Tag Archive: north york

1. A Family Away From Home

   June 16, 2017 6:50 am 2 Comments

   Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with the incredible volunteers and clients at the Bathurst Finch Community Food Space.  Located in a tiny room inside Northview Heights Secondary School, the hustle and bustle of getting prepared for the upcoming drop in made the room buzz.  Operating outside of school hours, volunteers make sure the shelves are stocked and fridges full to help community members put food on the table.

   

   Elis, who manages the food space, treats everyone that enters like family.  Everyone is in this together and a VIP in the eyes of the caring volunteers.

   One of the VIP clients using the food bank is Anna.  Anna has been living in Canada for 11 years after leaving Uzbekistan because she was unable to find work.

   

   After working 9 years at local Russian grocery stores, Anna had a child named Nikita and found herself out of work in order to take care of him each day.  She had to go on social assistance but unfortunately that wasn’t enough to cover all of her expenses from rent and utilities to food and baby supplies.  She was in a bind.

   While searching for a way to get baby powder and baby food, Anna came to the Bathurst Finch Community Food Space. When she arrived, the helpful volunteers let her know that not only she could receive baby products, but she was also given food for herself.  Anna was amazed by the kindness and generosity that was located right in her neighbourhood. She has been coming to the food bank for the past year now which has helped her stretch her small income.

   To get to the food bank, Anna walks with Nikita in his stroller.  During the harsh winter months, she was unable to take her stroller through the icy and snowy sidewalks and had no way to access the food bank.  Thomas, a volunteer, took the time to drop off food to her home for three months so Anna and Nikita wouldn’t have to go without.  “It was amazing that someone was willing to come and help us out when we couldn’t get around,” says Anna, “the food bank volunteers are wonderful!”

   

   After Anna’s father passed away, her mother is still living in Uzbekistan alone.  Anna hopes that her mother will be able to join her in Canada so they can be together again.  “If she comes to stay with me, she’ll be able to help take care of Nikita so I can go back to school and get a full time job,” says Anna who dreams of becoming a paralegal one day to support her family.

   Anna would recommend that anyone who needs help in her neighbourhood visit the Bathurst Finch Community Food Space.  “They are so caring and have been so helpful to Nikita and myself. If someone is in need of help they will bring you in and treat you like family.”

   

   At the Bathurst Finch Community Food Space, it is about more than just putting food on the table, it’s about bringing family to that table.

   Would you like to support people in your local food bank like Anna?  Make a donation here

   Want to join a team of volunteers making it happen in the food bank? Check out our latest volunteer opportunities
   

   Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   

2. Everyday Hero

   May 12, 2017 5:17 am Comments Off on Everyday Hero

   ^{Guest blog by Shirah Stern}

   Not all heroes wear capes.

   One everyday hero located right in your community is Kayla*. I recently had the opportunity to meet Kayla at the North York Harvest Annual General Meeting back in February. We were in a workshop together and she shared her experiences as a food bank volunteer. I needed to hear more so I could share her story with you.

   Kayla has been a volunteer at her local food bank for more than two years dedicating her time six days per week. This is quite incredible as Kayla suffers from many health issues such as a degenerative disk disease in her back, panic attacks, insomnia and is waiting to have knee surgery. This doesn’t stop our hero though; she chooses to work through the pain to make a difference in the lives of her neighbours in need. “If I could have sleepovers here I would!” jokes Kayla.

   Kayla’s tasks at the food bank include receiving deliveries, stocking shelves, serving clients and records management. She even packs and delivers food hampers for the “Fresh Start” program that does home deliveries for seniors as well as those unable to physically make it to the food bank. The services she and her other fellow volunteers provide benefit children, families, seniors, those with disabilities and people who can’t leave their home.

   

   _{A typical food hamper from a NYH food bank}

   Regardless of Kayla’s health problems, she feels that giving her time at the food bank gives her something else to focus on and a purpose. She strives to make a difference in the lives of her fellow neighbours. This can be done through her daily food bank tasks or even going above and beyond to help someone in need. One particular story of Kayla’s is a time that she was able to assist a client with her job search. The client had needed to know CPR in order to be eligible for a job but could not afford the training. Kayla took the time to research and found a course that was offered for free.

   Kayla told me that seeing a smile on the face of someone she has helped is so rewarding in her work.

   It absolutely blows me away when I see this kind of dedication from volunteers. And it is throughout the network! Each day volunteers take time out of their day to come in and help their neighbours meet their food needs.

   Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to have incredible stories like this to share. From you to me, me to Kayla, Kayla to the client and back to you again – we are really part of something bigger than ourselves. I feel that being able to share these stories truly closes the circle of connectivity in our community

   Join Kayla in being a community hero!

   Together we all work as a community to make a difference for more than 15,000 people that access these types of programs each month!

   Donate today!

   Volunteer!

   *Name changed
   

   Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   

    

3. Volunteer Appreciation 2017

   April 13, 2017 7:06 pm Comments Off on Volunteer Appreciation 2017

   We absolutely LOVE our volunteers!  Every year they come in to sort food, help with pickups and deliveries, help people directly in the food banks, assist in the warehouse, give a hand in the office and so much more!

   Without YOU we wouldn’t be able to ensure that more than 15,000 people in our city have access to the food they need.  THANK YOU!

   We wanted to thank you in a special way so we made a fun video for our incredible volunteers.  Volunteer appreciation week is April 23-29 so don’t forget to hug a volunteer and show them some love!

   Want to join the team?

   Click here for more info or contact Lisa at 416-635-7771 x 29 or lisa@northyorkharvest.com

   Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   

4. Getting Social with Volunteering

   March 31, 2017 5:01 am Comments Off on Getting Social with Volunteering

   Did you know that volunteering can be a great way to get out into the community and meet new friends?

   Gord and Bonnie have been dedicated volunteers with North York Harvest since 2015.  Every week they join us in the warehouse to sort food and help new volunteers get the hang of things.  Without them we wouldn’t be able to send out quality products to the food bank network.  You see, a lot of donations come into the warehouse and they need to be sorted for quality and into categories to ensure that food banks get what they need to better serve our community.  This means that dented cans, expired food and other unwanted items don’t make it out the door.

   

   When we have new volunteers join us (such as corporate teams or community groups) Gord and Bonnie are there to share their knowledge which enhances the experience for others.  But they aren’t the only ones teaching people, “Every day is a new learning experience,” says Gord, “So many foods come through here that I have never heard of – and I used to work in the grocery business!  People I sort with teach me about the food and how to use it in new recipes.”

   

   Bonnie and Gord both agree about their favourite part of volunteering at the food bank – meeting people from different walks of life.  “I enjoy meeting people from corporations, schools, seniors’ programs, special needs program and more! Volunteering is a great way to be social!” says Bonnie.

   There are many benefits to becoming a volunteer in your community!  Not only are you helping other people but you will also meet new people, learn new things, keep fit and build confidence. 

   Want to join Gord, Bonnie and hundreds of other people that make a difference in our community?  Learn more about the many volunteer experiences that we have available here!

   What else is amazing about volunteering? Check out 8 Great Reasons to Volunteer!

   Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   

5. Looking for Volunteers

   March 17, 2017 1:56 pm Comments Off on Looking for Volunteers

   Are you looking for a fun way to get involved with your community and make a BIG impact on the lives of your neighbours that use the food bank?

   We’re looking for volunteers and we have so many positions available to suit your needs! 

   Looking to volunteer for just a day or two?

   We offer one time volunteer positions for the Spring Food Drive!

   We are currently in need of drivers assistants to help our truck drivers pick up food for the following dates:

   Thursday April 20 (9am -4pm)

   Friday April 21 (9am -4pm)

   Monday April 24 (9am -4pm)

   To sign up for a shift, call Lisa at 416-635-7771 ext. 29 or lisa@northyorkharvest.com

    

   Want to come in for an evening with family and friends?

   Every Tuesday evening we offer sorting sessions for families and friends!  Learn how YOUR help in the food sorting room goes a long way to ensure that your neighbours get the best food possible! It’s a great way to have fun, get some exercise and give back!

   To join us on a Tuesday evening from 5:30-7:30 call Kadian at 416-635-7771 ext. 28 or kadian@northyorkharvest.com

   

   Are you looking for an opportunity to bring your coworkers in for a volunteer experience?

   We offer corporate volunteer sorting sessions!  It’s a great way to learn about food insecurity in your community and work as a team to help make a difference!

   For Corporate Groups contact Shirah Stern at 416-635-7771 ext. 48 or shirah@northyorkharvest.com

   For Community Groups, Schools and other groups contact Leslie Venturino at 416-635-7771 ext. 21 or leslie@northyorkharvest.com

   

   Want to be a volunteer on a regular basis? 

   There are many positions that let you get involved with your community on a weekly basis!  We’re in need of the following positions:

   FOOD SORTERS

   We’re looking for core sorters to join us in the warehouse to sort through donations before they reach the food banks

   Monday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

   Wednesday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

    

   FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERS

   Lawrence Heights Community Food Space (Lawrence/Allen area)

   Tuesday, 1pm to 5pm – distribute food hampers

   Tuesday, 8am to 12pm – receiving food orders

   Room to Grow Food Bank (Kipling/The Westway area)

   Wednesday, 9:15am to 12:30pm – receiving food orders

   Oriole Food Space (Don Mills/Sheppard area)

   Monday, 9:30am to 1pm or 1pm to 3:30pm – receiving food orders

   St Vincent de Paul Food Bank (640 Glenholme Ave) is in need of volunteers twice per month to help unload groceries from the truck (typically the second and fourth Thursdays of the month).

    

    WORKING ON OUR TRUCKS

   

   Driving Assistants

   We need some volunteers who can spend a day with our drivers.  See first hand where our food comes from and where it goes.

   To become a regular volunteer, call Lisa at 416-635-7771 ext. 29 or lisa@northyorkharvest.com

    

   Want to learn more about volunteering with North York Harvest? Learn more about what our volunteers have to say here!

    

   
   
   
   
   

6. Oriole is Moving

   March 3, 2017 5:36 pm Comments Off on Oriole is Moving

   Oriole Food Space is moving to our old location in order to serve you better!

   

   OFS move new hours

7. Spring Food Drive

   4:59 am Comments Off on Spring Food Drive

    

   Spring is in the air and our office is buzzing!  Okay, yes I admit, these past few weeks have felt like we’ve experienced all four seasons at once – but trust me… Spring is almost here!

   To celebrate the amazing weather on the way, we are kicking off the Spring Food Drive and we want YOU to be a part of it!

   The Spring Drive is so important for making sure that the pantries are stocked during the warmer months to ensure no one has to go without!  Together we can make sure that everyone meets their food needs! 

   Help us raise $100,000 and 100,000 lbs. of food!  Your support will help more than 15,000 people each month using food banks, meal programs, prenatal/early parenting programs, community kitchens and other vital services throughout the city.

   Getting involved with the food drive is a lot of fun and helps so many people! Just ask Lauren, who has been running food drives for more than ten years!

   

   “I first heard about North York Harvest back in 2005 when I was 14 years old.  A NYH bag came to our house with the local newspaper letting us know how we could help,” says Lauren. “I decided right then to do a food drive. At 14 it was a really cool thing to do. Our first food drive raised 170 pounds and its increased so much since then!”

   

   Lauren and her parents have made food drives not only a family tradition, but a tradition within their neighbourhood.  “I love going door to door to see everyone in the neighbourhood.  A lot of the people I grew up with still give every year because they know that people rely on our help. It has become a real connection to the community.”

   What are Lauren’s tips for running YOUR food drive?

   • It is much easier than it looks and it is much more rewarding too! Its benefits are huge!

   • You need a flyer or brochure – we’ve had the same one for the past 10 years! Update it with suggested items from the website. Click here for some handy materials for your drive!

   • We grocery shop as a family and sometimes with a few neighbours as well –add such items as baby formula, canned proteins. Living in a multi-cultural city and community, we also try to contribute spices and different types of food. Click here for a list of suggested foods to donate

   Over 400 people rely on the food bank EVERY DAY.  You can help!

   What are you waiting for? Sign up today to make a huge difference in your community! 

   

   Looking for other ways to get involved with the Spring Food Drive?

   • Make a donation. Just $10 provides 30 meals!
   • Set up a fundraising page on our website so your friends and family can donate.
   • Volunteer your time. Join us in store, on the truck or at the public sort.
   • Make a donation of groceries in your local grocery store.
   • Connect on social media and spread the word!

   Check out the food drive kit that we put together just for you! It has everything you need to run an incredible food drive!
   

   Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name
   

    

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Practicing Food Safety

   February 24, 2017 5:15 am Comments Off on Practicing Food Safety

   You want the best when it comes to the food you eat.  There’s no way you’d want something old, mouldy or funky smelling in your food. 

   

   It’s the same here at the food bank. 

   Food safety is extremely important.  Safety measures are taken into consideration before the food even makes it into the warehouse.  Our hardworking operations team ensures not to bring in food that may be hazardous to members of our community.  Items like this can include damaged items, foods with missing labels and nutritional products that have expired.

   Not only do we want everyone to meet their food needs in the community, we want them to enjoy their food safely.

   Recently Toronto Public Health released a guide on Food Safety in Food Banks and Community Organizations.  This guide makes it easy for all organizations in the food sector to maintain guidelines on food safety and handling. 

   

   Food Safety Measures

   As you may know, we prefer to take non-perishable food items from donations (canned goods, boxed items, etc.) to ensure we can get these items out to the public without safety issues.  But…

   Did you know…

   Even though we are grateful for amazing donations from the community, there are just some items that we CANNOT accept.  These items include:

   • Food products that are not identifiable or that have ingredients that are not identifiable (missing label or label written in a language other than English/French)
   • Partially consumed foods (open packaging)
   • Unpasteurized foods
   • Home preserves and canned items (jams, jellies, pickles etc.)
   • Meats, dairy and other high risk items that are not directly from a processor or store e.g. turkeys that have been in your freezer; you may assure us that that turkey has never been defrosted but because we don’t know that 100% we cannot accept it, sorry!

   These guidelines make sure that people using the food banks don’t get sick from foods they consume.

   

   Did you know…

   There is a difference between Best Before and Expiry Dates.  When it comes to packaged foods the dates can get a little confusing.  Here are some tips to tell the difference between dates.

   • A best before date is simply the promise of the manufacturer that the food in the package will be of highest quality. It is not an indication of food safety.
   • Many times a best before date is not necessary and mostly used to indicate when the quality of food will begin to decrease (a change in taste and texture).
   • The only items REQUIRED to have expiry dates are baby formulas, meal replacements, formulated liquid diets and nutritional supplements. These items must be thrown out past the expiry date as the should NOT be consumed. This is because the nutritional content cannot be guaranteed beyond the expiry date and the nutritional content is very important for babies, the sick and the elderly.
   • We will accept foods up to three months past their best before date because we know that they are safe. However, in order to protect our community members’ dignity we prefer to receive donations of food that have at least 3 months remaining before their best before date.

   

   Food Recalls

   You may have seen food recalls on the news, specifically the latest one about Baby Food.  These recalls affect the food bank and food bank clients. 

   How might a food be recalled?

   • Illness outbreak
   • Food tests identify a health risk
   • An inspection by CFIA detects a safety concern
   • A recall of the item in another country
   • The company initiates a recall
   • Other issues can arise such as food tampering

   Recalls are taken very seriously at the food bank.  These items are removed from our shelves and notices are sent out.  If these items have already made it into people’s homes, we alert them and contact Toronto Public Health.

   

   Ensuring public safety when it comes to food handling and distribution is one of our top priorities.  If you join us for a food sorting session, you will be trained on how to identify the safety of the food you’re sorting.  Remember: When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

    

   To learn more first hand and join us for a food sorting session, click here!

    

   Check out these handy guides on how to inspect YOUR food.

   
   

   Subscribe to our mailing list

   * indicates required

   Email Address *
   
   

   First Name
   

   Last Name