Investing In Neighbourhoods – Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for job opportunities through the Investing in Neighbourhoods Program, interested candidates must be OW participants living in Toronto. Investing in Neighbourhoods job opportunities are in not for profit community organizations and enable OW participants to: increase their skill level, develop contacts with employers, and obtain references with the goal of securing permanent employment.
The Administrative Coordinator creates and maintains a well-run office environment that is supportive of other staff, and acts as an important ambassador with the public and stakeholders
The incumbent also supports the management team in proposing and implementing new processes and procedures
Office coordination: Making sure the office is well-maintained, organized and coordinated; Processing incoming mail, managing internal organizational communication; maintaining / trouble shooting office equipment; maintaining and ordering office supplies within budget; developing manuals, policies and protocols related to agency administration; recommend improvements to efficiency and operation of office processes
Customer Service: Manages front line customer service, ensures calls and walk ins are handled respectfully and with clear and accurate information; Acts as a resource to the community with food bank referrals, supports client inquiries by phone and email
Staff Support: Provides efficient and effective administrative and other support to colleagues, including: assisting staff from all departments with various administrative tasks and projects; working with Accountant to ensure cheque run is processed, signed and disbursed, including filing; Providing orientation to new staff and supporting orientation of new volunteers, as needed
Organizational Image: Protects and furthers the organizations image by contributing to the delivery of customer-focused service, fairly and accurately representing the organizational messages and the mission, vision and values statements of agency to external stakeholders
Team work: Contributes to a supportive and inclusive team that works together efficiently, effectively and respectfully. Includes supporting and collaborating with all staff and volunteers; Actively contributing to a well-functioning administration dept.
Requirements / Qualifications:
Minimum 2 years related experience
Preferably post-secondary education, or related experience
Excellent computer skills in MS Word, Excel and internet
Pleasant manner in dealing with people; excellent telephone skills
Demonstrated ability to work well with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Experience in providing information and referral services with strong cross-cultural communication skills
Ability to set priorities and handle multiple and competing priorities
Proven time management, organizational and administrative skills
Attention to detail and follow-up; willingness to pitch in
Familiarity with office equipment
Knowledge of food security and poverty issues an asset
Familiarity with northern Toronto area an asset
Ability to work independently but also as part of a team, across departments, and with volunteers
Sensitivity to the private nature of some information
Able to work flexible hours and some evenings and weekends
Secondary language skills an asset
How to Apply:
If you meet the qualifications above and are interested in applying to this position, CLICK HERE to upload your resume and cover letter.
We thank you for your interest; however only those Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE WINTER PUBLIC SORT!
This year’s winter public sort takes place on December 10th!
Every year we welcome families looking to give back and help their communities during the holiday season.
To get involved this year, please contact Jane at 416-635-7771 x 31 or email jane@northyorkharvest.com
We will have 2 sorting sessions: 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.
Please check out the pictures from last year on Facebook (and make sure you like the page)!
Learn more about available volunteer opportunities and how you can give time to make a difference.
Canada is such an amazing country, there is so much freedom and liberties we have that many countries don’t. This is why I always find it shocking when I see the statistics of people that go hungry in our country.
In fact, on September 16 Hon Laura Albanese, MPP joined us at North York Harvest Food Bank to help us sort food during the First Annual Great MPP Food Sort!
Did you know?
Each day children in our communities may go without a meal. Poverty can lead to poor nutrition and that can affect a child’s grades and quality of life in the long run.
Every province and city in the country is affected by hunger.
This year because of you amazing things happened! You made a huge impact in the lives of people in your community that didn’t have enough food to eat! Your donations, food drives, volunteering and support provided an incredible amount of food to people in Toronto! Thank you!
Some kids love it. Some kids hate it. But it is on the way! The kids are about to go back to school for another year of learning, friendship and fun.
Personally, I loved back to school as a kid. Every year at the end of summer, I got to go to the mall with my mom to buy new clothes and supplies. We’d usually make a day of it and grab some pizza for lunch.
I met Jenna earlier this summer. She told me how she’s really excited to start grade four. Her favourite classes are science and gym class. “I can’t wait to see my friends again and tell them about all the things I did this summer!”
Her mother Trish, on the other hand, is not as excited. Her hours have been cut at work again and she is having trouble paying for Jenna’s school supplies. “Rent is so expensive – I really can’t afford to pay for extra things Jenna needs.”
Trish isn’t the only one feeling the pinch in September. Many clients that come into the food bank struggle with daily expenses. And food is often the most flexible thing in the budget. Unhealthy food tends to be a lot cheaper than fresh foods so those items tend to make it into children’s lunches.
“I always felt terrible when I couldn’t put fresh fruit or vegetables in her lunches – but those things cost so much lately.”
I’ve seen it myself when buying my groceries. Fresh produce prices have been skyrocketing; sometimes it is just easier to get the cheaper items while sacrificing nutrition.
Even though Jenna is still young, she can still tell when there isn’t enough food for a healthy lunch. “Once in a while I get two oranges in my lunch. Those are my favourite! Last year I didn’t get oranges much. Sometimes I didn’t get much to eat at all.”
This year Trish turned to the food bank, “I am always so grateful after going to the food bank. I come home with healthy items for Jenna and myself. Things like bread, cheese and meat so I can make her sandwiches for lunch. And there are even eggs so she can have scrambled eggs in the morning – though I prefer mine sunny side up.”
I’m relieved know that families in Toronto have access to these food banks. No child should go to school hungry.
Luckily, your support of North York Harvest helps us ensure that Trish can fill Jenna’s lunch bag with healthy foods each day. She can also send Jenna off to school having had a healthy breakfast so she can concentrate on her studies.
There are many options to get involved and help our neighbours that are hungry! Together we can provide healthy food for people in our community.
Run a Food and Funds Drive!
There are many different ways to run a Food and Funds Drive – from bake sales, to jeans day to games at a fair. It’s easy and a fun way to team build with your family, friends or coworkers!
We’re in your community at BBQ’s, concerts, festivals and more. Come and see us soon!
Volunteer
There are so many great volunteer opportunities to help people meet their food needs! You could volunteer in the food bank serving clients, help out in the warehouse, hop on the truck to deliver food, join us at events and much more. Check out our volunteer opportunities.
Make a Donation
Your support directly impacts the lives of thousands of adults, seniors and children in our city and ensures that our neighbours have enough to eat. DONATE TODAY!
Donate Food
You can pick up some extra items and drop them off at your local grocery store or fire hall. Or you can make a donation right to the warehouse (including fresh items) at 116 Industry Street. Not sure what to donate? Check out our list of top suggested food items.
People may not think of things like paying electrical bills, storing groceries and supplies or even having a functional bathroom when thinking of a food bank. But these are problems are very real for food banks, youth shelters, soup kitchens and more. Lack of space is a serious issue that charities – especially small ones – face.
Guest blog by Shirah Stern, Development Associate Corporate Giving
Did you know that there are free toy lending libraries in North York? Or literacy programs to prepare children for school? I sure didn’t before I went to visit Weston Area Emergency Services (WAES). WAES is a food bank that falls under the NYH umbrella offering emergency food hampers to people in need. It was there I met volunteer Marlene Jones. And she sure taught me a lot about community services I didn’t even know existed!
Marlene has been volunteering with WAES for almost a year now. After retiring, Marlene wanted to give back because she personally felt grateful for the education and career that she has had in her life. Her passion for health and nutrition naturally led her to a volunteer program that helps people in her neighbourhood access the food they need. “Having access to good food is so important for family health,” she told me. “It’s also important that members of our communities are aware of programs to support people regardless of their personal income or background. Especially if they have kids.”
With four young children, I often wonder why kids don’t come with a manual. We all want to be the best parent that we can and these free resources are a huge helping hand for many that don’t have a ready support network.
As a retired public health nurse, Marlene informs clients of nearby programs that they didn’t know they had access to. These range from parenting programs and educational tutoring to newcomer workshops and recreational activities. And these are available for anyone in the city. Because Marlene shares her knowledge, these families know where they can go to make their lives just a little bit easier.
Marlene shared the joy she feels being able to assistant clients with their food needs and help them get other supports they need. Young, single mothers come to the food bank to put food in their bellies, and walk out with information about summer camp their children can attend. A man struggling with being laid off from work will come in to get extra items for dinner and leave with the number of a service to help him update his resume. There are so many other examples of people in your neighbourhood that benefit from these programs.
Referral services and connections are part of what makes food banks so important to our community. I have worked at NYH for many years and I didn’t even know that some of these programs were available (toy lending library??!!). And working in the social service sector, if I wasn’t aware, I can imagine many other families in our city that could really use these services aren’t aware of them either. Sharing is caring.
I really admire the generosity and thoughtfulness of Marlene and other volunteers at WAES – they truly demonstrate the value of volunteering and helping others in the community. “It takes a village to raise a child,” share Marlene. And she enjoys being a part of it.
Families in our city are accessing programs that are helpful because of connections made in the food bank. It is because of you that we are able to make connections like this happen. Thank you for being part of our village.
Each day many volunteers put their time and heart into making a difference in the community through volunteering. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact us – we’d love to have you join the team!
Want to know more about free programs offered in the city? Call Toronto Health Connections at 416-338-7600 or 211 to access community resources for anyone.
Her mother Trish, on the other hand, is not as excited. Her hours have been cut at work again and she is having trouble paying for Jenna’s school supplies. 
Marlene has been volunteering with WAES for almost a year now. After retiring, Marlene wanted to give back because she personally felt grateful for the education and career that she has had in her life. 
