Toronto Food Banks You Should Know About: Afri-Can Foodbasket, North York Harvest, And More
By Noor Azrieh
Food banks across the city of Toronto are ramping up their efforts to support the local community as people continue to struggle amid the ongoing pandemic that has exacerbated situations for many. Families and individuals now have an increase in access to affordable food options during the financial strain of the virus.
The organizations below are a collection of accessible food bank options located all across Toronto, and many are also accepting donations considering the strain the winter season has on food banks.
Afri-Can FoodBasket
The Afri-Can FoodBasket is a Toronto-based non-profit organization that says it has been at the forefront of Food Justice and Food Sovereignty for Toronto’s African, Caribbean, Black communities since 1995.
Their food bank recently launched the BlackFoodToronto program as a response to the impact COVID-19 has had on members of their communities. The program is aimed at addressing food insecurities faced by disadvantaged, low-income, and undocumented members of Toronto’s community.
The initiative has been coordinating weekly deliveries of fruit and vegetables at no cost to African, Caribbean, and Black community members who need support in accessing healthy and culturally sensitive food.
So far, they have served over 32,000 households, and over 1 million pounds of fresh produce and non-perishables have been provided to the community.
Daily Bread Food Bank
The Daily Bread Food Bank is the largest food bank in Canada and was founded in 1983. 80 per cent of donations come from larger companies while the remaining 20 per cent comes from the general public.
It is a non-denominational Canadian charity organization and its aim is to end hunger in urban communities. Based out of Toronto, the food bank distributes fresh and shelf-stable food every day to their member agency network listed on their website.
They believe that access to food is a basic human right, not a privilege, and that’s why the Daily Bread member agency food banks provide two to three days' worth of food based on the number of people in your family.
Feed It Forward
Feed It Forward is a Toronto-based non-profit organization whose main goals are to feed Canadians that are food secure while working towards reducing food waste.
It is Canada’s first “pay what you can” grocery store operating since June 2018. The food is rescued by the organization by their volunteers, the food is then put out on the shelves for customers. Customers pay what they can afford on their budget or they can take what they need free of charge.
They also have 33 vehicles including food trucks that distribute food across the city. Alongside the vehicles, several businesses around Toronto volunteered to host one of their community fridges. The fridges contain free food that is available to anyone who needs it.
North York Harvest
North York Harvest is northern Toronto’s primary food bank which supports over 24,000 people in meeting their food needs.
Their goal is to engage in their community in providing dignified food assistance, education, focused advocacy, and long-term food solutions.
Their programs include community food spaces, agency networks, research & advocacy. Their agency network currently comprises 38 social service agencies, community health centres, faith-based institutions, and other volunteer-run organizations that deliver over 77 community food programs.
Their member agencies connect over 13,000 individuals each month and provide 180,000 hampers of healthy fresh and non-perishable items.
Yonge Street Mission
Yonge Street Mission works with three distinct groups in providing programs and services designed to support and propel the community, remove barriers in people’s lives, and overcome poverty.
YSM Evergreen’s services support Toronto’s street-involved youth (16-24 years). This includes health, dental care, employment services, mental health counselling, and warm meals. They also support families in need and adults experiencing chronic poverty.
Their services during COVID have had to shift. They now only offer meals inside from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and meals will be served in takeaway containers. Coffee, snacks, and water are available inside the daily drop-in.
They also run a food bank out, YSM Davis Centre Food Bank, that operates by pickup through appointments. The food bank offers “Nutritious Food Bags” available by family size, once every two weeks through appointment.
Thinking Beyond Food Banks
Although food banks are a great way to create accessible sources of food for many across the city, critics say food banks are not the solution we should hope for, because it’s a rather small first step to achieving food equity. You can drop an email to your MP or MPP to demand a stronger and holistic commitment to eliminating poverty and food insecurity in 2022—especially in the city of Toronto.
