Help ensure no one goes hungry this Thanksgiving
From job losses and evictions, the economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to be realized. While we have all been affected by the pandemic, our neighbours from historically marginalized communities and those already living in poverty have been hit the hardest.
This Thanksgiving, the Junction Residents Association (JRA) will be hosting a Food Drive to address the following realities:
Since January 2021, Daily Bread's network has seen an average of 110,000 client visits per month vs 68,000 in 2019. This figure hit an all-time high in June with a record-breaking 124,000 visits.
If current usage rates continue, it is projected that Toronto food banks will see 1.4 million visits in 2021, the highest number ever recorded in the city's history.
Systemic racism is closely tied to food insecurity in Canada. Food insecurity is highest among Black households (28.9%) and Indigenous households (28.2%), despite making up less than 5% of the population. Nationally, Black households are 3.56 times more likely to be food insecure than White households.
Many people sacrifice food to pay for other necessities; 67% of food bank clients reported skipping a meal to pay for something else. More than half skipped a meal to pay rent, while others skipped meals to pay for transportation or phone/internet bills.
One third of food bank clients in the city are children and youth.
JRA Community Champion Volunteers will be handing out bags and flyers on their streets across the Junction the weekend of Sept 24-26. The flyer lists the most needed items. Please fill your bag and put it on your porch or somewhere visible on Oct 2 for pick up. If you do not receive a bag or if your food donation is missed, you can drop off your bag at the JRA’s contactless drive-thru at Cintas (Runnymede/Dundas) on Oct 2 between 11am-1pm. All the food collected will be collected and distributed by Daily Bread Food Bank supporting programs all over the City –including many of the food banks located here in our neighbourhood.
The Bloor-West Food Bank - 2305 Bloor Street West, Fridays 1-3 PM
The Stop – 1884 Davenport Road
Oasis Dufferin Community Centre – 1219 Dufferin Street
Syme Family Food Bank - 33 Pritchard Ave, Wednesdays 2-4 PM
The Four Villages Food Bank - 3446 Dundas Street West, Mondays 5-7 PM (by appointment)
Thinking of Elders – run by JANS (Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services): a mobile food bank for seniors
205-909 Jane Street, Toronto, ON, M6N 4C6 - Wed 12-4PM
Cooper Mills-Gooch Community Food Bank – run by COLLEGE-MONTROSE CHILDREN'S PLACE 4020 Dundas St W. Toronto - Thu 2 pm-6 pm
Sharing Place – 624 Annette Street – Thurs 10-1pm
You can also donate directly to any of these programs as demand for food continues to rise.Thank you for caring about your community!
Do you Need Food? The JRA believes that access to food is a basic human right, not a privilege. To find a food bank or for up-to-date information on your nearest food bank please contact 211, or visit www.211Toronto.ca