As part of our work at yorkvoice.com to connect our community to a wide range of resources in the Weston Mt.Dennis and York South Weston communities, our team is excited to profile organization that serves York- Weston and bring the information of their service to you. In out first community profile, we chat with Sarah Watson of the North York Harvest Food Bank located on Industry rd (Weston rd & Ray Ave.)
Organization: North York Harvest Food Bank
Name: Sarah Watson, Director of Community Engagement
Address and contact: 116 Industry Street 416-635-7771, Please contact for more info on local food programs
Catchment area: North Toronto
Q:What kind of work does your organization do in the community?
A:North York Harvest is the primary food bank for all of northern Toronto. From our main site in Weston/Mount Dennis we distribute over 2.3 million pounds of food each year. The food goes to support 77 food programs in this community and across northern Toronto; food banks, after school programs, meal programs, pre-natal support programs and more. We believe in dignified food access, empowering individuals and strengthening communities.
Q:Tell us about yourself, your role and your experiences working with NYHFB in this community
A: I have been working with food security and anti-poverty organizations for more than 10 years. As the Director of Community Engagement at NYH, I help to support our 38 member agencies, to draw attention to issues of hunger and poverty in northern Toronto, and to build support for long term solutions to these issues.
Food banks exist in this community not because there isn’t enough food to go around, but because so many of our neighbours do not have enough money to buy the food they need. We are working to provide the food support people need right now, while at the same time trying to address issues that so many people in this community face. Income equality and stable job opportunities, affordable housing and childcare, these are the things that will make life more affordable for people in Weston/Mount Dennis, and across this city, and will directly impact peoples’ ability to access the food they need.
Q:Tell us about your favorite program provided by NYHFB
A:The civic engagement workshops we run with students are truly inspiring. Getting to work with youth, who really want to make change in their community, and helping support them to find ways to do that, is so exciting. The passion young people bring to issues of inequality, hunger and poverty motivates me in all my work.
Q: Share your favorite NYHFB success story
A: One of my favourite success stories is actually the transition NYH has gone through over the last decade. We have moved from being an organization solely focused on providing emergency food support, to one that partners with our community to provide not just dignified food support right now, but also works toward long term solutions to poverty and food insecurity in our city.
Q: Name a few services that many are unaware you provide
A: Through our own programs and in partnership with our agencies North York Harvest also supports community gardens and kitchens, fresh food markets, skills training courses, farm trips, youth civic engagement and health workshops, and community directed food bank advisory councils.
We also run an employment readiness program called Leadership in Logistics that uses our warehouse and delivery routes as a learning opportunity for people receiving social assistance and looking for a new career path. Trainees get hands-on work experience and the industry certifications they need to work in the logistics sector. This is one of the ways we’re investing in long-term solutions to poverty and hunger – by meeting the need we hear most from our members – help finding stable, well-paid work.
Q:Do you have any upcoming events, programs or workshops?
A: We’ve just launched our Spring Food & Funds Drive and we’re looking for community champions to help us collect our most needed food items. For details on how to get involved, visit: https://northyorkharvest.com/get-involved/events/food-and-fund-drives/
Volunteers make all of our work possible. For information on currently available roles, contact Lisa at lisa@northyorkharvest.com