Tag Archive: toronto

  1. July Community Food Hub Update: Bringing Our Vision to Life

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    Last fall, North York Harvest Food Bank launched our Crisis to Catalyst campaign, an ambitious plan to build a new 30,000+ sq. ft. Community Food Hub designed to meet the food insecurity crisis head on, while building long-term solutions.

    Now, we’re proud to share that construction is officially underway at our future home on Chesswood Drive, and our excitement is building!

    A warehouse under construction with crew members visible off to the left. This will be the new site of North York Harvest Food Bank's Community Food Hub in Toronto.    A warehouse under construction. This will be the new site of North York Harvest Food Bank's Community Food Hub in Toronto.

    The markings on the concrete floor are beginning to define new spaces, while plumbing is being installed throughout the Hub. You can already picture the future

    Two women wearing red North York Harvest Food Bank-branded hard hats smile at a Community Food Hub in Toronto.washrooms, community kitchen, and handwashing stations that will support volunteers, staff, and community members.

    One of the most exciting sights is the enormous opening in the concrete floor. This is where our industrial-scale freezer is being built, insulated from the ground up to safely store hundreds of pallets of fresh, nutritious food. Just beside it, an equally impressive space is taking shape for our new refrigerator. 

    Altogether, this 5,000 sq. ft. refrigerated space will dramatically expand our ability to store and distribute fresh produce, dairy, and culturally relevant food across our food bank network. This will also scale up our social enterprise FoodReach, growing capacity to buy more locally grown food to distribute at affordable prices to schools, libraries, and drop-ins across Southern Ontario.

    Every pipe, every wall, and every layer of concrete brings us one step closer to opening a Community Food Hub that will transform how food is distributed across Toronto.

    Building skills and partnerships along the way

    We’re also thrilled to announce we have teamed up with our long-time partner Building Up to support construction of the Hub, while also supporting our community. Building Up is a non-profit social enterprise that helps people facing employment barriers find pathways to successful careers in the trades.

    Through this partnership, 35 trainees from Building Up will gain hands-on skills and work experience in the trades over 1,000 training hours.

    “The construction of the Hub is an example of our community wealth building approach in practice,” says Executive Director Ryan Noble, “and it demonstrates our commitment to supporting social enterprises and procurement practices that benefit our local community.”

    We’ll be back next month to share more updates from our future home. In the meantime, take a virtual tour of the Community Food Hub!

  2. A Message from Executive Director Ryan Noble: A new foundation for food security

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    Ryan Noble; Executive Director, North York Harvest Food Bank

    Last month, North York Harvest Food Bank reached a major milestone: breaking ground on the construction of our new Community Food Hub.

    By the end of the year, the Hub will become the home of our main offices and distribution centre. Three times larger than our current warehouse with a tenfold increase in cold storage capacity, this new facility is at the core of how we will address the rising demand for food assistance.

    Over 40 years of community care have brought us to this pivotal next chapter—made possible by neighbours showing up for one another through countless volunteer hours, food and financial donations, and the simple yet profound decision to see a problem in our community and choose to be part of the solution.

    If you’ve supported North York Harvest, you’ve helped build the foundation for everything that comes next.

    A person views a gallery wall with a timeline of North York Harvest Food Bank with interconnected honeycombs of both text and photos.

    The Hub represents the next step in our collective reimagining of what our food bank really is – vital, community-oriented infrastructure. North York Harvest Food Bank came into being when a number of smaller programs and organizations realized that they could all benefit from a shared truck and warehouse space. Over the next four decades, those needs have continued to grow and evolve.

    Building a stronger food system in Toronto

    Today, our warehouse and transportation fleet, along with our planning and logistics systems, staff and volunteers support hundreds of nonprofit organizations all across southern Ontario. We maintain our traditional work of distributing donations through our network of partners, and have found new ways to leverage our capacity and capabilities in support of our community. 

    Your support has also helped us grow innovative solutions like FoodReach, our social enterprise that procures and delivers affordable food for shelters, schools, libraries and community meal programs. Pooling this purchasing power, we can lower food prices across the nonprofit sector, increase the amount of food assistance that we can provide while freeing up resources for community programming.  Up to 70% of this food is grown or produced in Ontario, supporting local farms and manufacturers and helping to build a more resilient food system. By receiving, warehousing and distributing this food, it creates employment pathways for our clients through our Leadership in Logistics program. 

    Put together, our activities form a virtuous cycle; investing locally, generating income and creating jobs in our community through the way we distribute food and provide emergency assistance. Food insecurity is ultimately an economic challenge that requires an economic response. For North York Harvest, this starts with seeing ourselves as a vital piece of infrastructure, connected to the broader food system and local economy, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

    The Community Food Hub will take this thinking to the next level, writing a new chapter for North York Harvest Food Bank as we move towards our vision of a community where everyone can meet their food needs.

    Thank you for helping to write this next chapter with us.

  3. “The difference is dignity”: How FoodReach supports Toronto’s shelter and drop-in network

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    People in a kitchen setting stand in front of trays of prepared meals.

    Every weekday, The Common Table at Church of the Redeemer opens its doors to some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents.

    With just four staff and more than 80 volunteers, the program serves approximately 250 meals a day, alongside outreach services, housing support, harm reduction, psychotherapy, clothing programs, art therapy, and even a quiet, safe place where community members can rest.

    “The fact that people feel safe enough and trust us enough to come in and sleep says a lot about the kind of space we’re trying to create,” says Beverley Galandzy, Volunteer/Kitchen Coordinator and Outreach Worker at The Common Table.

    But as food costs continue to rise and demand grows, maintaining that level of care has become increasingly challenging.

    “We’re running out of food more often than ever,” Beverley says. “Our grocery bills have quadrupled since before COVID. We stretch every dollar we can.”

    That’s where a program from the City of Toronto comes in — with support from our social enterprise FoodReach.

    Healthy, local food for people who need it most

    Creating Health Plus (CH+) helps shelters and drop-in meal programs access fresh, healthy ingredients to supplement their food programs, including dairy, protein, seasonal produce, and other essentials.

    FoodReach forms the logistics backbone of CH+ — coordinating deliveries for shelters and drop-in meal programs across Toronto.

    As a social enterprise of North York Harvest, FoodReach operates on a mission-first model: Every decision and every delivery puts food security first.

    FoodReach offers a diverse food catalogue with 70% of items sourced locally; strengthening the non-profit food supply chain while supporting local businesses.

    The Common Table reconnected with CH+ last year, and now has consistent access to fresh, nutritious ingredients that would otherwise be difficult to afford.

    “It’s been incredibly helpful,” Beverley says. “This is one of the most comfortable times we’ve had because of the food we’re receiving.”

    CH+ recipients can order add-ons to their standardized weekly delivery directly through FoodReach, which offers some flexibility for programs to customize the food they receive based on the unique needs of their communities.

    “Access to fresh eggs allows us to prepare more nutritious breakfasts, while the cheese helps make those breakfasts — as well as scones and casseroles — more hearty and satisfying,” says Beverley. “Having fresh milk for coffee and tea instead of powdered milk or coffee whitener makes a noticeable difference in both quality and dignity for our members.”

    For people experiencing homelessness, these improvements matter.

    “Overall, our meal program has become far more robust, delicious, and nutritious,” says Beverley. “Nourishing, high-quality food supports both physical health and a sense of care and respect.”

    We are grateful to partner with the City on such an impactful program, so non-profits like the Common Table can continue doing what they do best: Caring for their community and serving food that is both healthy and dignified.

    A person in a North York Harvest Food Bank jacket leans out of a delivery truck to pass a box of food to someone on the ground.

  4. Peter’s Story: “People need a voice”

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    A person wearing a red North York Harvest Food Bank shirt who is blind is interviewed by a reporter holding a video camera outside Queen's Park in Toronto.

    Peter was working as a Registered Practical Nurse, primarily in geriatric care, when he began to lose his sight as a complication of diabetes.

    Soon, he was completely blind and unable to continue working in a career he loved.

    With significant barriers to employment, Peter applied for the Ontario Disability Support Program. His partner and son are also on ODSP, and month to month Peter says, it leaves them just scraping by.

    “About half of our income goes to paying our rent,” Peter says. “There are no frills living on ODSP. I can’t remember the last time we went to see a movie. I can’t remember the last time we went to do anything that wasn’t completely free.

    “You learn to clip coupons, anything to stretch a buck. If you work, you can pick up a shift or work overtime but on ODSP, that’s it.”

    Peter is not alone. A single individual on ODSP can receive a maximum of $1,408 per month, leaving them trapped below Toronto’s deep poverty line of $1,833. At North York Harvest Food Bank, 1 in 3 clients is living with a disability.

    “I didn’t realize how isolating and very limiting being on ODSP would be,” Peter says. “And blindness really does cut you off from people in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine.”

    It was at our Oriole Community Food Space where Peter first learned about the Community Advocacy Group — and signed up right away.

    From shared experience to collective voice

    Emergency food support is a vital part of the work we do every day. Coming through our doors can mean the difference between someone eating that day, or not; having enough money for rent, or not. This work makes an immediate short-term impact for 30,000 client visits every single month — but it will never solve food insecurity.

    That’s why North York Harvest’s advocacy strategy brings people most impacted by poverty together to fight for real change, so no one needs to turn to a food bank in the first place.

    Through our Community Advocacy Group and NOTICE campaign, Peter is making sure the realities of living on ODSP are heard by elected officials.

    Peter sits on the group’s Steering Committee, which helps co-plan North York Harvest’s advocacy strategy including rallies, petitions, deputations, and more, to put the drivers of hunger and unaffordability on NOTICE.

    “People who are experiencing poverty and food insecurity are the ones who are experts in that, and they can speak to it in a way that we absolutely never could,” says Sarah Watson, Director of Community Engagement at North York Harvest.

    “We want to create platforms and opportunities so that people have chances — that they might not have otherwise — to be seen and heard in their own words.”

    Four people in winter gear stand outside of City Hall during a rally in Toronto. One person with red hair is addressing the audience, holding a microphone.

    Earlier this year, members of the committee co-organized a rally on the day Toronto City Council was voting on the budget, which brought over 100 clients to City Hall to fight for a fairer city for all. Afterwards, our community was invited to Mayor Olivia Chow’s office to speak directly about the budget.

    “People need a voice,” Peter says. “Advocating for people who need help is something I need to do, because some people have had societal and generational hardship inflicted upon them.

    “We deserve stable housing and we deserve fair treatment. I didn’t ask to be blind, I didn’t ask to be on ODSP — but here I am. What is our government for, if not to help us?” 

    Do you agree that hunger and poverty in our city have gone unnoticed and underfunded for too long? Join NOTICE and fight for a city for all of us!

  5. Take a Virtual Tour of our new Community Food Hub!

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    North York Harvest Food Bank's warehouse is seen buzzing with activity, people walk down the aisle as a person on a forklift drives by. They are surrounded by ceiling-high racking filled with non-perishable food items for the community.

    With the arrival of spring, we’re seeing rain, renewal, and growth!

    All of those are things happening here at North York Harvest Food Bank too — yes, even the rain. As we continue to grapple with leaky infrastructure and insufficient space to support the growing needs of our community, we’re beyond excited to share an update on our new home.

    Construction contracts have officially been signed for our new Community Food Hub, opening later this year!

    Our new home will help North York Harvest Food Bank realize the most transformational chapter in our history. The 30,000 sq. ft. space will be 10x larger, which will allow us to distribute more fresh food, train more people for full-time employment, and support even more non-profits with access to affordable food.

    We’re looking forward to opening our doors and celebrating this milestone with you in just a few months!

    In the meantime, we invite you to take a virtual tour of our new home. Renderings of both our warehouse and office space will guide you from the reception area, sort room, fresh food kitchen, and more.

    Thank you for your partnership in reimagining what a food bank can be, and redefining how we fight food insecurity in Toronto.

  6. North York Harvest expands workforce training to fuel pathways to employment in Toronto

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    A group of people holding certificates stand in front of a North York Harvest Food Bank backdrop, smiling.

    We’re proud to announce Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) as the lead Workforce Training Partner for our Leadership in Logistics program, an innovative workforce development initiative that connects individuals to meaningful employment and long-term stability.

    This partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as North York Harvest Food Bank prepares to open our new Community Food Hub, a 30,000+ square-foot distribution centre designed to expand access to fresh food while investing in long-term solutions to food insecurity.

    Leadership in Logistics is a paid, four-week hands-on training program that equips participants with in-demand skills in warehousing, distribution, and supply chain operations. Through a combination of technical training, certifications, and wraparound support, the program is designed to create real pathways to employment, helping individuals move beyond crisis and toward stability.


    Hear from a recent LIL grad, Olusola, about how the program gave him renewed energy and hope for his life in Canada with his family.

    With the opening of the Community Food Hub, the program will expand – training more participants, increasing job placements, and strengthening connections to employers across the sector. This growth will not only support individuals, but also help build a stronger workforce pipeline and keep economic opportunity rooted within the community.

    “Food security is about more than food, it’s about income, opportunity, and access,” said Ryan Noble, Executive Director at North York Harvest Food Bank. “Leadership in Logistics is one of the ways we’re working to address the root cause of food bank usage by connecting people to meaningful, full-time work. With the support of Canadian Tire Corporation, we can expand this program and reach more people at a time when it’s needed most.”

    As lead Workforce Training Partner, Canadian Tire Corporation will play a key role in supporting program delivery and creating employment pathways for participants. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building stronger communities by investing in people.

    A woman instructs a person on a forklift during North York Harvest Food Bank's workforce training program at their warehouse in North York.

    “At Canadian Tire Corporation, our purpose is to help make life in Canada better – and that means investing in people and the communities they call home,” said Caitlin Patterson, Manager, ESG Strategy and Community Impact at Canadian Tire Corporation. “We’re proud to support North York Harvest Food Bank’s Leadership in Logistics program and help connect people to skills, training and meaningful job opportunities.”

    The Community Food Hub will serve as both a food distribution centre and a space for innovation, bringing together food access, workforce development, and social enterprise under one roof. By expanding programs like Leadership in Logistics, North York Harvest Food Bank is not only addressing the symptoms of food insecurity, but helping to build long-term economic resilience and community wealth.

    This partnership underscores a growing recognition that solving hunger requires more than just food, it requires long-term solutions that create opportunity, build local capacity, and keep resources circulating within the community we serve.

  7. Hannah’s Story: Why food banks are a lifeline during illness

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    Lawrence Heights Community Food Centre is seen from the outside, the exterior is covered in a colourful mural.

    Recently, we received a letter from a client named Hannah from our Lawrence Heights Community Food Space. Hannah is 52, she lives alone, and due to injuries and health issues, she relies on ODSP for income support.

    She asked if we would share her story with you, because she wanted the people who support North York Harvest Food Bank to understand what their kindness truly means to someone going through life’s hardest moments.

    “My name is Hannah, and I want to share a story that is close to my heart. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the light you have brought into my life during its darkest chapters. Life has tested me in ways I never imagined. After losing my husband and battling cancer myself, I found myself physically and financially exhausted. Later, a severe car accident and multiple surgeries—including my recent knee replacement—made it impossible for me to work—that I first encountered the food bank.

    ​At first, I’ll admit, I felt a sense of shame. It wasn’t easy to reach out and ask for help. However, as I faced further challenges, the food bank became my steady anchor. Even now, as I recover from knee replacement surgery and remain unable to earn an income, this support continues to be my lifeline.

    A person is visible through a plastic barrier stocking shelves at North York Harvest Food Bank.

    ​I am profoundly grateful for the kindness and the resources provided to me during my darkest hours. You didn’t just provide food; you provided hope.

    Every time we meet, the volunteers greet me warmly and ask about my recent activities, so they are very kind and friendly. For me, who doesn’t go out and just stays at home, meeting them is also a great joy. 

    ​As someone who relies on and deeply appreciates this service, I would like to offer a small suggestion. While all help is welcome, I have noticed a need for more diverse nutritional options, such as fresh meats and vegetables. For those of us recovering from surgery and illness, these fresh ingredients are vital for our physical healing.

    ​Thank you for being there for me when I had nowhere else to turn. I hope my story encourages others to both seek help when needed and support this wonderful cause.”

    Food is never just food, it restores hope, it is stability when income disappears, it is dignity after loss, it is strength while healing from surgery. And Hannah is right, fresh food should not be a luxury. North York Harvest Food Bank’s new Community Food Hub, opening later this year, will vastly increase our capacity to distribute fresh food to community members just like Hannah.

    You can be there for neighbours facing food insecurity, and right now you can provide 5X more support thanks to a matching gift from The Sprott Foundation. Turn $25 into $125 of food support.

    I WANT TO HELP

     

  8. A message from Executive Director Ryan Noble: What we receive when we give back

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    Ryan Noble; Executive Director, North York Harvest Food Bank

    Volunteering is one of those unique activities that is easy to define but harder to fully explain.  Like telling someone a joke or celebrating a friend’s birthday, we volunteer to help somebody or an organization we care about. And yet, anyone who has made a room erupt in laughter or taken the time to select just the right gift knows the sense of satisfaction one gets from it. We clearly do these things for others, but in doing so we also nourish ourselves.

    North York Harvest Food Bank is made up of hundreds of dedicated volunteers. They help to deliver food through our warehouse and trucks, serve clients in our food spaces, interact with donors and support our advocacy and community events. We couldn’t do the work that we do without them, and I am incredibly grateful for their time and effort.

    A woman in a North York Harvest Food Bank apron smiles while serving food to a community member at the food bank,

    At the same time, I often have volunteers thank North York Harvest for the opportunity. I’ve come to realize that in many cases this is a very reciprocal relationship. Just as the clients we serve get more than food, volunteers do more than just a job. They report that volunteering helps them build new relationships, develop new skills, makes them feel good and connected to their community, and provides them with the opportunity for physical activity. Volunteering is an important way that people participate in the community that North York Harvest is a part of.

    I was reminded of this recently when Daffodil, from our Community Engagement department, volunteered to make phone calls to thank donors. Daffodil served as the manager of the Oriole Community Food Space for many years and as such, is often thanked by the clients she assists. She told me that the few hours she spent thanking donors was one of the most impactful experiences she’s ever had at North York Harvest. She told me that she had many warm conversations with the donors she thanked, and that it felt great to speak with supporters for no reason other than to express gratitude. Later that day, one of the people she spoke with called to tell us how great the conversation made her feel as well.  There wasn’t a giver and a taker, a donor and a recipient – there were just two people sharing a connection over a common vision.

    Following National Volunteer Week, I want to express my gratitude to all the volunteers who contribute to North York Harvest.  When so many people are suffering not only from food insecurity but also from a lack of real social connection, I am incredibly thankful for everyone who believes in our vision of a community where everyone can meet their food needs and who joins the effort to help make it a reality.