Daily Bread Food Bank announces goal to deliver 20% more food to 20 priority Toronto neighbourhoods
Mobile produce markets pilot to bring free fresh food to homes across Scarborough
TORONTO, Aug. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - In Toronto's outer suburbs food insecurity hurts entire neighbourhoods. To respond to this need, Daily Bread Food Bank has designated 20 priority neighbourhoods that are underserved and has committed to increasing the amount of food delivered to agencies serving these areas by 20 percent over the next year.
"With our network of front-line agencies and food banks across the city, Daily Bread is uniquely positioned to help these 20 neighbourhoods address the immediate needs of their most vulnerable residents by increasing our food shipments to them by 20 percent," said Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank.
Daily Bread designated priority neighbourhoods based on a number of factors including a significant number of people living on low income, a lack of access to fresh food near their homes or under-resourced food programs. Half of these neighbourhoods are within Scarborough, an area of the city that saw a 30 percent increase in food bank visits in 2017.
As one part of the 20 percent food increase target, Daily Bread Food Bank will be bringing farm-fresh produce directly to selected Toronto Community Housing Corporation buildings in Scarborough through Daily Bread's mobile produce markets pilot project. Until the end of September, Daily Bread's mobile market is offering residents a fresh, varied assortment of fruits and vegetables, most directly from Ontario farms and farmers themselves. Through this pilot project produce will be distributed to residents for free, providing a barrier-free way for TCHC residents to access fresh, healthy produce at their front door, and give greater access to seniors and people with mobility issues.
"Daily Bread's mobile produce market is responding directly to a key problem faced by people in underserved neighbourhoods: lack of access to fresh food, both in terms of location and cost," said Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank. "While we are committed to the long-term policy and advocacy work around income and housing security that will bring lasting change, we are also acutely aware of the immediate needs of our neighbours. This pilot is an exciting undertaking for Daily Bread and our partners."
"Toronto Community Housing communities have launched many food exchanges, community gardens, breakfast programs and other initiatives to support local needs and help provide healthy meals and fresh produce within their communities. Daily Bread Food Bank's summer delivery of farm-fresh produce is a valued addition to these community food security programs. We welcome the thoughtfulness and community spirit of the farmers and Daily Bread Food Bank in bringing summer markets directly to our Scarborough communities," said Angela Cooke, TCHC's Vice President, Resident and Community Services.
The neighbourhoods designated as priority by Daily Bread are Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Elms-Old Rexdale, Kingsview Village-The Westway, Islington-City Centre West, Thornecliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Taylor-Massey, Oakridge, Kennedy Park, Eglinton East, Dorset Park, Woburn, Scarborough Village, Agincourt South-Malvern West, Morningside, West Hill, L'Amoreux, Agincourt North, Miliken and Malvern. Daily Bread has 15 member agencies that serve these areas; each will receive 20 percent more food delivered to them, including shelf-stable products as well as fresh produce, milk, eggs and proteins.
About Daily Bread Food Bank
Daily Bread Food Bank works towards long-term solutions to hunger and runs innovative programs to support people on low incomes. Daily Bread distributes fresh and shelf-stable food, as well as fresh-cooked meals to more than 130 member agencies and 170 food programs across Toronto, including food banks and meal programs for shelters and drop-ins. Daily Bread also publishes the influential Who's Hungry Report, an annual survey that provides qualitative and quantitative data and analysis about food and income insecurity in Toronto to all levels of government and sector stakeholders. To learn more about Daily Bread Food Bank, please visit www.dailybread.ca.
SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank
For information about a media event happening on August 11 at 10am at a Daily Bread free mobile produce market, please contact: Benita Aalto, Senior Manager, Communications, P: 416-203-0050 ext. 238, M: 647-339-2196, E: [email protected]
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