Tag Archive: meals

1. The Amazing Winter Food Drive!

   January 8, 2016 4:15 pm Comments Off on The Amazing Winter Food Drive!

   As the Winter Food Drive wraps up, we are absolutely astounded by how the community came together to support your neighbours in need!  Your holiday spirit and eagerness to make a difference in the lives of people that are hungry was nothing short of incredible!

   All of your efforts raised $270,000 & 250,000 lbs. of food!

   From the food drives…

   

   

   To generous financial donations…

   

   To even some really creative fundraising ideas…like Ferrero holding a product sale in the lobby of their building. It sold out quickly and had a line up right out the door!

   

   It’s amazing what a group of generous and community minded people can achieve when they get together!  

   You even booked the sort room for every session available to help sort the groceries coming in from the drive!

   

   Our friends from Brand Active sorted a whopping 10,068 lbs. of food for families in need!

   

   Our Winter Public Sort was booked to capacity with volunteers more than a month before the event!

   

   

   

   Including City Councillors Shelley Carroll & Frank Di Giorgio

   

   

   Even Mayor John Tory stepped in to help!

   

   Your time and effort was absolutely awesome!

   Because of YOU we can provide almost 1 MILLION meals to people right here in Toronto!

   Kids will enough enough to eat…

   

   Shelters for teens will be able to provide well rounded meals…

   

   Community members can get together to bond over the joy of food…

   

   …And SO much more!

   Thank YOU for lighting up the holidays with food!

   It’s not too late to make a gift to provide meals for people that are hungry! You can still organize a food and funds drive or make a financial donation here!

   Don’t miss out on more great news from North York Harvest! Sign up for our E-News!

2. What’s in Store for 2016?

   January 1, 2016 8:00 am Comments Off on What’s in Store for 2016?

   New Year’s resolutions are very common to make at this time of year.   I have definitely thought of a couple for myself, and it has probably crossed your mind as well.  Most of the popular resolutions are to get out of debt, volunteer more, get fit, quit smoking or save money.

   As a new member of the North York Harvest family, I was curious about our New Year’s Resolutions for a city where no one goes hungry.  I sat down with our Executive Director, Ryan Noble, to chat about what is in store for North York Harvest Food Bank in 2016. These are some of the main things we will be partnering with our donors, community and agencies in 2016

   

   1. Find a new home for the Lawrence Heights Food Bank

   2. See that the Poverty Reduction Strategy is Implemented

   3. Increase our Industrial Partnership with The Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF)

   4. Increase our Food Purchasing Program

    

    

    

   Find a new home for the Lawrence Heights Food Bank

   

   Our Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank, used to be at our old location in Lawrence Heights. We were unable to have the food bank come with us to 116 Industry Street.  It needed to stay in that area to provide service to the many clients who relied on it for food support.  With space in our old neighborhood difficult to find, we were able to find a home nearby that promised to be a good solution.   Yet two major issues that our food bank clients face is the cost of transportation and disability. The majority of the 2,000 clients who access this food bank living in Lawrence Heights found it difficult to get there. We quickly recognized that to ensure clients would be able to access the food bank it would need to move back to the Lawrence Heights community.  With the support of our staff, volunteer leaders and the Lawrence Heights community, we have been working on a solution that would provide us with an accessible space right back in the community.  With the continued support of donors like you and our dedicated community, our goal is to move back within the next 6 months without interrupting service.  We want to ensure that in the cold winter months ahead, everyone will be able to access the food they need.

    

   See that the Poverty Reduction Strategy is Implemented

   

   Recently the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) was passed during a Toronto city council meeting.  The PRS aims to eliminate poverty in Toronto by 2035 with implementations starting in 2016.  The goal is to address immediate needs such as housing, transportation and food insecurity.  NYH has been a big supporter of this strategy since day one and we would like to see it take shape.  The only issue now is what funding will be available for this plan.

   What does North York Harvest want to see addressed as soon as possible?  Public space for food programming.  Many people living in poverty do not have access to healthy food because of where they live.  We want to be able to provide our programs in more communities, but there is a lack of public space for us to run our programs (like our issue with Lawrence Heights).

   The PRS recommends increasing the number of emergency food programs such as food banks in neighbourhoods that have food insecurity and poor food access.

   This would significantly help us serve over 13,000 people each month and would increase access to these programs for our clients.  Click here to find out more about the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
   

    

   Increase our Industrial Partnership with The Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF)

   

   When we moved into our new home at 116 Industry St, one of the things we were most excited about was the potential for partnerships with many of the great organizations also located here.  One collaboration that we were able to implement right away was allowing students working on their forklift-driving license to use our forklifts and warehouse.  This has helped them complete their training in a live warehouse thus building real work experience.  As we enter 2016, we have some plans to see that partnership expand. We’re hoping to create an apprentice program for on the job training while supporting our warehouse distribution. This will ensure we can move more food through our warehouse to the clients who need it.

    

   Increase our Food Purchasing Program

   

   In an effort to make sure that our community has enough healthy food to eat, we have further developed our food purchasing program into the Build a Hamper Program.  The goal of this program is to take our food hampers to the next level by adding more fresh and healthy food.  Many of our food items come through donations from food drives or corporate donations and consist of non-perishable foods.  We would like to increase our food purchasing budget so we can provide more items such as fresh vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat and milk to ensure a more balanced meal for those that access our food banks.  If you would like to learn more about our Build A Hamper program, click here.

    

   We are definitely looking forward to achieving these goals in 2016!  What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

    

   Keep in Touch this Year!!

    

3. We Had a Great 2015!

   December 25, 2015 8:00 am Comments Off on We Had a Great 2015!

   2015 was a great year at North York Harvest Food Bank and it couldn’t have been done without you!

   Enjoy our 2015 year in review video!

    

   We can’t wait to see what 2016 holds!

4. Seniors Bonding Through Food

   December 11, 2015 3:19 pm Comments Off on Seniors Bonding Through Food

   I remember when I was a kid, we would always take the long journey (at least it seemed at the time) to
   my Grandparents’ house to spend the holidays.  My grandmother would always cook a large family dinner for all of us including my aunts, uncles and cousins.  There was always a scent of fresh baked bread throughout the house; I can still remember it to this day.

   As the Holiday Season quickly approaches, you’re probably thinking about what kind of delicious food to make and share with your friends and family.  Perhaps your grandparents passed down some holiday traditions and recipes that you can’t wait to use.

   Thinking about my grandparents and family around the holidays makes me think of the seniors that are alone at this time of year.   My heart goes out to the thousands of senior citizens that access a food bank every month; just this year alone there has been a 35% increase in usage of food banks among seniors*.

   One of our largest Community Food Spaces, Bathurst-Finch, reflects the rise of seniors using food programs.  Many seniors living in the Bathurst-Finch area do not have a family or friends to spend time with; many have emigrated from other countries.  Sometimes they feel as though they have no one and nowhere to go.

   Because of the support of community members like you, we are able to help these seniors by providing healthy meals and a sense of community.  Bathurst-Finch runs a community kitchen program that is a great way for them to get together for companionship and bonding over the joy of food. The seniors reach out to one another to make sure that they are not alone and isolated, especially around the holidays.  A wonderful program that shows kindness and inclusion to those that need it most.

   As part of the Community Kitchen program, many of the seniors would share with each other recipes from their home country that they taught their children as they grew up.  The community even recently put out a cookbook of most loved recipes!

   The main goal of the Hot Pot Cookbook Project was to support socialization of seniors as well as learning from each other culturally.  The name was inspired by a traditional way of cooking in Asia that gathers community members around a simmering “Hot Pot” to cook together.  The cookbook really showcases the amazing people, culture and food found in the neighbourhood.

   Support the Bathurst Finch Community

   In the holiday spirit of sharing recipes through generations, I wanted to share with you some amazing dessert recipes from the Hot Pot Cookbook to enjoy with your loved ones for the holidays.

   1. Black Bean Brownies
   2. Apple Pie “Marianna”
   3. Chickpea Blondies

   Make sure you let me know how your baking turns out!

   

    

   
   
   
   
   

5. Isha’s Story

   November 27, 2015 5:40 am Comments Off on Isha’s Story

   This is Isha’s story.  But it is a story familiar to so many people in northern Toronto.

   Isha lives with her 2 siblings, mom and grandma in public housing in northern Toronto.  Her mom works several jobs and her grandma is elderly and struggles with failing health.  Isha often has to take care of the meals for her family.

   “Mom works a lot so I help by cooking and getting food for school ready but by the end of the week the fridge is usually empty.”

   Often skipping lunch so her two younger siblings have enough to eat she is grateful for the afterschool program that she can attend.  “They get some good food for us and on Wednesdays we cook a whole meal together and I can take leftovers home. Usually it’s only a day or 2 until mom can buy more groceries. But when it’s longer, we can go to the program and get some extra food to help us get through. I’m not sure what my family and I would do without this help,” she shares. “It’s not just the food, its knowing there is someone in our community we can trust, someone who will be there for us.”

   This is the impact that you have.  When you donate to North York Harvest Food Bank, we make sure there is enough food for the people who need it most.

   Help people just like Isha by making a gift today!

   ^{**Isha’s name has been changed by her request}

6. CBC – Bringing Canadians Together

   November 20, 2015 6:00 am Comments Off on CBC – Bringing Canadians Together

   CBC has been a part of every Canadian’s life since 1936.  No matter whom you are, what city you’re in, how much money you make, if you were born here or immigrated – you know the CBC.   There’s no easier way for Canadians to feel connected to each other, than by hearing the stories from the CBC.  I’ve never been to Nunavut, but because of the CBC I can hear stories from the families that call it home.

   The CBC brings Canadians together and on December 4, it will be hosting their annual Sounds of the Season bringing us together in support of food banks.  It’s a chance for Canadians to get into the holiday spirit and unite in support of one incredible and worthy cause – feeding your community.   What better way to kick off the season than to be a part of Sounds of the Season?

   

   Last year $36,906 was raised for North York Harvest  – that’s 110,718 meals for Canadians struggling with hunger. We are incredibly grateful to CBC and everyone that participated and donated to the event.  It really made an impact on the lives of the 13,000 people that North York Harvest serves each month.

   Every year the event is always a roaring success, drawing huge audiences across the country.  This year proves to be no different, with an incredible list of performers on the agenda.  Some of the performers this year will be Francesco Yates, The Toronto Mass Choir, The Heavyweight Brass Band, Terra Lightfoot and many more!

   Even though the weather is cold and frightful, the season still has a warm, cheery feeling when you come together with your community.  Whether you plan on celebrating the holidays or not, join us in celebrating the community and make a huge difference in the lives of people that are hungry.

   So on December 4^th and all through December, join North York Harvest and CBC in celebrating this wonderful holiday season!   Click HERE to join in on the festivities! (Don’t forget to designate you gift to NYH)

   Thank you for generously donating to North York Harvest and lighting up the holidays with the gift of food. Because of YOU, families in northern Toronto will not go hungry.

   Don’t forget to sign up for our Enews!

7. Meet Madelaine

   November 13, 2015 2:51 pm Comments Off on Meet Madelaine

   Have you ever wondered what it is like to volunteer at your local food bank?  We talked with Madelaine, a North York Harvest volunteer to find out.

   Madelaine has been volunteering ever since she was 14, an example learned from her mother.  Once Madelaine retired, she started looking for a volunteer position in her community. She was thrilled to know NYH was right in her neighbourhood.  Madelaine knows of the struggles of not having enough to eat. During World War II in Germany, her parents sometimes did not have enough food available.

   I asked her about any surprises she had when she first started working in the food bank, and there definitely were a few.  She was taken aback to see that so many people in her own backyard do not have enough to eat.  She also noticed the lack of community space for programs, “It’s unfortunate that the city doesn’t provide a free location for the food bank,” she says.  With over 13,000 individuals using North York Harvest’s services each month we work really hard to ensure there is space for all our programs.

   Volunteering is obviously a very important aspect of Madelaine’s life, “Everyone works together as a team.  We work hard.  I am tired by the end of my shift but I find it quite rewarding.” But I couldn’t help but ask her how she stays motivated to keep coming week after week.  She told me she volunteers with the food bank because of her love of helping people and being able to interact with the clients, volunteers and staff.  Because the people that use the food bank services are right in Madelaine’s neighbourhood, she sees many of them outside of her volunteering. “I run into a lot of clients.  Most of them stop and talk with me on the street or at the mall.”

   As a longtime food bank volunteer, Madelaine sees first-hand what kinds of foods are needed the most.  Most people need milk and vegetables, though both can run low come the end of the month.

   

   A typical food hamper from a NYH food bank

   As different people have many dietary needs, she does tend to get special requests.  Many people ask for Kosher, Halal or vegetarian foods.  Madelaine has got to know many of these clients well and does her best to help them if she can. “Most of the food is donated so we only have what we get, but if we have it, I will give it to them,” she told me with a smile.

   Though it can be tough to realize many people don’t have enough to eat, Madelaine can see the silver lining in the kindness of others.  She recalls a time it was near the end of her shift and she had given the last bag of rolls to a woman.  The last client of the shift came in right after and Madelaine had let that person know that unfortunately, they were out of bread.  “The woman who had the last package of rolls offered them to the other client. The other client insisted that they share.  I was very touched.”

   Madelaine’s philosophy in life is to treat people the way she would like to be treated.  She also believes that people should volunteer their time at organizations like North York Harvest because they couldn’t exist without volunteers.  “We all need to help each other.”

   When asked what one could do if they didn’t have time to volunteer?  “They can donate!” says Madelaine immediately.  “Food, or especially money so we can buy the food we need the most.”

   Here at North York Harvest we appreciate our many volunteers that assist with every aspect of the organization. It really does ‘take a village’ and we couldn’t run without you.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact lisa@northyorkharvest.com

   Want to help but are too busy right now to volunteer?  No problem.  Donate securely online and we will ensure that money goes to helping the clients that Madelaine serves so faithfully.

    

   Don’t forget to sign up for our Enews!

8. Scotiabank Marathon

   October 23, 2015 2:57 pm Comments Off on Scotiabank Marathon

   This past Sunday, for the 8th year in a row, we took part in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon!  It was cold.  It was snowing.  But all participants were still in great spirits!

   Our goal was to raise $15,000 in order to provide 45,000 meals to our neighbours that are hungry.

   WE’RE ALMOST THERE! We’ve already exceeded $12,000!

   Even though the race is over, YOU can still be a part of the team!

   DON’T DELAY – Donations can only be made until the end of October so please DONATE NOW

   Thank you to all our participants for getting up to race with us at 8:00 in the morning on a chilly Sunday.  Your dedication will to help feed people in your community.  We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the donors and sponsors for your generosity!

   We were excited to be joined by many of our veteran teammates in person and spirit.  Including the Fun Runners team with Peter Zissis and Chris Hilborn, who have been running with NYH for 8 years!   We also had some new faces, including Executive Director Ryan Noble and Board Member Tony Cancelliere.

   Our incredible teams this year were:

   • Fun Runners with Peter Zissis & Chris Hilborn
   • The Accidental Roamers with Anoop Chawla & Anette Chawla and team
   • NYH team – Leslie, Ryan, Emma, Sophia, Tony Cancelliere & Harold Banguero and family
   • Kevin Munn and family

   And as always, our tradition at the race is the Treasurer of the Board (Kevin Munn) best represented our team by wearing a great costume!

   

   What our team had to say:

   “Taking part in the charity walk was a lot of fun and a great feeling – there was a great sense of community among the participants that represented all walks of life” – Tony Cancelliere

   “I had my best time ever and also helped families.” – Accidental Roamers

   “It was a lot of fun to walk with all my friends at the Scotiabank Marathon and see the thousands of other people.  We also raised money for the food bank.” – AR

   “My kids and I were super excited for the event.  It was the best 5KM yet Thank you to family and friends for supporting the North York Harvest Food Bank!” – Leslie Venturino

   Please help us provide 45,000 meals to your neighbours in need by donating here.