Tag Archive: north york

1. Students for Change

   May 6, 2016 8:50 am Comments Off on Students for Change

   Food is extremely important in all of our lives.

   It’s a part of each day, whether we are sharing it with others or enjoying it by ourselves.  We make decisions as to whether we want to go to a restaurant to eat, cook something up in the kitchen or just take it easy and order something right to the door.

   

   Whether your favourite food is pizza, salad, cookies or the many kinds of food out there, we all have opinions and preferences about the food we eat.

   We can’t live without it.

   This is why I find the statistics of hunger in our own backyard so disheartening.

   Did you know…?

   Over 15,000 people use the food bank in North York every month.

   

   1/3 of food bank users are children.

   

   54% of people using the food bank will miss a meal to pay other bills such as rent and transportation.

   

   33% of the people we serve will go without food at least one day per week.

    

   But what can we do?

   As you may recall, a few months ago I told you about Niraj Maharaj, the coordinator of the Food 4 Thought Food Bank at York University.  He saw the need for a food bank for students on campus and went to work making it happen.  He’s not the only person from York University that is making changes in his community.

   Recently, I got a chance to speak with Rumsha Siddiqui, a student at York U. She heard about hunger statistics in her class and was shocked that this is such a prominent issue in a city such as Toronto.  Hearing about this problem made her motivated to make a difference.

   “We are all part of one big community and it bothers me that some of us go to bed with a full stomach while others don’t. I felt the need to do something.”

   Rumsha and her classmates banded together to raise awareness in the community and help their neighbours in need.

   

   They visited schools to do presentations, teaching others about hunger in the city.

   They approached local stores to sponsor their food drive.

   

   They even ran a cotton candy event with the local student clubs to raise awareness.

   

   Rumsha and a few of her fellow students also joined us in the warehouse to volunteer sorting thousands of pounds of food.  She told me how she had a great time helping out.  She said she admired the dedication of the volunteers and staff.

   

   In total, the York University students managed to raise 5800 lbs. of food for their neighbours in need! With that incredible donation, 580 people in Toronto will receive a hamper full of good healthy food and be able to put food on the table tonight.

   

   What advice does Rumsha have for anyone wanting to fundraise for charity? 

   “Reach out to local businesses – even if you get rejected, don’t give up! We ended up having 3 stores sponsor us and raised a lot of food.  Don’t forget to reach out to your local community and give them the facts.  Just like we had no idea how big of an issue hunger is in our city – most people are also shocked to find out.”

   Rumsha had a great time fundraising for a cause she cares about and so can you!

   The Every Plate Full Campaign is on right now and it’s such an easy and fun way to get together with your friends, classmates, coworkers or even just as an individual to raise money for people in need!  Click here to find out more!

    

    

   
   
   
   
   

2. Who Uses The Food Bank?

   April 29, 2016 3:29 pm Comments Off on Who Uses The Food Bank?

   Your support benefits thousands of people throughout Toronto. Curious about who uses the food bank in your neighbourhood?

   

   Would you like to print this and share?

   View the PDF

    

   
   
   
   

3. 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.

    

   
   
   
   
   

4. 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!

   
   
   
   
   

5. 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!

   
   
   
   
   

6. 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!

    

   
   
   
   
   

7. 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!

   
   
   
   
   

8. BrandActive Makes an Impact

   February 12, 2016 3:19 pm Comments Off on BrandActive Makes an Impact

   Isn’t it wonderful when you see people working together and committing to a cause with great passion?  I’m lucky because I get to see that kind of enthusiasm each day at North York Harvest.  One of the companies that we have been grateful to work with is BrandActive.

   BrandActive has been a very important partner with North York Harvest for years.  They have quite a suiting name as well because they are very active in helping others and making a big impact. We are constantly amazed by the commitment and passion shown by this group of wonderful people.

   

   I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Robynne Budish, who is a cofounder of BrandActive.  As a long-time supporter of her community, Robynne always knew that channeling her values through her business was important. I loved hearing her energy and passion as she shared how her company is involved in making a difference.

   

   For the past two years, BrandActive has collaborated with NYH to hold a Back to School event for the community. “I know I could write a cheque or come in to sort food once in a while. But because of the resources I have through BrandActive, I am able to make a bigger impact,” says Robynne.  As an outreach activity, her team purchased school supplies and packed them in backpacks for over 500 kids in the community.  “I loved overhearing how excited people were to see what was in those backpacks.”   Most families have to stretch their limited budget when their kids go back to school.  Often it means less food for mom and dad.  “It might only be a backpack but that’s $60 they can save and spend on food.”

   BrandActive is also one of the top food sorters in the warehouse!  When they come in you can just feel the positive vibes that these employees have.  They were most recently in to sort food in the warehouse in December and they sorted an amazing 10,068 lbs. of food!  To put that into perspective – that food will make up hampers of food for close to 1,000 people.

   The outreach activities with BrandActive also resonate with the employees at the organization.  “A lot of people don’t realize how large the issue of food security and hunger is in our own backyard,” Robynne says of engaging her employees in community giving. “I am happy I can raise that awareness.  Some of my employees have also told me that they plan on coming back on their own time with their family.”

   But it wasn’t just motivating her employees that drew Robynne to the food bank.  “NYH does more than just provide food.  It’s trying to meet a deeper need for food security.  They are trying to have a greater impact.  That resonates with our company.”   

   

    “You realize that whatever you have in life is determined by what opportunities you are given,” Robynne told me.  “But I believe that everybody deserves respect no matter what walk of life you come from, no matter what opportunities came your way.  One of the first things I heard when I was here was about the dignity and respect that choice model food banks provide.”  

   “If everybody had dignity and respect for each other, imagine how much better of place the world would be?”

   Because of entrepreneurs like Robynne and companies like BrandActive, more and more people in the community are being engaged and becoming aware of the growing issue of food insecurity.  We are thankful for all of their hard work making a difference in their community.

   Wondering how you can get your company more involved?  Check our list of creative workplace fundraising ideas or connect with leslie@northyorkharvest.com today to plan your food and fund drive, corporate sort or talk about your creative plan for BIG IMPACT.