Food Programs
Our Journey
NeighbourLink North York’s commitment to addressing food insecurity began in early 2021 when staff and volunteers came together to establish a food hub in a Toronto Community Housing complex in Willowdale. This effort officially launched in October 2021 with a Thanksgiving Pop-Up event, marking the start of a fresh and dignified approach to food support in the community.
In the Fall of 2024, North York Harvest Food Bank approached us to take over a food bank near that was closing Bayview and Sheppard as they were unable to find space or someone to run the distribution. Our strong community connections and holistic service model made us a natural fit. With the support of North York Chinese Baptist Church, which graciously provided space, we have been able to continue food distribution for this community.
Unlike traditional food banks that primarily distribute canned goods, we prioritize providing fresh and culturally appropriate food. Many of our neighbours shared that they only consume about half of the items they receive from other food programs due to personal preferences and dietary needs. NeighbourLink strives to meet these needs by offering fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy, eggs, and proteins in a shopping model, which means neighbours pick from the selection available, and food doesn't go to waste. Through our community generosity and low costs, thanks to our local partners, we invest about $50 per family monthly, yet each family receives $80–$100 worth of nutritious food.
Today, our food hubs serve over 300 households, with an additional 70 households benefiting from our mobile and vegetable distribution programs—impacting more than 1,000 individuals in Willowdale. As the need for food support continues to grow across Toronto, with the support of our neighbours, we will continue to do our best to support our neighbours.
Our food hubs are more than just places to receive food—they are community hubs where neighbours can access essential support. We collaborate with trusted partners to provide services that address various needs. In the past, these partnerships have included:
-
Willowdale Legal Clinic: Offering legal advice and assistance.
-
Access Employment: Supporting job seekers with employment resources.
-
Toronto Public Library: Sharing information and signing people up for library cards and programming
-
New Circles: Providing newcomers with training opportunities and free clothing
Expanding Our Reach
A Fresh Approach to Food Support
Serving the Community
More than Food
The Food Hubs Operate with 3 Core Goals in Mind:
1. Fostering community by bringing people together around a common goal of food security and engaging deeply to understand and meet unique needs.
2. Prioritizing fresh, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, with 75% of the food we provide each month being fresh produce.
3. Upholding the dignity of choice by using a shopping-model approach. Our pantry and fresh food rooms allow residents to choose the items that best fit their families' needs and family size.
We lean on the community for all our non-perishable food. All the financial donations we receive go to buy fresh food.
Past Food Hubs
Partners
