We absolutely LOVE our volunteers! Every year they come in to sort food, help with pickups and deliveries, help people directly in the food banks, assist in the warehouse, give a hand in the office and so much more!
Without YOU we wouldn’t be able to ensure that more than 15,000 people in our city have access to the food they need. THANK YOU!
We wanted to thank you in a special way so we made a fun video for our incredible volunteers. Volunteer appreciation week is April 23-29 so don’t forget to hug a volunteer and show them some love!
Comments Off on A Community of Food and Friendship
Community. Every day I hear the word. But what does it mean to be a community? The dictionary defines it as “a social group whose members reside in a specific locality, share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage”. Sure, that’s an okay definition but it also sounds pretty boring right?
At North York Harvest, we focus on community as part of our mission. It means more than just a boring definition – it means people coming together to make something incredible happen. It’s about respect, sharing, thoughtfulness and dignity.
One such community group in the NYH family has shown those incredible qualities and more.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Norma who resides in Lawrence Heights. This amazing woman brought her community together and is making a huge impact in the lives of others. Norma saw a need in her neighbourhood. She noticed that many of the seniors living in the area survive on very low incomes and, living alone, dealt with fear, depression, rejection and isolation. She realized that she could make a difference.
From gardening and grocery shopping, to coming for a visit and having a cup of coffee with them, Norma has been volunteering to support seniors in Lawrence Heights for years.
Quickly she realized she could bring her community together through the joy of food. When I asked her why food was so important, she told me, “The isolation these seniors feel can cause malnutrition. They are depressed and lonely so having them get together for a meal nourishes more than their bodies, it nourishes their hearts. I try to put myself in their shoes. I hope there is a program for me when I am that age.”
With the help of her neighbours, she put together a social lunch on Mondays for the seniors in her community. She reached out to NYH for food support – and because of your generosity, we were able to provide the ingredients for these meals. They were provided with fresh produce, meat, dairy and canned goods. Your support has also given them the opportunity to start a Wednesday coffee club as well as put on a couple of community barbecues.
I didn’t realize that many of the members of this group suffer from strokes, diabetes, mental illness or do not have the ability to cook for themselves. Norma told me how important the lunches and coffee dates are for seniors to get together in a place that is safe and welcoming.
“Many of the residents are afraid of getting out there because of their age, vulnerability, illness, mobility, depression or isolation. This type of activity gets them out of the house so they can interact with others who understand them. They feel respected.” This is what building community is really about.
She told me about the first meal the group had together and they enjoyed chicken noodle soup. They were delighted to enjoy a fresh cooked meal. “I was almost in tears when a client told me she couldn’t remember the last time she had homemade soup.” The idea of having a homemade bowl of soup may not seem like much, but to others it can mean the world.
As I listened to Norma share, I could hear her passion for these seniors and the role this program plays in their lives. “At the Canada Day barbecue, one of the seniors known for not being very interactive with others was dancing and having a great time. Another lady that can barely walk was dancing and holding hands with her son.”
I asked her how long she’d like to keep this program going – her answer … FOREVER. Her goal is to continue this program as long as the program has the resources to do so.
“We have a social responsibility to our seniors. We were dependent on our elders as children and one day we will be dependent on others. Every bit helps. Everyone involved can do wonders.”
Thanks to your generous support, NYH is able to welcome wonderful initiatives and community programs into our family. Programs like this prove what a community really is.
That’s so much more touching than a boring definition.
To support programs just like this one, please make a gift today!
Want to come in for an evening with family and friends?
Every Tuesday evening we offer sorting sessions for families and friends! Learn how YOUR help in the food sorting room goes a long way to ensure that your neighbours get the best food possible! It’s a great way to have fun, get some exercise and give back!
To join us on a Tuesday evening from 5:30-7:30 call Kadian at 416-635-7771 ext. 28 or kadian@northyorkharvest.com
Are you looking for an opportunity to bring your coworkers in for a volunteer experience?
We offer corporate volunteer sorting sessions! It’s a great way to learn about food insecurity in your community and work as a team to help make a difference!
For Community Groups, Schools and other groups contact Leslie Venturino at 416-635-7771 ext. 21 or leslie@northyorkharvest.com
Want to be a volunteer on a regular basis?
There are many positions that let you get involved with your community on a weekly basis! We’re in need of the following positions:
FOOD SORTERS
We’re looking for core sorters to join us in the warehouse to sort through donations before they reach the food banks
Monday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Wednesday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm
FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERS
Lawrence Heights Community Food Space (Lawrence/Allen area)
Tuesday, 1pm to 5pm – distribute food hampers
Tuesday, 8am to 12pm – receiving food orders
Room to Grow Food Bank (Kipling/The Westway area)
Wednesday, 9:15am to 12:30pm – receiving food orders
Oriole Food Space (Don Mills/Sheppard area)
Monday, 9:30am to 1pm or 1pm to 3:30pm – receiving food orders
St Vincent de Paul Food Bank (640 Glenholme Ave) is in need of volunteers twice per month to help unload groceries from the truck (typically the second and fourth Thursdays of the month).
WORKING ON OUR TRUCKS
Driving Assistants
We need some volunteers who can spend a day with our drivers. See first hand where our food comes from and where it goes.
Spring is in the air and our office is buzzing! Okay, yes I admit, these past few weeks have felt like we’ve experienced all four seasons at once – but trust me… Spring is almost here!
To celebrate the amazing weather on the way, we are kicking off the Spring Food Drive and we want YOU to be a part of it!
The Spring Drive is so important for making sure that the pantries are stocked during the warmer months to ensure no one has to go without! Together we can make sure that everyone meets their food needs!
Help us raise $100,000 and 100,000 lbs. of food! Your support will help more than 15,000 people each month using food banks, meal programs, prenatal/early parenting programs, community kitchens and other vital services throughout the city.
Getting involved with the food drive is a lot of fun and helps so many people! Just ask Lauren, who has been running food drives for more than ten years!
“I first heard about North York Harvest back in 2005 when I was 14 years old. A NYH bag came to our house with the local newspaper letting us know how we could help,” says Lauren. “I decided right then to do a food drive. At 14 it was a really cool thing to do. Our first food drive raised 170 pounds and its increased so much since then!”
Lauren and her parents have made food drives not only a family tradition, but a tradition within their neighbourhood. “I love going door to door to see everyone in the neighbourhood. A lot of the people I grew up with still give every year because they know that people rely on our help. It has become a real connection to the community.”
What are Lauren’s tips for running YOUR food drive?
It is much easier than it looks and it is much more rewarding too! Its benefits are huge!
We grocery shop as a family and sometimes with a few neighbours as well –add such items as baby formula, canned proteins. Living in a multi-cultural city and community, we also try to contribute spices and different types of food. Click here for a list of suggested foods to donate
Over 400 people rely on the food bank EVERY DAY. You can help!
You want the best when it comes to the food you eat. There’s no way you’d want something old, mouldy or funky smelling in your food.
It’s the same here at the food bank.
Food safety is extremely important. Safety measures are taken into consideration before the food even makes it into the warehouse. Our hardworking operations team ensures not to bring in food that may be hazardous to members of our community. Items like this can include damaged items, foods with missing labels and nutritional products that have expired.
Not only do we want everyone to meet their food needs in the community, we want them to enjoy their food safely.
As you may know, we prefer to take non-perishable food items from donations (canned goods, boxed items, etc.) to ensure we can get these items out to the public without safety issues. But…
Did you know…
Even though we are grateful for amazing donations from the community, there are just some items that we CANNOT accept. These items include:
Food products that are not identifiable or that have ingredients that are not identifiable (missing label or label written in a language other than English/French)
Partially consumed foods (open packaging)
Unpasteurized foods
Home preserves and canned items (jams, jellies, pickles etc.)
Meats, dairy and other high risk items that are not directly from a processor or store e.g. turkeys that have been in your freezer; you may assure us that that turkey has never been defrosted but because we don’t know that 100% we cannot accept it, sorry!
These guidelines make sure that people using the food banks don’t get sick from foods they consume.
Did you know…
There is a difference between Best Before and Expiry Dates. When it comes to packaged foods the dates can get a little confusing. Here are some tips to tell the difference between dates.
A best before date is simply the promise of the manufacturer that the food in the package will be of highest quality. It is not an indication of food safety.
Many times a best before date is not necessary and mostly used to indicate when the quality of food will begin to decrease (a change in taste and texture).
The only items REQUIRED to have expiry dates are baby formulas, meal replacements, formulated liquid diets and nutritional supplements. These items must be thrown out past the expiry date as the should NOT be consumed. This is because the nutritional content cannot be guaranteed beyond the expiry date and the nutritional content is very important for babies, the sick and the elderly.
We will accept foods up to three months past their best before date because we know that they are safe. However, in order to protect our community members’ dignity we prefer to receive donations of food that have at least 3 months remainingbefore their best before date.
Food Recalls
You may have seen food recalls on the news, specifically the latest one about Baby Food. These recalls affect the food bank and food bank clients.
How might a food be recalled?
Illness outbreak
Food tests identify a health risk
An inspection by CFIA detects a safety concern
A recall of the item in another country
The company initiates a recall
Other issues can arise such as food tampering
Recalls are taken very seriously at the food bank. These items are removed from our shelves and notices are sent out. If these items have already made it into people’s homes, we alert them and contact Toronto Public Health.
Ensuring public safety when it comes to food handling and distribution is one of our top priorities. If you join us for a food sorting session, you will be trained on how to identify the safety of the food you’re sorting. Remember: When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
Each and every day in the food bank I meet people from all walks of life. Each with their own story to tell. But even though the story is different, we all have a similar goal in life… to take care of our families.
I first met Layla when I was working at Oriole Food Space in North York. She moved to Canada with her family to seek refuge from a home that was no longer safe.
“Everything was gone. Our home, our jobs, our kids couldn’t go to school anymore. We were scared,” she shared with me.
She came to Canada and was able to reconnect with members of her extended family already living in our community. Layla and her family were overjoyed with the chance to start anew after a life of uncertainty and fear. “My kids were enrolled in school and my husband was working in a restaurant. It finally seemed as though things were turning around for us.”
But then the unexpected happened. Her husband suffered a severe heart attack and could no longer work at his restaurant job to support the family.
Once again, Layla felt like she had lost everything. She had to make sure that her kids had a roof over their head and food in their bellies. Unsure of how to support her family, she turned to one of her new neighbours for advice. They told her about her local food bank. She didn’t even know that such places existed in our community to help her and others in need.
Because of YOUR support, we are able to help people like Layla to make sure that they have access to nutritious food. Thank you for making a difference!
Daffodil and OFS Volunteers
We are also able to help with referrals for other community programs to assist newcomers with their language skills, resume building and child care.
Layla had lost many things, but it doesn’t have to mean that it is lost forever. “Because of the food bank, I was able to feed my kids, feel safe and build a new life. I am so grateful.”
Together we can help people in need rebuild what was lost.
As we enter into the coldest months of winter, the food bank shelves will begin to empty. We need your help to ensure that when families like Layla’s come to the food bank, there will be enough food to share.
Please give generously today to keep food on our shelves so our neighbours can feed their families. Give today so that this winter none one goes hungry.
Hunger doesn’t hibernate and neither did you during the 2016/2017 Winter Food Drive! Because of your INCREDIBLE support, funds, volunteer time and enthusiasm we raised OVER $250,000 & 250,000 lbs. of food!
This means that we can provide 750,000 meals to people that are in need of food this winter. THANK YOU!
There were more than 200 food drives in our great city run by families, volunteers, businesses, schools, faith groups, community groups and more.
Some highlights of the Winter Food Drive include:
Incredible Employee Engagement
The TRCA has been a community partner of NYH for a number of years but recently we have done more projects and programs together. All of the TRCA staff are involved in food and fun fund events to support of the work of NYH!
They’ve collected food, held raffles and draws, hosted food events and had a great time doing it!
During the winter food drive, the TRCA came in to sort food and also held their annual holiday party in support of providing 5,525 meals this winter to families in our communities.
Foods from Around the World
Delarie Murphy, Mutsa A Mawora-Lewis and Sarkis Kurkjian are international students from Citi College . They joined the Winter Food Drive and proved it doesn’t take many people to make a BIG impact. Hailing from Syria, Jamaica & Trinidad; these incredible students raised 530 lbs. of food! Not only that but they knew that many people appreciate food that is familiar when visiting the food bank – so they made sure to donate food they enjoy from back home. Food bank users come from all backgrounds and it is greatly appreciated when they feel comfortable with the food they feed their families.
Redtastic
The Redtastic team is a group of volunteers that dedicate their time to support Kadian when she runs hundreds of sort groups throughout the year. Jane, Janet, Gord, Sari, Bonnie, Linda, Haley, Steve, Enzo, Laura and Willare always reliable and make a big difference in the warehouse. During the winter food drive they were extremely helpful by providing guidance and support to not only Kadian but to new volunteers. Even when a group isn’t scheduled they will make time to come sort during the slot available. They are incredibly dedicated and we couldn’t sort through all of the donations that make it on the food bank shelves without them!
Biggest Food Drive
We had a tie this year for the largest food drive. Schools around the city are huge contributors to the food drives and this year Ledbury Park PS& Faywood ABCboth raised an incredible 4500 lbs. of food EACH! That will provide 13,500 meals to the community!
Families Feeding Families
Michael Bros. Excavating has been a donor to NYH for many years. A company run by siblings Peter, Tullio and Rosemary; they care deeply about giving back to their community.
This year they encouraged employees, vendors and contractors to join them in providing food for families in need. They raised an incredible 2,714 lbs. of food and came by the office 4 times to drop off their donations.
“We are very proud of our employees and brokers and value everyone’s involvement and cooperation. We will definitely encourage our group to once again, collect and drop off non-perishable food in the spring for our Easter Drive.” says Rosemary.
Thank you so much to everyone that put their time, effort, funds and support into making this the best food drive yet!
Thousands of people right in your community are able to access the food they need to get by this winter because of YOU! Thank you!
We are amazed as always by the tremendous support we received during the winter food drive and look forward to sharing a food friendly 2017 with you!
Lawrence Heights Community Food Space (Lawrence/Allen area)
