Tag Archive: wills

1. Legacy Giving: Donating to charity in Your Will

   May 28, 2025 12:38 pm Comments Off on Legacy Giving: Donating to charity in Your Will

   Donating to charity in your Will

    

   Leaving a Legacy of Hope: Shaping Our Community, Together

   Imagine knowing that the values you hold dear can continue to make a difference in our community for years to come.

   At North York Harvest Food Bank, we witness the power of community every day—neighbours helping neighbours, volunteers giving their time with compassion, and donors stepping forward to ensure families have access to nourishing food.

   As Canadians, we understand the importance of looking out for one another. And when we think about the future of our community, ensuring that everyone can meet their basic needs—especially access to food—is a fundamental part of that vision.

   That’s where the idea of legacy giving comes in.

   You may have heard it called planned giving, or simply leaving a gift in your Will.

   Why Legacy Giving Is Growing in Canada

   A recent Will Power study showed that the number of Canadians planning charitable gifts in their Wills has increased from 5% to 8%. Why?

   It’s a sign of growing awareness: more of us are realizing we can shape the future by supporting causes we believe in—without affecting what our families need today.

   Inflation and cost of living may have put pressure on Canadian incomes. But the desire to help has never been stronger

   A gift in your Will lets you create long-term impact without tapping into the money you need now. Even a small percentage—just 1%—can make a meaningful difference.

   Explore how far your legacy can go with the Will Power calculator.

   A story of care that lives on

   Leaving a gift in your Will is a thoughtful, lasting way to extend your care beyond your lifetime.

   Anne was one of North York Harvest’s most cherished and long-standing supporters. She believed deeply in the importance of nourishing children and providing opportunities for all families.

   “When children are deprived of food, they are also deprived of a future,” she once shared.

   For Anne, leaving a gift in her Will to North York Harvest was more than a financial decision—it was a reflection of her values. It was her way of continuing her care for the community she loved. Her legacy gift continues to support the children and families she cared about—quietly, meaningfully, and powerfully.

   Imagine knowing that the values you hold dear can continue to make a difference in your community for years to come.

   Why you might consider a Gift in Your Will to Charity

   

   Many donors are surprised by just how far a small gift can go. Setting aside even 1% in your Will to a charity like North York Harvest can reduce taxes and still leave 99% to support your loved ones.

   You can also leave a gift outside of your Will—by naming a charity as a beneficiary of your RRSP, life insurance policy, or other assets. And remember, your Will isn’t final. Most Canadians revise theirs more than once as life evolves.

   Download our free Will planning guide for a step-by-step look at how to get started.

   We always recommend speaking with a qualified financial advisor or lawyer to explore your options.

    Learn more about how legacy gifts are changing lives

   

   A gift in your Will isn’t about wealth—it’s about legacy. It’s about building a future where everyone can access food with dignity, and no one is left behind.

   Whether your legacy looks like Anne’s or something uniquely your own, we would be honoured to be part of your story.

   Want to Learn More? Let’s Start the Conversation

   We’d be happy to speak with you—whether you’re just exploring the idea or ready to start the conversation. There’s no pressure, just support.

   Natasha Bowes, CFRE, MFA-P
   Director of Development and Marketing
   Natasha@NorthYorkHarvest.com or 416.635.7771×2600

   Maria Soares
   Philanthropy and Annual Giving Specialist
   maria@northyorkharvest.com or 416.635.7771 x3300

   

   North York Harvest Food Bank is a proud partner in Will Power, a national campaign helping Canadians use their Wills to support causes they care about. Together, we’re building stronger, more resilient communities—today and for generations to come.

2. Guest Blog: Leaving a Legacy

   May 20, 2016 8:43 am Comments Off on Guest Blog: Leaving a Legacy

   It would only take a few minutes talking with me to know that the food bank is an important part my life.  No, it’s not because I need to use it myself – any more.  But I remember and I know how much it means to children and families that need them to get by.

   I recently took the time to think about what matters to me in life as I was preparing my will. My family of course.  My children and grandchildren.  But I also thought about how I have been donating to the food bank for many years – and I knew I had to include them in my will.  And here’s why.

   When I was a child, we were poor.  My parents didn’t have the means to give us the life that they wanted for us.  Every day, I would see that all of my friends had things that I could never hope to own.  I would stare in wonderment when I entered their homes and knew that I would never want them to set foot in mine.  I’m a bit ashamed to admit it but I was embarrassed of my life.

   Back then life was hard and there was one part of my life in poverty that will always haunt me.  Not having enough to eat.  That was probably the thing that scarred me the most.  We could never open up a cupboard or fridge and take out something to eat whenever we wanted.  There was seldom any food in the house.  Those were the days when there were very few places to go for food when you were hungry.  Every other week we actually got a decent lunch on my dad’s payday, but the meager amount of food bought that day would only be enough for a few days.  Being invited to one of my friend’s houses for dinner or lunch was something that I would never pass up and going to the free city camp was like heaven because I actually got 3 meals a day for a week.  I would find any excuse to go away somewhere because I knew I would be fed regularly.  Reading a catalogue was more about looking at the refrigerator pages to see what was in them.

   

   My sister and I have conversations about when we first had our own jobs and homes, the first thing that we did was stock the cupboards and the fridge.

   Today my life is very different.  I have been blessed with a wonderful family and we never have to worry about where our next meal will come from.  Yet I never forget the days when I was hungry.  And I never forget that there are still children out there who are hungry every day.  It simply shouldn’t happen.

   Remembering the hunger pangs and many days of feeling unwell because we didn’t have anything to eat, I sympathize so much with these children that experience this nowadays.

   So as I think about my legacy, as I think of what I want to leave to this world I think about the food bank.  I have taken care of my family first and I have also made a space for people who are hungry today.  That is one of the reasons that I chose to leave a legacy gift to the North York Harvest Food Bank.  Now that I have left that struggle in the past, I have the means to leave a gift in my will that will benefit other children that don’t have enough to eat.

   No child should go hungry.  Children should never have that kind of memory to deal with. – K.C

   ---

   You too can leave a lasting impression in your community by making a legacy gift.

   A gift in your will to North York Harvest Food Bank will ensure that children, parents, grandparents and many of your other neighbours do not have to go a day without enough food to eat.  Because of you, their future will be filled with hope instead of hunger.

   Is a legacy gift the right option for you?

   To find out more about leaving a gift in your will, gifts of securities or estate gifts contact Maria at maria@northyorkharvest.com