It’s a tough choice: Do I skip dinner tonight and wait until tomorrow to have a filling meal? Should I eat a granola bar for lunch to gain an extra day before I need more groceries? Or do I miss a monthly payment for electricity to put nutritious food on the table?
Given the need to keep the lights on and a roof overhead, a growing number of Toronto residents are falling into “food insecurity” as they struggle to make ends meet and are faced with difficult questions like these. This means they no longer have consistent access to food that will provide them with sufficient nutrition. But WoodGreen believes everyone has the right to food security.
As the cost-of-living increases, impacting food prices, we want to let you know what WoodGreen is doing to bring food security to more Toronto residents — and how you can help, too.
Rising need for Toronto food banks
Food banks are an important resource for battling food insecurity – and they are seeing record levels of use. In the last year alone, the number of Torontonians using food banks shot up from one in 20 in 2022 to one in 10! Meanwhile, Food Banks Mississauga reported that one in 13 residents had used a food bank between June 2023 to May 2024, with nearly a third of those residents being children. The most recent report from another food bank, Feed Ontario, saw over one million Ontarians visit a food bank over the past year.
Demand for food banks is high, especially with the winter holidays approaching, and WoodGreen is rising to the challenge of serving Torontonians.
How WoodGreen is fighting food insecurity
WoodGreen is doing its part to provide healthy and hot meals to our clients. As WoodGreen’s Food Access Coordinator, Thisura Jayasinghe is on the frontlines when it comes to food security. In his role, he helps develop and coordinate food programs for our housing clients, including the 540 Cedarvale Ave. community garden and our weekly cooking workshops. Thisura’s newest project involves WoodGreen’s Newcomer Programs, which supports newcomers by supplying culturally appropriate foods that reflect the diverse backgrounds Toronto attracts.
“With food insecurity no longer a constant worry, individuals can focus more on other aspects of their lives, such as employment, education, and social engagement,” says Thisura. “Food security fosters a sense of stability and empowerment, allowing people to regain control over their lives.”
But providing food security goes beyond just the food itself; it’s also about creating a positive experience for those dealing with food insecurity. At our St. Hilda’s Seniors Community, residents can access a food bank styled as a grocery store, where they can select which foods they want for their meals. This approach offers them choice and preserves their dignity during their visit.
While these programs have been successful, WoodGreen also ensures we listen to feedback on what can be improved, using focus groups, surveys and examining residents’ eating habits to identify any gaps in their meals.
“We’re in the business of empowering and supporting people. One of the things we have to ensure is that we listen,” says Mellisa Lemonious, Housing Support Program Manager for First Step to Home. “When you listen, you try to take back what you hear, work on it, and give them what they need.”
Toronto youth also have the chance to create a healthy and filling meal for their families each week with WoodGreen’s Kitchen Buddies, a program where participants receive a $25 gift card to purchase ingredients for a dinner meal. Participants connect over Zoom while cooking in their own kitchens, allowing youth to share cooking tips, learn about food prices, and experience a sense of pride in developing life skills that their families can share in, whether by sharing a meal or lending a hand in the kitchen.
How you can help
While food insecurity is not an issue that can be resolved overnight, WoodGreen is working hard every day to make life easier for the people of Toronto - and you can pitch in, too! Volunteers play a critical part in supporting clients by serving meals, assisting with community workshops, and enhancing the quality of service that WoodGreen offers. If you’re interested in creating a meal to remember, visit our volunteer opportunities page to learn how you can lend a helping hand.
