers of food.

    IMG_5226Because of the need for nutritious items in a food hamper, we often resort to food purchasing because food donations alone will not provide fresh items such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy and protein.  This is why we have started the Build a Hamper campaign to aide in purchasing these items to support low-income families that need them.

     

    You can help ensure that families receive healthy food items and don’t have to struggle with side effects of poor nutrition. Please help us take our food hampers to the next level. Your donations will purchase nutritious items and make sure that no child, parent or grandparent goes without enough healthy food.

    Next time when you’re out buying groceries for your next nutritious meal think about picking up some items for your neighbours in need.  Here is a list of suggested food items.

     

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  4. Agency Development

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    The Average Agency is volunteer run & has limited resources. This year your funds helped us invest in 4 agencies to increase food, enhance client services & empower agencies to serve their community better.

     

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    CLICK HERE to see the PDF





  5. 2016 Spring Food Drive

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    Every groundhog day, Canada patiently waits to see what Wiarton Willie has to say about how much longer we have to wait out the winter.

    Well… as of February 2, the little critter said we had six more weeks to go and if you’re like me, you can’t wait!  It’s almost time to break out the spring jackets and put away the toques and mittens for another year!  It’s time to walk around in the sunshine surrounded by trees and flowers blossoming and the smell of fresh cut grass.

    Another thing to be excited about is the annual Spring Food Drive!  It kicks off on February 24 and will propel us into the spring season!

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    You make this important event possible each year!  With the food and funds raised during this drive, your neighbours will have enough food to help them get by through off peak times such as the summer.  When kids are on summer vacation, they lack access to the breakfast and lunch programs run by their schools.  But with your help, they will have enough food to give them the energy needed to be healthy and active kids all summer long!

    Don’t let your neighbours in need go hungry!  Help us raise $100,000 & 100,000 lbs. of food this spring and make sure no one in our community goes without food!

    So how can you get involved in this great event?

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    Not sure what food to donate?  No problem!  We have a handy list of all of the top needed items at the food bank! If you’re looking through your pantry for items to donate, be sure not to donate anything expired – please check out this blog post on best before dates for more info.

    Because of your generosity, we are able to provide food for over 13,000 parents, children and grandparents every month! 

    Thank you for making a difference today and every day! 

    Sign up for updates from North York Harvest!

  6. BrandActive Makes an Impact

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    Isn’t it wonderful when you see people working together and committing to a cause with great passion?  I’m lucky because I get to see that kind of enthusiasm each day at North York Harvest.  One of the companies that we have been grateful to work with is BrandActive.

    BrandActive has been a very important partner with North York Harvest for years.  They have quite a suiting name as well because they are very active in helping others and making a big impact. We are constantly amazed by the commitment and passion shown by this group of wonderful people.

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    I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Robynne Budish, who is a cofounder of BrandActive.  As a long-time supporter of her community, Robynne always knew that channeling her values through her business was important. I loved hearing her energy and passion as she shared how her company is involved in making a difference.

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    For the past two years, BrandActive has collaborated with NYH to hold a Back to School event for the community. “I know I could write a cheque or come in to sort food once in a while. But because of the resources I have through BrandActive, I am able to make a bigger impact,” says Robynne.  As an outreach activity, her team purchased school supplies and packed them in backpacks for over 500 kids in the community.  “I loved overhearing how excited people were to see what was in those backpacks.”   Most families have to stretch their limited budget when their kids go back to school.  Often it means less food for mom and dad.  “It might only be a backpack but that’s $60 they can save and spend on food.”

    BrandActive is also one of the top food sorters in the warehouse!  When they come in you can just feel the positive vibes that these employees have.  They were most recently in to sort food in the warehouse in December and they sorted an amazing 10,068 lbs. of food!  To put that into perspective – that food will make up hampers of food for close to 1,000 people.

    The outreach activities with BrandActive also resonate with the employees at the organization.  “A lot of people don’t realize how large the issue of food security and hunger is in our own backyard,” Robynne says of engaging her employees in community giving. “I am happy I can raise that awareness.  Some of my employees have also told me that they plan on coming back on their own time with their family.”

    But it wasn’t just motivating her employees that drew Robynne to the food bank.  “NYH does more than just provide food.  It’s trying to meet a deeper need for food security.  They are trying to have a greater impact.  That resonates with our company.”   

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     “You realize that whatever you have in life is determined by what opportunities you are given,” Robynne told me.  “But I believe that everybody deserves respect no matter what walk of life you come from, no matter what opportunities came your way.  One of the first things I heard when I was here was about the dignity and respect that choice model food banks provide.”  

    “If everybody had dignity and respect for each other, imagine how much better of place the world would be?”

    Because of entrepreneurs like Robynne and companies like BrandActive, more and more people in the community are being engaged and becoming aware of the growing issue of food insecurity.  We are thankful for all of their hard work making a difference in their community.

    Wondering how you can get your company more involved?  Check our list of creative workplace fundraising ideas or connect with leslie@northyorkharvest.com today to plan your food and fund drive, corporate sort or talk about your creative plan for BIG IMPACT.





  7. Students vs. Hunger

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    I remember college fondly.  Leaving home, living in a new place, and fun with friends.  I think I even remember some learning and planning for the future somewhere in there.  What most of us don’t think of when we think of university or college is not having enough food to eat.  I mean I didn’t exactly eat the best food.  There was a lot of mac and cheese, microwave dinners and some other weird combinations of food I cringe to think of now.  But never was there not enough.  I never had to stress about where my next meal would come from.

    Unfortunately today, more and more students across our country are finding themselves in university thinking more about how they will afford to eat than about their studies. Right here in our city all our universities have had to open food banks right on campus.  More than 800 York University students need to access the Food 4 Thought campus food bank weekly in order to feed themselves. 

    nirajI had the chance to talk with Niraj Maharaj, Student Rights and Support Services Coordinator for the
    York Federation of Students about this the other day.  You see back in 2010, Niraj and his friend Kemba, working at York, realized many of the students they were working with were also food insecure and they knew they had to do something about it.

    Growing up, Niraj shared with me that he felt he was lucky.  Even though he came from a single parent household, they always had enough food on the table and did not go hungry.  His mother felt it was very important that he and his siblings were grateful for everything they had.  Many weekends and holidays were devoted to volunteering in the local soup kitchens and participating in food drives.  This is a lesson that Niraj has taken with him throughout his life.

    Niraj’s job in Advocacy Services was to advocate for students who facing disciplinary action for misconduct, connect students with tutoring when they were struggling in classes or support them for other issues that would arise at school.  Niraj was there to lend a helping hand.  He eventually began to notice a trend among the students that he was working with. Many of confided that even with OSAP, scholarships and jobs, they were not able to afford enough food to get by.  The combination of hunger and their incredibly busy schedules was leading many students to make poor academic choices.

    Niraj and Kemba began running food drives to support their fellow students.  Their efforts quickly snowballed.  They were surprised to see how many people at York rallied together to ensure their fellow classmates could get access to enough food. The Food 4 Thought York University Food Bank was born.

    Today the program sees 40-50 students in need of food every day. 

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    When the food bank was just beginning, Niraj told me that many students were embarrassed to use the program.  “They were worried that their peers or teachers would find out. But as the years have gone by the students at York University have been having open discussions regarding food insecurity. This has helped with the stigmatization many people feel about using a food bank. Students are realizing that they are not alone when it comes to hunger.  If someone is still uncomfortable, I will refer him or her to a food bank that is off campus.”

    Niraj told me that the best part of the job is seeing how grateful people are for the help they have received.  “Many students stop by in their cap and gown after graduation, some with their families, to express thanks for the service. I’ve been told by many people that they wouldn’t be able to graduate if it weren’t for the food bank”.

    However, graduation does not necessarily mean an end to food bank use.  Unfortunately, many students will need to continue using food banks for years to come.  “It used to be that once you had an education you could go out and get a job and support yourself and your family.  But these days an education doesn’t guarantee you a job anymore,” says Niraj.

    As students are graduating, they find it difficult to secure well-paying jobs to cover rent, other expenses and the new debt incurred from attending university.  Continuing to use a food bank until one can hopefully find a job that pays enough is not uncommon for many students, especially those without strong family support.   Even those with families in the city, often come from homes where parents are just making ends meet.

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    “The issues around food security, income, and tuition are vast and not going away any time soon but in the mean time we will be here to support our student community so that people who need food can access it.”

    Without your help, community food banks just like Food 4 Thought would have to close their doors.  Hundreds of students would go hungry and be forced to drop out of school. 

    Niraj saw the need to help others in his community and you can too.  Not all of us can start a food bank, but there are many ways to contribute to make an impact.

    Thank you for providing the joy of food and a bright future for these students!

     





  8. We Love Our Donors!

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    Thank you so much for making the end of 2015 amazing! Because of you we were able to provide 2.5 MILLION meals to people that are hungry in Toronto

    Would you like the PDF? CLICK HERE!

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