Tag Archive: hunger

1. World Food Day

   October 16, 2015 1:48 pm Comments Off on World Food Day

   Today is World Food Day and we want to know what it means to you?

   Does it make you think about all of your favourite foods?

   How they taste or smell?

   How they are made?

   Where they come from?

   Or does it make you think about people who may not have enough food to eat?

   World Food Day was created to be a day of action against hunger across the world.  October 16^th was declared World Food Day in 1945 by the United Nations in an effort to end hunger.

   Many people don’t think of their community when they think of hunger in the world.  It seems to be something that you only really see on television or in the news.  But the reality is that almost 1 million Canadians use a food bank every month.  13,000 of them happen to be your own neighbours.

   

   Hunger and the need for help can happen to anyone.  Low wages, loss of a job, family tragedy, health issues, and many more reasons contribute to poverty in Toronto.  54% of the people that use our services have skipped meals in order to pay for other things such as utilities, rent, transportation or even so their own children can have a meal.  A parent never wants to make the choice between feeding their children and paying the rent.

   What can you do to help?

   There are many ways that you can get involved in your community and help put an end to hunger in your own backyard.

   • Make a financial donation
   • Run a Food & Funds drive
   • Donate food
   • Volunteer
   • Sign up for our Newsletter or Mailing List
   • It can be as easy as connecting with us through social media – Facebook, Twitter, Linked In & Instagram

   Together we can make a real impact and help parents, grandparents and children overcome the struggle of not having anything to eat.

   Today is World Food Day, but let’s make every day the day that we lend a hand to those in need.

   “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
   – Dr. Seuss

   

    

2. Three Meals a Day: Nourishing Youth

   May 10, 2015 5:15 pm Comments Off on Three Meals a Day: Nourishing Youth

   Ever wonder where your next meal was coming from? Or how you’d manage to afford groceries that week? For the youth in our food bank community, these are critical questions. Your support provides a nourishing response.

   Troy lives in a youth homeless shelter that North York Harvest Food Bank delivers food to each week. “Hunger is definitely a crisis. The case is there isn’t food to eat or there is. If there is food in the stomach, even if you don’t have love, you are warm.”

   With the most basic needs of food and shelter met, Troy can focus on taking advantage of the opportunities to change his life. Recently, he applied for an apprenticeship to become an arborist, something he has wanted to do for years, and says that in general things are looking better.

   Robin echoes Troy’s sentiment. Also living in the shelter system, Robin has been through some tough times. “I ran away from my mom because she was abusive.” After several attempts, Robin has now found a safe, wheelchair accessible space where three meals are served each day.

    

   With your help, North York Harvest delivers food to youth shelters throughout northern Toronto, providing young people with access to nourishing meals so they can begin to imagine a future.

   In addition to delivering food, we also run programs that can help build skills for the future. This month, our Oriole Food Space begins a community kitchen prog
   ram in partnership with the shelter where Troy and Robin are staying.

   It will focus on cooking with affordable ingredients to make healthy, simple meals. From culinary skills to food safety, youth will be better prepared for when they leave the shelter. They will also learn that local food banks can be a support as they transition into building a new life on their own.

   Food is not only a basic human need, it is a building block for a healthier, better life. When you give to North York Harvest, you open up opportunities. As Troy says: “It is important everyone has sustenance in their life, otherwise you aren’t privileged enough to be healthy like everyone else.”

   Your gift to North York Harvest Food Bank today will provide food to the youth who need it, and open up opportunities for a brighter future.

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