Tag Archive: toronto

1. Guest Blog: Meet Chloe

   May 13, 2016 6:30 am Comments Off on Guest Blog: Meet Chloe

   At North York Harvest Food Bank, we are so lucky to have AMAZING donors, volunteers and supporters make a difference in the lives of over 15,000 people in your community EACH MONTH!

    

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   Hi Everyone!

   I am 11 years old and in grade 5 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. I got into volunteering at the food bank after my family and I went to drop off some donations and got a chance to have a tour of the sorting facility. My favourite part about volunteering is having a great feeling that I help out and being able to tell my friends about my experience and ask that they help out too.

   For my birthday I was lucky to have 2 parties. One with friends and one with my family. For the family celebrations, I asked my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents to collect their loose change and bring it on my birthday instead of buying me presents.  It felt great when they brought their change and I put it into the container that I was collecting it in and brought it when we went to sort food in March. My family thought it was really cool and they promised that they will try to save more change for the next time I come to them to collect for the food bank. My cousins were happy to help.

   

   My mom always tells us how lucky we are for having so much. Living in a nice house, having lots of toys and always food and snacks. She told us that not too far from where we live there are many kids who live in very sad situations. They don’t have toys, they don’t have a big house and many of them only get very little to eat. They have no choice of what to eat. 

   My mom also told us that she has to decided every day what she is going to cook for dinner, but there are parents out there who have to decide between paying the rent or buying food. This makes me very sad. So that’s why I want to help out the food bank so that kids can have meals.

   We plan to volunteer at the sorting facility, I am still collecting change to bring along. I am also going to make little things to sell to my friends to raise money. I have also invited friends to come with us to help sort food.

   

   I think volunteering is fun and it makes you feel great!

   Thank you,

   Chloe

    

    

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   Thank you, Chloe for being such an inspiration and helping people in your community!

   If you would like to join Chloe in making a difference, see the many ways you can get involved with us here!

   
   
   
   

2. 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!

    

    

   
   
   
   
   

3. 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

    

   
   
   
   

4. Filling Plates Together

   April 22, 2016 2:02 pm Comments Off on Filling Plates Together

   Just do it!

   That was Anita Booth’s response when I asked her if she had tips for getting the office involved in charitable efforts.  As Genworth’s Director of Marketing and Community Relations, Anita has spearheaded the company’s fundraising events in our Every Plate Full Campaign.

   

   This summer alone, 918,724 Canadians will be using a food bank to fill their plates. National campaign Every Plate Full will bring thousands of people like you together to provide food for people that need it the most.

   

   This is the second year that Genworth employees have filled the plates of Canadians that use food banks.  Last year the employees raised $4000 through fun activities such as jeans day (which Anita tells me is very popular at the office) and running raffles.  This year is no different. “We kicked off on April 4^th and we’ll spend the month raising money. Each week it’s something new and exciting. We have a 50/50 draw, a raffle for a new IPad and other great items”.

   And it’s more than raising money. “Working together to help others and having fun while doing it is what truly makes this effort a success. The employees really feel good at the end of the day.”

   How can you get your company involved with the Every Plate Full campaign? Anita tells me how easy it is to find a fundraising activity – no matter how small or busy your office may be.  “It’s easy and affordable to do things like jeans day, volunteering, an office potluck, a 50/50 draw or even a draw for a day away from the office. Anyone can get their employees excited about being a part of something no matter what their budget is.  It has also been proven that community involvement is imperative in attracting and retaining new talent.”

   

   So what are you waiting for?

   You can get your coworkers involved TODAY and be a part of this incredible nationwide effort to fill the plates of our neighbours! We want to provide 30,000 meals to your community and you can help make that happen! Sign up HERE or contact Shirah at 416-635-7771 x 48 or shirah@northyorkharvest.com and she’ll help you figure out what works for you and your company.

   Want to get involved as an individual or put a team together outside of work?  You can do that too!  Just sign up here! This summer, join thousands of Canadians across the country to ensure all of our neighbours have a full plate!

   
   
   
   
   

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. Eight GREAT Reasons to Volunteer!

   March 18, 2016 6:39 am Comments Off on Eight GREAT Reasons to Volunteer!

   Volunteers are incredibly important to their community!  I get to meet fantastic volunteers of North York Harvest every day and they always have a smile on their face and a great story to tell.

   Volunteers are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization!  Without your help, charities like North York Harvest would not be able to collect, sort and distribute millions of pounds of food that serves over 16,000 people each month!

   

   Did you also know that there are many benefits in becoming a volunteer?

   1. Learn a new skill. Did you know NYH volunteers learn skills such as safe food handling, cooking, building a budget and much more?

   2. Make new friends and meet interesting people. Meet new people with similar interests or people from different walks of life.  Bond with others while helping out in your community.

   

   3. Boost your resume. Volunteering is a job even though you aren’t paid to do it. Many employers and colleges find the skills you gain from volunteering very important when looking for a person to hire.

   4. Increase self-confidence. When you do good in the community, it really gives you a feeling of accomplishment and pride. These feel good feelings will go with you into other areas of your life such as work or friendships.

   

   5. Stay physically fit. Many of the volunteers at North York Harvest lift boxes and are on their feet moving around to sort food or serve food bank clients. But even if you have limited mobility there are many other ways to get involved such as making phone calls and helping in the office!

   6. Set a good example for your kids. Steffi volunteers with her family sorting food in the warehouse.   “We serve as examples for children through our actions more than our words. We have not ever used a food bank and many need to. So I want my children to understand this is a reality for many people in Toronto”.

   

   7. Minimize stress. Move beyond your day-to-day troubles that can arise from your job or stress at home.

   8. Make a difference! Volunteers are essential to maintaining a thriving community!  It wouldn’t be possible without you!

    

   When you volunteer, it is a gift to yourself and your community!

   Join us today as one of our amazing volunteers!  To find out what kind of opportunities we offer, click here!

    

    

   
   
   
   
   

8. 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!