Tag Archive: community

1. Nutrition for a Lifetime

   April 15, 2016 6:37 am Comments Off on Nutrition for a Lifetime

   

   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.

   

   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.

   

   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.

   

   “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. Volunteer Appreciation 2016!

   April 8, 2016 3:40 pm Comments Off on Volunteer Appreciation 2016!

   We love our volunteers! Without their dedication and heart, we wouldn’t be able to provide food for over 13,000 people in Toronto every month! THANK YOU!

   To celebrate their commitment, we have put together a slideshow of many of our fantastic volunteers in action!
   

   Join the Team! Volunteer with Us!

   
   
   
   
   

3. Volunteers: Vital to Our Community!

   April 1, 2016 2:14 pm Comments Off on Volunteers: Vital to Our Community!

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

   VOLUNTEER WITH US!

   

   Check out the PDF Here!

   
   
   
   
   

4. Amp Up Your Food & Funds Drive!

   March 26, 2016 4:07 pm Comments Off on Amp Up Your Food & Funds Drive!

   One of the best ways of getting involved with your community is by holding your very own food & funds drive!  This is an awesome way of collecting money and non-perishable items that will go towards providing many meals for your neighbours in need!

   Did you know that there are MANY ways to raise food and funds that are exciting and fun?

   Check out some of these great ideas!

   

   Host a talent show!
   

   Invite the entire school including parents and the surrounding community!  You can charge 2 cans for admission and have us come and support you! Don’t forget to live tweet everything!

    

   

   Have a street or parking lot party!

   Put out a food collection bin and run a carnival and BBQ. Game tickets can go towards NYH!

    

   

   Cram a bus!

   Cram a bus with as much food as (safely) possibly and join us at the food bank!  We would love to give you a tour and show you how we sort the food!

    

    

   Dress Down (or Up) for Work

   In order for an employee to come wearing something other than usual, they must bring two cans of food or a monetary donation.

    

   

   Host a Competition for Who Brings in the Most Food & Funds

   Give out prizes like:

   • most food collected per site/office/classroom
   • collected the most money
   • best photos of the food collection staging

    

   

   Host a Silent Auction or Raffle

   Funds raised from your event will help support over 13,000 people a month with their food needs!

    

   

   Host a Dance

   Attendees can bring food or a donation to the food bank as their entrance fee.  You can even have a dance off to find out who has the best moves!

    

    

   

   Have a Garage Sale

   Clean out your unwanted items (one person’s trash can be another’s treasure!) while raising money for your neighbours that are hungry!

    

   Still not sure what kind of fun ideas there are when helping your community? Check out this great list of 87 IDEAS!

   Ready to have a great time and provide meals to your neighbours that are hungry? Contact Leslie at leslie@northyorkharvest.com or 416-635-7771 ex 21 TODAY!

    

   
   
   
   
   

5. Eight GREAT Reasons to Volunteer!

   March 18, 2016 6:39 am Comments Off on Eight GREAT Reasons to Volunteer!

   Volunteers are incredibly important to their community!  I get to meet fantastic volunteers of North York Harvest every day and they always have a smile on their face and a great story to tell.

   Volunteers are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization!  Without your help, charities like North York Harvest would not be able to collect, sort and distribute millions of pounds of food that serves over 16,000 people each month!

   

   Did you also know that there are many benefits in becoming a volunteer?

   1. Learn a new skill. Did you know NYH volunteers learn skills such as safe food handling, cooking, building a budget and much more?

   2. Make new friends and meet interesting people. Meet new people with similar interests or people from different walks of life.  Bond with others while helping out in your community.

   

   3. Boost your resume. Volunteering is a job even though you aren’t paid to do it. Many employers and colleges find the skills you gain from volunteering very important when looking for a person to hire.

   4. Increase self-confidence. When you do good in the community, it really gives you a feeling of accomplishment and pride. These feel good feelings will go with you into other areas of your life such as work or friendships.

   

   5. Stay physically fit. Many of the volunteers at North York Harvest lift boxes and are on their feet moving around to sort food or serve food bank clients. But even if you have limited mobility there are many other ways to get involved such as making phone calls and helping in the office!

   6. Set a good example for your kids. Steffi volunteers with her family sorting food in the warehouse.   “We serve as examples for children through our actions more than our words. We have not ever used a food bank and many need to. So I want my children to understand this is a reality for many people in Toronto”.

   

   7. Minimize stress. Move beyond your day-to-day troubles that can arise from your job or stress at home.

   8. Make a difference! Volunteers are essential to maintaining a thriving community!  It wouldn’t be possible without you!

    

   When you volunteer, it is a gift to yourself and your community!

   Join us today as one of our amazing volunteers!  To find out what kind of opportunities we offer, click here!

    

    

   
   
   
   
   

6. Putting More than Food on the Table

   March 11, 2016 6:42 am Comments Off on Putting More than Food on the Table

   What do you think of when you imagine a food bank? I used to think of a basic definition of a food bank – a place for people to come to when they need food to feed themselves and their families.  They would get their food and be sent on their way.  That was until I joined North York Harvest.

   You see, through the member agencies that you support through NYH, people are able to access so much more than food.  We like to think of it as Food Bank Plus.  As you may imagine, most of the people that need to use a food bank also are in need of support in many other ways.  This can range from health care, education, connecting with others and maybe even a bed to sleep in for the night.

   

   “We like to think of it as Food Bank Plus”

   When you support North York Harvest, your support multiplies and you reach over 47 member agencies throughout this city.  People in your community can access programs and services that they truly need – and that couldn’t be done without you and the amazing agencies that fall under the NYH umbrella.

   So what exactly else does a food bank do other than ensure our neighbours have enough food to put on the table? With so many great agencies, there is no way I would have time to visit them all, so I went to an expert.

   Meet Rowena Power, our Director of Food Distribution.  With a passion for helping others and making a difference in her community, Rowena was drawn to North York Harvest because of the progressiveness in food bank programming.  She loved how clients are able to access so many additional services and get the one on one attention they deserve.  In her role, she is the link between NYH and all of the member agencies we work with.  She is there to provide support, training and even just a listening ear to all the agencies that we work with.  She refers to them as the “hands and heart of the organization”. Rowena told me about some of the incredible programs that run in this city for people in need.

   

   With your help, some amazing things happen in your neighbourhood, like:

   • Youth Homeless Shelters such as Eva’s Initiatives provide healthy meals to kids that don’t have a home to call their own.
   • There are prenatal and new parent centres such as The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. Families can come here for education on many topics that can come up for new parents. They are also able to access nutritious food for themselves and their children.
   • Rexdale Women’s Centre offers a community meal that will serve 40-50 people. A facilitated discussion happens during the meal about important issues facing families today.
   • Lady Ballers Camp is a safe space for young girls to get together and keep fit. Every girl is included in activities regardless of their family income.  They are also taught about nutrition and self esteem.
   • North York Community House serves senior citizens that may otherwise be alone and isolated. They can come in for meals, socialize and access other services.
   • After-school programs like the Boys and Girls Club provide a safe space for kids to hang out, do homework and fill their bellies before their parents get home from work.

   Those are only a few of the amazing services offered to people in your community. I have noticed that the NYH network has so much to offer the community and how incredibly intricate these services are for people in need in Toronto.  I’m amazed when I see the hard work, dedication and generosity that staff and volunteers in these agencies give each day to ensure someone else’s life is touched and not forgotten.

    

   

   When you join us on this journey, you too are touching lives through the gift of food. 

   Community members come for the food, but stay for the classes, health care, social connection, assistance and more. 

   Without you, we wouldn’t be able to provide the food and support that keeps these programs running!  Thank you for being there for your neighbours in need whether they need something to eat, guidance or even just a friend that will listen to them.

   

   Want to learn more about the programs you reach through North York Harvest?

   • Abi had to pull her daughter from the basketball team because she couldn’t afford the fees. Because of you, her and many other girls are able to play ball and stay healthy!
   • Troy and Robin may be staying in a youth shelter, but they are learning valuable skills to last a lifetime

   Donate today to ensure that we can keep supporting these amazing programs within your community!

   
   
   
   
   

7. Linking Poverty & Poor Nutrition

   March 4, 2016 6:16 am Comments Off on Linking Poverty & Poor Nutrition

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

   

   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.

   

   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.

   

   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.

   

   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.

   Because 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.

    

   

    

   
   
   
   
   

8. Agency Development

   February 26, 2016 2:24 pm Comments Off on Agency Development

   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.

    

   

   CLICK HERE to see the PDF