Tag Archive: toronto food bank

1. 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!

   
   
   
   
   

2. March Closures and Time Changes

   March 7, 2016 7:55 pm Comments Off on March Closures and Time Changes

   Please see below for any food bank changes this month

   Bathurst Finch

   • Changed Hours for March Break:

     2-4pm on Monday March 14th and 2-4pm Wednesday March 16th.

   • Closed for Easter Monday
   • New Day: Otherwise open on Mondays from 6-8pm

   Youth Feeding Youth

   • Open March 7th and 21st from 1:30pm to 2:30pm

   Oriole

   • Closed Good Friday March 25th

   Doorsteps Falstaff

   • Closed Good Friday March 25th
   • Open Friday March 18th instead

   WAES

   • Closed Good Friday March 25th
   • Open Friday April 1st instead

   Syme Woolner

   • Closed Good Friday
   • Appointments on Saturday and Sunday instead

   Thistletown

   • Closed Good Friday
   • Open on Thursday and Wednesday as usual

3. Agency Development

   February 26, 2016 2:24 pm Comments Off on Agency Development

   The Average Agency is volunteer run & has limited resources. This year your funds helped us invest in 4 agencies to increase food, enhance client services & empower agencies to serve their community better.

    

   

   CLICK HERE to see the PDF

   
   
   
   
   

4. 2016 Spring Food Drive

   February 19, 2016 3:23 pm Comments Off on 2016 Spring Food Drive

   Every groundhog day, Canada patiently waits to see what Wiarton Willie has to say about how much longer we have to wait out the winter.

   Well… as of February 2, the little critter said we had six more weeks to go and if you’re like me, you can’t wait!  It’s almost time to break out the spring jackets and put away the toques and mittens for another year!  It’s time to walk around in the sunshine surrounded by trees and flowers blossoming and the smell of fresh cut grass.

   Another thing to be excited about is the annual Spring Food Drive!  It kicks off on February 24 and will propel us into the spring season!

   

   You make this important event possible each year!  With the food and funds raised during this drive, your neighbours will have enough food to help them get by through off peak times such as the summer.  When kids are on summer vacation, they lack access to the breakfast and lunch programs run by their schools.  But with your help, they will have enough food to give them the energy needed to be healthy and active kids all summer long!

   Don’t let your neighbours in need go hungry!  Help us raise $100,000 & 100,000 lbs. of food this spring and make sure no one in our community goes without food!

   So how can you get involved in this great event?

   • Run a Food & Funds Drive
   • Make donating easy for friends and family by setting up your very own donation page online!  It’s easy – contact leslie@northyorkharvest.com
   • Make a donation – $1 = 3 meals
   • Volunteer your time – opportunities in store, on the trucks and even positions left with the public sort!
   • Make a donation of groceries on your next shopping trip
   • Connect with us on social media and spread the word (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram)

   

   Not sure what food to donate?  No problem!  We have a handy list of all of the top needed items at the food bank! If you’re looking through your pantry for items to donate, be sure not to donate anything expired – please check out this blog post on best before dates for more info.

   Because of your generosity, we are able to provide food for over 13,000 parents, children and grandparents every month! 

   Thank you for making a difference today and every day! 

   Sign up for updates from North York Harvest!

5. Students vs. Hunger

   February 5, 2016 6:23 pm Comments Off on Students vs. Hunger

   I remember college fondly.  Leaving home, living in a new place, and fun with friends.  I think I even remember some learning and planning for the future somewhere in there.  What most of us don’t think of when we think of university or college is not having enough food to eat.  I mean I didn’t exactly eat the best food.  There was a lot of mac and cheese, microwave dinners and some other weird combinations of food I cringe to think of now.  But never was there not enough.  I never had to stress about where my next meal would come from.

   Unfortunately today, more and more students across our country are finding themselves in university thinking more about how they will afford to eat than about their studies. Right here in our city all our universities have had to open food banks right on campus.  More than 800 York University students need to access the Food 4 Thought campus food bank weekly in order to feed themselves. 

   I had the chance to talk with Niraj Maharaj, Student Rights and Support Services Coordinator for the
   York Federation of Students about this the other day.  You see back in 2010, Niraj and his friend Kemba, working at York, realized many of the students they were working with were also food insecure and they knew they had to do something about it.

   Growing up, Niraj shared with me that he felt he was lucky.  Even though he came from a single parent household, they always had enough food on the table and did not go hungry.  His mother felt it was very important that he and his siblings were grateful for everything they had.  Many weekends and holidays were devoted to volunteering in the local soup kitchens and participating in food drives.  This is a lesson that Niraj has taken with him throughout his life.

   Niraj’s job in Advocacy Services was to advocate for students who facing disciplinary action for misconduct, connect students with tutoring when they were struggling in classes or support them for other issues that would arise at school.  Niraj was there to lend a helping hand.  He eventually began to notice a trend among the students that he was working with. Many of confided that even with OSAP, scholarships and jobs, they were not able to afford enough food to get by.  The combination of hunger and their incredibly busy schedules was leading many students to make poor academic choices.

   Niraj and Kemba began running food drives to support their fellow students.  Their efforts quickly snowballed.  They were surprised to see how many people at York rallied together to ensure their fellow classmates could get access to enough food. The Food 4 Thought York University Food Bank was born.

   Today the program sees 40-50 students in need of food every day. 

   

   When the food bank was just beginning, Niraj told me that many students were embarrassed to use the program.  “They were worried that their peers or teachers would find out. But as the years have gone by the students at York University have been having open discussions regarding food insecurity. This has helped with the stigmatization many people feel about using a food bank. Students are realizing that they are not alone when it comes to hunger.  If someone is still uncomfortable, I will refer him or her to a food bank that is off campus.”

   Niraj told me that the best part of the job is seeing how grateful people are for the help they have received.  “Many students stop by in their cap and gown after graduation, some with their families, to express thanks for the service. I’ve been told by many people that they wouldn’t be able to graduate if it weren’t for the food bank”.

   However, graduation does not necessarily mean an end to food bank use.  Unfortunately, many students will need to continue using food banks for years to come.  “It used to be that once you had an education you could go out and get a job and support yourself and your family.  But these days an education doesn’t guarantee you a job anymore,” says Niraj.

   As students are graduating, they find it difficult to secure well-paying jobs to cover rent, other expenses and the new debt incurred from attending university.  Continuing to use a food bank until one can hopefully find a job that pays enough is not uncommon for many students, especially those without strong family support.   Even those with families in the city, often come from homes where parents are just making ends meet.

   

   “The issues around food security, income, and tuition are vast and not going away any time soon but in the mean time we will be here to support our student community so that people who need food can access it.”

   Without your help, community food banks just like Food 4 Thought would have to close their doors.  Hundreds of students would go hungry and be forced to drop out of school. 

   Niraj saw the need to help others in his community and you can too.  Not all of us can start a food bank, but there are many ways to contribute to make an impact.

   • Make a financial donation
   • Volunteer
   • Run a food and funds drive

   Thank you for providing the joy of food and a bright future for these students!

    

   
   
   
   
   

6. We Love Our Donors!

   January 29, 2016 2:51 pm Comments Off on We Love Our Donors!

   

   Thank you so much for making the end of 2015 amazing! Because of you we were able to provide 2.5 MILLION meals to people that are hungry in Toronto

   Would you like the PDF? CLICK HERE!

   Don’t miss out on our exciting Enewsletter each month! Sign up here:

7. North York Harvest’s Most Wanted

   January 15, 2016 7:16 am Comments Off on North York Harvest’s Most Wanted

   We are incredibly grateful for the thousands of pounds of food items that you have donated!  Most donations that come into the food bank are non-perishable.   These non-perishable items go a long way to ensure that our neighbours have enough food to eat.

   You might be wondering what non-perishable items are used and needed the most.  Well, all donations made to the food bank are important, but there are some items that are requested more by food bank clients.

   Most requests are for canned fish, pulses (beans and lentils), canned tomatoes and rice.

   But why are those items requested more so than others? Here’s a little more about information and some awesome recipes!

   

   Canned Fish

   When it comes to non-perishable meat products, canned fish can’t be beat.  Fish is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in brain health, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  It is also a great source of lean protein, which is essential for cell growth and maintaining one’s muscle tissue.  Reduced sodium varieties are preferred as canned fish can contain too much salt for some people.  Canned fish can easily be added to salads and pastas for a convenient way of incorporating it into a diet.

   For a tuna salad without the mayo and the added health benefits of avocado – try this Avocado Tuna Salad

   Make a quick and delicious dinner using items from the pantry with Garlic Salmon Linguine for just 67 cents per serving

   

   Pulses

   It’s official!  2016 has been named the year of the pulse.  It’s not hard to see why; these economical beans and lentils are nutritional powerhouses.  The are extremely high in fibre and vitamins and minerals including zinc, iron, magnesium and B vitamins.  Pulses can also reduce “bad cholesterol” which decreases one’s chance for heart attack or stroke.  They are also a fantastic source of protein.

   Warm up when it’s cold outside by making this super simple Lentil Soup

   Brownies made with beans?  It’s true – delicious and healthy; try this Black Bean Brownie recipe!

   Try something a little different with these Chickpea Burritos

   

   Canned Tomatoes

   One of the best canned produce items is canned tomatoes.  Unlike other canned produce, canned tomatoes can retain their flavour, allowing them to be used in many recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  These are a great staple for soups, sauces, chili and many other recipes.  They are also high in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant.

   Have some comfort food with this Creamy Tomato Mushroom Pasta

   This Potato and Cauliflower Curry  is a great way to try out some spices in your spice rack.

   Use your beans and canned tomatoes in this Vegetarian Chili

   

   Rice

   Rice is a very conventional and easy to prepare food item.  It is also a great source of vitamins and minerals such as niacin, vitamin D, calcium, fiber, iron, thiamine and riboflavin.  These vitamins and minerals promote a healthy body by supporting the immune system and regulating a person’s metabolism.  Rice is also a great source of energy.

   Impress your family and friends with this Creamy Risotto

   Try your hand at making your own Sushi, it is economical and a lot of fun to try!

   For a basic and easy dish for any night of the week, try this Brown Rice Tofu Stir Fry

   

   Families right in your neighbourhood are always in need of these basic pantry items.  If you would like to donate groceries, please visit one of your local fire halls or grocery stores.  Aside from the items mentioned above, you can check out our list of suggested food donations here.

   Curious about what else goes into a food hamper? Learn more about the Build a Hamper Food Purchasing Program that helps all children, parents and seniors have access to items like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and more.

   
   
   
   

    

8. 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!