Tag Archive: north york harvest

  1. Loblaw Holiday Food Drive

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    Loblaw Holiday Food Drive

    Loblaws Holiday Food Drive is back! From December 2nd to December 24th, visit a participating Loblaw grocery store and donate food or money to help those in need this holiday season. Please see below for a list of participating stores. 

    Jason’s No Frills Etobicoke 1530 Albion Road (Finch Ave. E & Albion Rd.)
    Carlo’s No Frills 1591 Wilson Ave. (Jane St & Wilson Ave)
    Real Canadian Superstore 51 Gerry Fitzgerald Dr. (Dufferin St & Steeles Ave W)
    LSL Yonge & Yonge 3501 Yonge Street (Yonge St. & Wilson Ave.) 
    George’s Independent City Market 3080 Yonge Street (Lawrence Ave. W & Mt. Pleasant Rd.)
    Weston Rd. Superstore 2549 Weston Road (Weston Rd. & 401)
    Listro’s No Frills North York  3555 Don Mills Road (401 & Finch Ave. E.) 
    Richard & Ruth’s No Frills North York 1450 Lawrence Avenue East (Victoria Park Ave & Lawrence Ave E)
    Bruno’s Your Independent Grocer Don Mills 83 Underhill Drive (Don Valley Pkwy & Lawrence Ave W)
    Leonetti’s No Frills 1641 Jane St (Jane St & Lawrence Ave W)

    For any of our other drop-off locations click here. 

  2. Sounds of the Season

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    CBC Sounds of the Season Community Event

    Join us to celebrate the season and support North York Harvest Food Bank and Daily Bread Food Bank.

    Words written on a blue background reading Sounds of the Season

    CBC Sounds of the Season Community Event

    Saturday, December 17

    10am – 1pm

    Don Mills Library

    888 Lawrence Avenue East

    Come and visit the many booths, from kids’ activities to art activities to a photo booth! Meet some of your favourite CBC personalities and watch live performances from SKETCH, a community arts enterprise, as we come together to support the community this holiday season.

    Trucks from North York Harvest and Daily Bread will be on site and we welcome non-perishable food donations.

    If you can’t make it and still want to support us, click here for more information.

     

  3. Centerpoint Mall Food Drive

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    From October 5 to 8, Centerpoint Mall will be running a Food Drive for North York Harvest. For every donation of non-perishable food items worth $10 or more, you will receive an eco bag from Centerpoint Mall!

    A bag on a white background with text on an orange background talking about a food drive.

    Share your photo with the centre on Instagram or Facebook to get a chance to win a $100 shopping spree.

    For more information, please click here. 

  4. Fall Food Drive

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    On October 1 & 2, join North York Harvest at Loblaws Superstore (Bayview Village) for our Fall Food Drive and help a family in need. 

    Date: Saturday, October 1 & Sunday, October 2

    Time: 10 A.M – 2 P.M.

    Location: Loblaws Superstore (Bayview Village), 2877 Bayview Ave, Toronto

    For more information, please contact 

    Come out and support families in need during this giving season or donate here. 

  5. Building Strong Community Partnerships

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    Operating a food bank has many unique challenges, many of which has been further amplified because of the COVID-19
    pandemic. “Once COVID hit, North York Harvest was put into a position to change how business was done,” says
    Dianna Stapleton, volunteer and board chair at Weston Area Emergency Support (WAES). Stapleton has worked in the food
    security industry for more than 30 years, with much of her time spent volunteering with WAES which means she understands
    the unique needs of small food banks. At the beginning of the pandemic, WAES would not have been able to keep its doors
    open and support families, and individuals in need had it not been for North York Harvest. “We spent a lot of time with the
    team at North York Harvest trying to figure out how to get food so that we could assist the community,” she says. It was
    through this support that enabled WAES to access alternative avenues for food and donations that would not have been
    possible for a small organization.“Sometimes we get into a routine and may not think there’s a better or different way to do things,” she explains. “Having the other members in North York Harvest’s Agency Network to tap into their expertise, is one of the biggest benefits.” Without the traditional networking opportunities that many other types
    of businesses have, Stapleton and her colleagues at WAES value the regular meetings with other professionals in the food
    security space for the chance to also share experience and celebrate shared success. As we all work towards basic income
    that allows for affordable housing and accessible food many would agree with Stapleton, “Food banks are an emergency
    room in a hospital, you don’t want to use it but you are glad when it is there.” At our core, it’s important for community
    member to not feel a stigma around needing their support.

  6. Local Artists Showcase Their Support

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    From connecting ideas to creating awareness to enhancing a public space, there’s no question that art matters. Over the past year, it has been challenging for many of us to finds of staying connected with one another. For local artists, giving back to the North York Harvest community has not only supported individuals and families, it has helped create a positive connection for artists, adding more meaning to their work.

    In June the North Toronto Group of Artists held their second annual fundraiser in support of North York Harvest. This event features the work of more than 40 local artists showcasing their work through an outdoor art exhibit and walking art tour. For many community members, the exhibit provided an opportunity to engage with artists and purchase artwork while also supporting the work of North York Harvest. Bringing together the community, showing support on a local level, impact this group of artists continues to have on the North York Harvest community is an inspiring example of what can be done with a little creativity and community spirit.

    Wild Bunch, Sheila Merer IG: @sheilamererart

     
    You Take My Breath Away, Madeleine Greenwald IG: @maddygreenwaldart
     
    Date Night at the Buffet, Melissa Morrow IG: @memocreative
     
    The North Toronto Group of Artists is run by volunteer artists. Representing the work of over 50 local artists who produce visual fine arts in various form. Learn more about the organization or specific artists at ntga.ca. 

  7. North York Harvest’s After the Bell Program

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    In Canada, under 20 per cent of the population are children. Nevertheless, they account for almost 35 per cent of food bank recipients. This summer, Food Banks Canada is determined to fight these statistics through its “After the Bell” program. Last year, 130,000 healthy food packs were distributed across the country in an effort to nourish kids in need. This year, the organization hopes to deliver 150,000 packs, which contain both shelf-stable and perishable items. 

    For the past few years, North York Harvest has been fortunate to be part of this initiative. As one of the largest urban centres in Canada, communities across Toronto have been among some of the hardest hit during the pandemic. The situation is exacerbated by school closures and the winding down of various social support programs, including the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB). Parents are no longer able to depend on meal programs and turn to food banks due to the lack of a better alternative. 

    Through the grant program North York Harvest is able to purchase fresh food such as apples, sugar snap peas, cheese, and yogurt to include in the nutritious food packs. With the support of Food Banks Canada the teams at our community food spaces and network agencies are better equipped to serve families and children throughout the summer months, and leading them into a brighter and healthier school year ahead.

  8. Pop-Up Shop for Pets In Partnership with the Humane Society of Canada

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    Last month, North York Harvest partnered with Humane Society International/Canada and Friends of HSI to hold a pet food pop-up at the Bathurst and Finch Community Food Space. The purpose of this event was to provide support to those in need of assistance in caring for their companion animals. Those impacted by the pandemic were offered free dog and cat food as well as treats and supplies for their pets.

    “Since the start of the pandemic, our team’s focused mission has been to help keep pets in their homes. We have seen the unmistakable and often severe impact that COVID-19 has had on communities around Toronto and the rest of the province. We also know that the struggles and the lasting impact on people’s lives continues. We are grateful for this partnership with North York Harvest Food Bank as we join together to provide continued relief for people and their pets,” says Larysa Struk, Project Manager for the Ontario COVID-19 Animal Response Program at Friends of HSI.

    Here at North York Harvest, we realize that for many individuals and families, pets have provided a much needed source of support, especially during the pandemic. At the same time, pet ownership is an added expense for many in our community. “With access to quality pet food and supplies, we are helping our community members ensure the well-being of their companions,” Henry Chiu, Director of Development & Marketing. “By partnering with the Humane Society International/Canada, we can further expand our existing support for pets which benefits the long-term health of all members of our community.”