2016 has come to a close. It’s been quite the year, hasn’t it? Whether you had a great year or can’t wait for 2017 to start, we can all agree that a lot has happened over the past 365 days.
Here at NYH, there has been a lot of excitement and progress over the past year. We’ve seen many accomplishments and triumphs thanks to our amazing clients, volunteers, donors, staff and supporters! We wouldn’t have had such a terrific year without YOU!
I asked my colleagues in the office, warehouse and on the front lines what their favourite memories of 2016 were and got quite an impressive response!
I considered doing one of those end of year top ten lists but then realized that I can’t decide which is the best one! So here, in no particular order, are some of the great milestones, achievements and moments from 2016!
2016 was BIG for programs, partnerships, feedback and healthy eating!
Of course I couldn’t start off without saying THANK YOU for providing food to people in our community! This year we served more than 15,000 people every month and distributed over 2.3 MILLION lbs. of food!
On top of putting food on the table for our neighbours in need, there were many other exciting things happening this year, including:
Child Care Food Delivery
This year NYH partnered with Learning Enrichment Foundation to bring healthy meals and snacks to over 1400 kids in childcare programs throughout the city.
Mission Kitchen
For 3 months this year, NYH was able to run a community kitchen in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood. Each week, participants came together to learn cooking skills and enjoy a meal together. Learn more about Mission Kitchen here!
Food Handling Certificates and Meal Programs
The Oriole Food Space ran a series of community kitchen programs in partnership with Flemingdon Health Centre and Working Women Community Centre, particularly aimed at Syrian refugees. We trained a group of almost 20 Arabic speaking newcomers in food handling and food safety, necessary skills in securing employment in the food sector.
Soup Production
This year NYH got into the exciting world of food production! We partnered with FoodShare & Foodstarter to form a unique partnership to produce a soup that would help our community meet their food needs. With the help of students and volunteers, we were able to produce a dry lentil soup that will be sold through FoodShare’s Good Food Boxes & Grab Some Good pop up markets. Each soup sold will put a soup on the food bank shelf for someone hungry in the community.
Toronto Star Santa Hampers
This was first year we were able to distribute a healthier hamper for those receiving the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund Hampers. Every hamper included perishable items including eggs, cheese, apples and more!
Farm Fresh
Many of our clients were able to visit community farms in and around the city to see first hand where some of the fresh and nutritious produce that goes to their table comes from.
Client Surveys
A comprehensive client survey was conducted in our food banks. Results are being put together now and will be used to guide future programming to ensure clients receive the best service possible!
Logistics Essentials Workforce Development
Using our warehouse space, we have embarked on a training program for low income individuals to learn skills for the workplace. Students will learn technical and employments skills as well as receiving certification for Forklift driving, safe food handling and WHMIS.
Lawrence Heights
Lawrence Heights Community Food Space found a new home at 6 Pengarth Court. LHCFS is also our first community food space to move to the new appointment based model. This allows clients to have an appointment at the food bank to ensure less wait time, giving them better access to services and supports, and a personal touch.
Staff Training
Our frontline staff have had extensive training over the past year in non-violent conflict resolution, working in communities that experience gun violence, trauma informed care, food handlers certificates, developing a community of practice, program development, evaluation and implementation
Advocacy Award
This year we were honoured with the Advocacy Award from the Ontario Association of Food Banks recognizing our efforts towards addressing hunger in the community.
Donor Recognition
This year we celebrated our donors at Taylor’s Landing. It was a great opportunity to connect with some amazing people that are helping us provide our services in the community.
We all have our own reasons why generosity and sharing is important. We can also show it in different ways. Like making a monetary gift to charity, volunteering or even holding the door open for a stranger.
So we asked some of our amazing donors and volunteers – why do you give?
It’s that crazy time of year! The cold weather and December brings a busy time for us all and if you’re anything like me, you’ve got some holiday plans on your schedule too. I’m tired just thinking about all that’s going on before we kick off the new year.
What do the holidays mean to you? Is it about family and celebration? Or maybe a time to reflect on your past year and what is to come? The holidays can be different for every person.
But, the holidays can be harder for some people than others. Sometimes they can be much harder than they were just the year before.
Meet Penny.
Penny has two daughters aged 7 and 11. As a single mom, she works full time while her daughters go to school and take dance classes.
Everything was going well until the unexpected happened.
All of a sudden, Penny was also needed to be caregiver to her two elderly and sick grandparents. She had not planned for this kind of bump in the road.
We’ve all had those times where something unexpected has happened. Luckily for some people there is financial support or family to fall back on during those times. Others, like Penny find themselves trapped.
“I didn’t know what to do. I’ve always been a planner but I didn’t know how I was going to plan my way through this,” Penny says of the experience, “All of a sudden I had to take care of the whole family – not just myself and the girls.”
With her family depending on her, she knew that she needed outside help. She wouldn’t have time or money to take care of everything – especially during this time of year.
That’s when Penny ended up at the food bank.
Between the hamper that she receives every other week from her local food bank, store sales and coupon clipping; Penny has found a way to ensure that everyone in her family is able to eat nutritious meals each day.
“If not for the food bank, there’s no way I would be able to feed my family and give my kids the holiday celebration that they deserve.” Penny says, “The holidays are much harder than usual but I’m glad to know that I can get help – anyone can.”
Penny has been saving up bit by bit to be able to give her kids gifts and a nice dinner.
“I want them to have what other kids have, they shouldn’t be left out of a holiday. Thanks to the help we are getting from the food bank – they don’t have to be.”
Because of your support during the Winter Food Drive – Penny will be able to serve a healthy holiday meal to her whole family and that is something to celebrate!
Hunger doesn’t hibernate and we can make a difference for families just like Penny’s!
This post is all about YOU and how absolutely GRATEFUL we are to have you in the North York Harvest family!
YOU make it possible to provide food for your neighbours that would otherwise go hungry.
YOU come out to volunteer, donate funds, show support and be a part of our community.
Each month your generosity touches more than 15,000 people in Toronto. Thank you!
Without YOU we wouldn’t have been able to help your neighbours access food this year.
This year we shared with you stories from many people. People who were directly impacted because of you. And those stories are just the tip of the iceberg!
From Jenna, who started grade four this year and loves science and gym class. And her mom Trish, who had her hours cut at work. Trish wasn’t sure how to pay the bills. YOU ensured that Jenna didn’t go to school hungry!
Your support helped Katherine, a dietician at a prenatal drop in program. With your help, she was able to teach women about healthy eating on a budget. YOU ensured that they would be able to feed themselves while they were pregnant and continue to provide nutritious meals as their children grow.
More than 800 York University students use the campus food bank every week. YOU made sure that they were able to access the food they needed to help them concentrate on their studies instead of hunger.
Marlene, a volunteer at a local food bank was able to give her neighbours more than just food when they came in hungry. She was able to connect them with free services throughout the city to help them with parenting classes, recreational activities, resume building and more.
Over 300 Syrians fleeing war and violence came to the Oriole Food Space after arriving in Canada. There they have found more than food for their families, but the opportunity for a new life, work, friends and a chance. A chance they wouldn’t have gotten without your support.
And Jennifer who is only 17 years old. She found herself pregnant and homeless…instead of her original plan to go off to college and start her career. YOU made sure she was able to feed herself and her son during these tough times.
These are only some of the people that you helped this year alone! There are thousands more people that you directly impact through your generosity and support!
We can’t do it without you and we couldn’t imagine trying!
Thank you for all you do – it makes a world of difference – to us and the neighbours that you may never know.
Who’s donating to the food bank? You and wonderful people in your community are working together to make a difference in the lives of people that are hungry!
Want to join in and make a donation to support people that are hungry? Click here!
We hope you enjoy all the tricks and treats you get today!
Make this Halloween a little less scary for people that are hungry by providing meals in your community. Each donation of $1 provides 3 meals for people in your neighbourhood!
What is your calling? Is there something that you just feel inspired to do in life?
Volunteers are the heart and soul of any organization. They carry their values and represent selflessness in a world where we could all use a little more compassion.
As much as we adore volunteers – having them organized together and committed to a common goal would not be possible without a volunteer manager. North York Harvest Food Bank’s volunteer manager is Lisa Anderson and in honour of Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day on November 5, I think we should get to know her just a little bit better.
Lisa has been with North York Harvest for more than ten years engaging with volunteers, staff and clients. Each year she works with over 2000 volunteers, some directly and some only in passing but all, either knowingly or unknowingly, supported by her. These volunteers work in the food bank serving clients; on the trucks picking up donations of food; in stores greeting donors; helping us stuff envelopes in the office; making thank you calls to donors and so much more. Without these volunteers – helping over 15,000 people in northern Toronto meet their food needs would be impossible.
Was this always her calling? For myself, I kind of just fell into working in the non-profit sector; while other people knew they wanted to do the job. Lisa was both. “I was in social work for 20 years and got tired of it – so I took some time off to volunteer. That is when I realized what I wanted to do in my life.” Says Lisa. So she took a volunteer management course and got involved with the food bank.
After 10 years you would think that Lisa would have to have some special stories under her belt. I asked her if there were any that really stuck out in her mind.
“Back in 2013 I nominated our volunteer Richard to receive the The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to honour his many years volunteering with North York Harvest. At the time he had volunteered for 19 years and still volunteers to this day. I was absolutely thrilled when he received the medal! It was a wonderful event celebrating a hardworking and respected member of our family.”
Lisa also draws inspiration from those that use the food bank as well. “The way the food bank touches people on a daily basis is humbling. A woman that touched my heart in particular was a refugee that had come from Africa. She had two children and her husband had passed away right before they were to come to Canada. It was extremely tough for her – she didn’t know anyone and had lost everything from back home. It was completely beyond her control. I don’t know if that is something that I would be able to do – her strength amazed me. Each person I meet can be a new inspiration and I don’t take that for granted.”
So what keeps Lisa going after all of these years? She tells me that each day can be a new experience. From meeting new people from different walks of life to facing new challenges.
“What satisfies me the most about this job is helping people. If I can connect someone to a cause and opportunity that they really care about – it makes me feel great.”
Maybe Lisa can connect you with your perfect volunteer opportunity? Give it a shot and contact her at 416-635-7771 ex 29 or email her at lisa@northyorkharvest.com
Has Lisa directly supported your volunteer experience? Leave a comment here about how she touched your life and we will pass on the message. Let’s make Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day awesome for our Volunteer Manager Lisa.
Don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all of our exciting volunteer news!
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As much as we adore volunteers – having them organized together and committed to a common goal would not be possible without a volunteer manager. North York Harvest Food Bank’s volunteer manager is Lisa Anderson and in honour of Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day on November 5, I think we should get to know her just a little bit better.