Tag Archive: toronto

  1. 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

     

  2. 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. 

  3. National Volunteer Week: Meet Melina!

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    North York Harvest Food Bank has hundreds of dedicated volunteers who show up every day to make a difference in their community; by sorting food in our warehouse, serving clients in our food spaces, supporting with events, and so much more. People from all walks of life unite under a common goal: To care for their neighbours and fight food insecurity.

    People just like Melina, a volunteer at our Lawrence Heights Community Food Space.

    For National Volunteer Week, hear from Melina about what she loves about volunteering, why she thinks everyone should do it, and how everyone has the power to make a difference.

    Do you want to make a difference every day, just like Melina? Learn all the ways you can get involved!

  4. A Bigger Vision for Our Community Food Hub

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    A Bigger Vision for Our Community Food Hub

    When we launched our capital campaign, we set out to build something bold: a Community Food Hub that could meet today’s needs while helping create long-term solutions to food insecurity.

    But as we’ve continued meeting and listening to our community, our partners, and hearing the realities our clients face everyday, one thing has become clear:

    We need to go further.

    That’s why we are increasing our campaign goal to $8 million.

    Why the Change?

    Our original plans included cold storage that would expand our capacity. But over the past years, demand has surged, and conversations with our network of over 300 community partners have reinforced the same message:

    Access to fresh, nutritious food is one of the biggest gaps in northern Toronto.

    To meet this need, we are significantly expanding our cold storage capacity.

    Our new fridge will be nearly 5,000 square feet…almost the size of our entire current warehouse!

    It means more fresh produce, more dairy, more culturally relevant food, and more dignity for the people in our community.

    Building for What Comes Next

    Through our partnership with the City of Toronto, we were proud to be part of a winning solution in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge recognizing a new approach to school food that reduces costs and increases access.

    At the same time, the Government of Canada is advancing a national school food program.

    These are once-in-a-generation opportunities, but without the right infrastructure, we can’t scale to meet them.

    The Community Food Hub is the missing piece that allows us and our partners to deliver on our vision.

    More Than Food: Strengthening the System

    This investment goes far beyond storage.

    It will allow us to grow FoodReach, our social enterprise that helps hundreds of non-profits and community organizations access affordable, reliable food.

    By increasing our capacity, we can:

    • Reach thousands more organizations across Ontario 
    • Purchase more food from local farmers and suppliers 
    • Invest millions of dollars back into our local economy each year

    At the same time, we are expanding Leadership in Logistics and developing new workforce training programs with community partners.

    These programs create pathways to stable employment, because addressing food insecurity requires more than just food.

    This is a major step toward our vision: a community where everyone can meet their food needs.

    Help Us Close the Gap

    Our goal is $8 million. We’ve raised $5.5M so far.

    Right now, your gift goes further. Through a transformational match from The Sprott Foundation, every $1 becomes $5.

    Every dollar brings us closer to opening our Community Food Hub and scaling solutions that will last for generations! 

    This is the moment.

    Let’s finish this together. Give today.

    DONATE TODAY

  5. Why Dixon Hall has partnered with FoodReach for over 8 years

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    FoodReach logo

    Our FoodReach social enterprise works with hundreds of food banks, drop-in meal programs, shelters, libraries, and schools to provide affordable, high-quality food, so organizations can help more people meet their food needs, for less.

    For more than eight years, Dixon Hall has partnered with FoodReach to power several of its community food programs. Dixon Hall is a multi-service charitable organization supporting clients with everything from affordable housing, employment services, to essential food programs.

    Two chefs stand in front of bowls of chopped eggplant and broccoli ahead of drop-in meal programming at Dixon Hall.

    Their Sumach location operates drop-in meal and food hamper programs, and delivery options for clients who are unable to come in person.

    Before partnering with FoodReach, sourcing food for programs meant long trips on foot to the grocery store — rain or shine. “It was inefficient, and it doesn’t work when you’re running 4-5 programs a week. We started partnering with FoodReach because we needed better food access,” says Gregory, Food Access Supervisor with Dixon Hall.

    With FoodReach, Dixon Hall now has access to a wide range of affordable, high-quality foods including fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and shelf-stable items. This expanded selection has made it easier to plan and deliver diverse programming across multiple sites.

    But for Dixon Hall, the value of FoodReach goes beyond logistics and affordability; it’s about partnership.

    A person holds a box of bananas at Dixon Hall's Sumach location.

    “It’s not like working with a big corporate supplier,” Gregory says. “FoodReach has been very good to us, and they understand community work. When we were first building our hamper program, they helped us find the right products. They’re always open to feedback and even update their catalogue based on what we need.”

    That responsiveness reflects FoodReach’s roots as a social enterprise of North York Harvest Food Bank. Every purchase supports a broader mission of community wealth building:  Community food programs are strengthened, regional food suppliers are supported, and local jobs are created, with surplus revenue reinvested into North York Harvest.

    Together, FoodReach and community partners like Dixon Hall are proving what’s possible when organizations work collaboratively to reimagine the food system—one that is more equitable and responsive.

    “At Dixon Hall, food is sometimes the first point of connection for people who are facing barriers,” Gregory says. “For the youth, seniors, newcomers, and community members we serve, having access to nourishing food can mean feeling seen, supported, and cared for.”

  6. Sonya’s Story: Starting over with community support

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    A woman in a red North York Harvest Food Bank apron serves food to a client.

    When Sonya* arrived in Canada in 2015 with her 11-year-old son Eric*, she was starting over completely.

    She was a single mother in a new country, navigating an unfamiliar language, searching for housing, and trying to figure out how to access basic supports — all while making sure her son had enough to eat.

    In August 2015 Sonya was connected with our Bathurst-Finch Community Food Space, where right away she felt at home.

    “Coming to Bathurst-Finch with a large population of Russian speakers, It was very comforting that someone could communicate with us without a language barrier issue,” Sonya says.

    There, she found food and clothing support, support with immigration papers and documentation, and staff helped Sonya figure out how to apply for ODSP.

    Eventually they met Elis, our Community Services Manager, who has been a steady support as Sonya and Eric have built their lives here in Canada.

    A woman sits at an information booth for North York Harvest Food Bank.

    “We have known Elis for 11 years. She has helped us get on a waitlist for subsidized housing, receive lower-income TTC Presto cards, access medical care before we became permanent residents, and during summer heat waves, Elis connected us with a program to receive a free A/C for our home,” Sonya says.

    For Sonya and Eric, this support made all the difference.

    “We don’t know what we would have done without North York Harvest,” Eric says. “It’s the kind of support that changed our lives here.”

    Today, Eric is studying business marketing, a future that once felt out of reach.

    But like many families across Toronto, Sonya and Eric are still navigating rising living costs. With rent and food prices continuing to climb, North York Harvest Food Bank remains an essential support.

    “If we didn’t have access to these services, we would be in a very different situation right now,” Eric adds. Because I’m a student and my mom’s on ODSP… There’s not much left over after rent and food expenses. Everything that the food bank provides helps us a lot.”

    *Names have been changed to protect client identity.

  7. $4M gift from The Sprott Foundation Launches 5X Match

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    Transformational $4M gift from The Sprott Foundation Launches 5X Match

    North York Harvest Food Bank is proud to announce a transformational $4 million donation from The Sprott Foundation in support of its new Community Food Hub, alongside a powerful matching initiative that will multiply community giving and expand impact across Toronto.

    This is the single largest donation in North York Harvest Food Bank’s history and a landmark investment in vital community infrastructure in Toronto that supports much more than emergency food access.

    The Community Food Hub is central to our bold strategy to address hunger and poverty in our community. This innovative, community-driven space is designed to meet immediate needs today while tackling the root causes of food insecurity. It will significantly expand North York Harvest Food Bank’s capacity to store, prepare, and distribute fresh, nutritious food, while also supporting long-term solutions such as a shared food procurement and distribution system through its social enterprise FoodReach, skills training, and workforce development. The project represents a shift from emergency response toward sustainable, systems-level change.

    The Sprott Foundation is dedicated to addressing homelessness and hunger in Canada and is particularly focused on innovative approaches that promote self-sufficiency and dignity. Its support reflects a shared belief that lasting change requires new models, deep collaboration, and a commitment to learning alongside communities. 

    “North York Harvest Food Bank is building more than a food facility, they are creating an innovative, community-centered model that addresses hunger with dignity and purpose,” said Megan Lorius, The Sprott Foundation. “We are proud to support this bold approach, which not only increases access to fresh, healthy food, but also tackles the underlying challenges that lead to hunger and homelessness. This is the kind of innovation we believe can create lasting impact.”

    The Community Food Hub will serve as a central anchor for food access across Toronto, while strengthening partnerships with community-based food programs, the food bank’s social enterprise FoodReach, and training programs that help people build stability and economic opportunity.

    “This gift from The Sprott Foundation is truly transformative,” said Ryan Noble, Executive Director of North York Harvest Food Bank. “It allows us to reimagine how food banks operate, moving beyond crisis response toward long-term solutions that restore dignity, build skills, and strengthen our community. The Community Food Hub will change how we support people today and for generations to come.”

    Make 5X the Impact

  8. NOTICE North York at City Hall!

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    Over a hundred people stand outside City Hall during a rally including the North York Harvest Food Bank banner.

    Advocacy is a key pillar in North York Harvest Food Bank’s mission. Not only sharing what we know through research including our Who’s Hungry Report, but also providing platforms for our community members to share their lived experience and use their voice for change.

    Together we are fighting for a fairer city for all through NOTICE: A community-powered movement supported by North York Harvest. This movement aims to put the drivers of hunger and poverty on NOTICE with a collective voice that can’t be ignored.

    Last year food insecurity was declared an emergency in Toronto — so our community sprang into action. Ahead of City Council’s vote on the  2025 budget, we collected 100’s of petition signatures and letters, and brought 60+ clients with us to City Hall to hand-deliver them to elected officials.

    Together we helped to secure increased funding for drop-in meal programs, increased funding for tenant supports, a TTC fare freeze and an expanded School Food program.

    That’s the power when community comes together. So this year, we brought two buses full of community members to rally at City Hall, with four of our clients speaking about what it’s like to live with the affordability crisis.

    We joined a coalition of community organizations to rally for City Council to fund a more affordable Toronto.

    One woman wearing a winter coat stands outside with a microphone during a rally at City Hall. A crowd can be seen around her.

    “Seniors need help,” says Joyce, a member of our Community Advocacy Group. “Seniors built this country, they work hard, they pay taxes and they raise families.

    “Today too many seniors are struggling, and we live on a fixed income. Seniors are forced to choose between food or rent. Food or medicine. This is not right, and this is not dignity.”

    A group of people, some with their hands in the air, smile for a group shot at City Hall with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

    Our community met with Mayor Olivia Chow to discuss how the proposed budget would work toward a more affordable Toronto where everyone has the opportunity to live and thrive.

    When policymakers listen to the community members living with the affordability crisis every day — real change can happen.

    Because of the joint advocacy of community organizations across our city, and under the leadership of Mayor Chow, in the 2026 budget we won:

    • A TTC fare freeze for a 3rd year straight AND the first TTC fare cap
    • An expansion of the Student Nutrition program to help an additional 62,000 children meet their food needs
    • More investment in the RentSafeTO and Rent Bank programs to protect renters from unsafe living conditions and evictions

    There is still work to be done at every level of government to fight the affordability crisis in Toronto and across our country.

    But this is what can happen when community speaks truth to power, and elected officials take NOTICE.

    A group of people hold the North York Harvest Food Bank banner outside of City Hall, smiling, some with their fists in the air triumphantly.

    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!