Loading...
 

ArtistProducerResource.com is a free, searchable online encyclopedia of information, resources, tools, and templates for producing independent performance work in Canada. For video and resources, visit Generator's YouTube channel.

Not sure where to begin? Use these checklists to start planning:

Food Security and Nutrition

Food insecurity refers to the inadequate or insecure access to food due to lack of money or availability of food. In 2019, the City of Toronto cited nearly 1 in 5 Toronto households (18.5%) is affected by food insecurity.

Unfortunately, unstable and inconsistent employment for arts workers increases the risk of food insecurity, which is exacerbated by the gig economy. Premiums on fresh produce and organic foods force people with low incomes to rely on affordable food options which are often over-processed, full of preservatives and lacking in nutrients. 

If you are experiencing food insecurity right now, know that you are not alone, and there are various programs that strive to decrease the food-access gap that you can access. 

Food-access programs

Below are a number of organizations that work to decrease the food-access gap so that everyone has enough nutritious and healthy food. Please note that the community-serving nature of these organizations lends itself to temporarily refocusing their regular programming to COVID-19 responsive programming.

Folks located in the GTA can also use 211Toronto to access a list of Free/Low Cost Meal Programs in the GTA which can be searched by postal code, address or community. 211Toronto recommends contacting each organization directly prior to visiting in person to receive up to date information on their service.

Located outside of the GTA? You may also use this interactive cross-Canada map to find a food bank in your area. You can also search by city, province, and postal code.

  • Community Food Centres: Good Food Program (National portal): A network of "Good Food" certified organizations that aims to increase the capacity of community food security organizations to offer healthy and dignified food programs in their communities, filtered by province. Community Food Centres also hosts a variety of learning initiatives about food, food and health, and family food health.
  • Feed Ontario (Ontario): Program that allows Ontario food banks to receive reclaimed fresh food from their local Metro grocery store to distribute to community members living with hunger. You can find a participating food bank near you here.
  • FoodShare (GTA): FoodShare aims to centre food justice in their work by collaborating with and taking their cue from those most affected by poverty and food insecurity — Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, People with Disabilities. Programs include educational workshops for all ages at community and school levels, Good Food Box program (super fresh, locally grown, culturally diverse produce delivered weekly with accomodations available for pre-cut and supersized boxes available), cooking classes, community gardens, etc. Printable resources about nutrition and How-To Guides available here.
  • Black Creek Community Farm (Toronto): FoodShare and Black Creek Community Farm have partnered to provide emergency relief food boxes — essentially, CSA-style parcels full of fresh fruit and veg — to individuals experiencing unexpected food insecurity. Applications for emergency relief boxes are no longer being accepted, but donations are still needed to facilitate the filling and delivery of the boxesthemselves. You can also order a diversity of regular food boxes for delivery here.
  • Building Roots (Toronto): Building Roots was initially founded in response to a lack of fresh food access and agricultural growing space across Toronto in 2013. In 2019 they launched the the Growing Neighbourhoods Foundation to address the greater issues leading to inadequate food systems: poverty, social isolation and inadequate attention by the City. They offer programs including Food Basket Delivery in Moss Park, educational resources and activity kits for kids, pay-what-you-can produce at the Shipping Container Grocery Store (260 Queen St. E) and other services. You can see their COVID-19 community partnership resources here.
  • Friendly Neighbour Hotline: Developed by Building Roots, this program is developed specifically for seniors living in low-income housing who need grocery delivery service, available from 9am-5pm and available in 180 languges (toll free at 1-855-581-9580).
  • UHN Senior’s Friendly Neighbour Hotline (Toronto): University Health Network’s OpenLab moblizes vetted volunteers to support seniors in accessing groceries and essential items in Toronto. They prioritize vulnerable seniors living in low-income housing and operate Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. The toll-free hotline is available in 180 languages at 1-855-581-9580.
  • Good Neighbour Project (Ottawa, London & GTA): The Good Neighbour Project is a volunteer delivery network dedicated to providing on-the-ground support to assist vulnerable people and health care workers with the groceries, essential supplies and medication they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide for communities in Ottawa, London, and the GTA from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.
  • Ontario Community Support Association (Ontario): The OCSA is helping isolated, low-income seniors and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions across Ontario to get meals, groceries, medicine and other essentials to stay safe at home during COVID-19
  • People's Pantry Toronto (Toronto): The People's Pantry is a grassroots initiative providing home-cooked meals and grocery bundles to individuals and families across the GTA who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis, serving those who are struggling financially or are otherwise unable to provide sufficient food for themselves and their family. Meals and groceries will be delivered directly to your door, 100% free of charge.
  • The 519 (Toronto) is providing free ready-to-go meals 7 days a week on The 519 patio in front of FABARNAK Café (Monday to Friday: 1pm and 4pm, Saturday and Sunday: 12:30pm - visit their website for up-to-date information. The 519 is committed to serving LGBTQ2S communities.
  • Request form for People's Pantry Halton/Hamilton area (Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Hamilton, and also Guelph and Kitchener): Food Delivery Request form for Halton plus Hamilton and Guelph/Kitchener residents
  • The Neighbourhood Food Hub (East Toronto): The Neighbourhood Food Hub seeks to connect people to fresh, nutritious food and celebrate community through learning and access to local services. The Neighbourhood Food Hub has focused efforts toward COVID-19 responsive programming including providing fresh food to both the Glen Rhodes Food Bank and the Coxwell-Gerrard community. Events included community gardening symposium and tool swap, family cooking classes, and canning and preserving.
  • Toronto Red Cross Mobile Food Bank (Toronto): The Mobile Food Bank service delivers food to persons who are unable to access a food bank due to a permanent or temporary disability. The program provides access to nutritious meals, and in some cases also provides a safety check, health status monitoring and social interaction.
  • Social Planning Toronto / Red Cross (Toronto): For qualifying seniors and others that are in self-isolation who do not have alternative access to food, and are currently not receiving such assistance from another community food program. Free food hamper delivery is available. Call the Red Cross at 1-833-204-9952 for eligibility and registration information.
  • Second Harvest Food Rescue (Nation-wide): The food reclamation charity, delivers rescued perishable food to hunger-relief organizations across the country.
  • The Stop Community Food Centre (downtown Toronto): The Stop has shifted away from community programming and toward a take-out meal and food bank model.
  • Mustard Seed Fontbonne Ministries (East York): Prepares lunches on Fridays and Saturdays (11:30 - 1:30) and leaves them outside the door for pick up (East York).
  • Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (Toronto): TYDPC builds a better food system for Toronto's youth through a 'build, mobilize, engage' framework.
  • FoodReach (for Nonprofits) (GTA): Through the FoodReach buying portal, non-profits can shop online, place an order, and receive free delivery shipped directly from the supplier. Our service consolidates multiple supplier relationships to just one source and we will coordinate with the suppliers on our customer’s behalf.
  • Quest Food Exchange (British Columbia) is a food recovery and redistribution not-for-profit organization that provides dignified access to a variety of affordable and healthy foods to individuals facing food security challenges in British Columbia.
  • Greater Vancouver Food Bank (Greater Vancouver Area) provides food support for communities across GVA.

Community Fridges

Community fridges are a community response to food insecurity. They sound exactly like what they are - a fridge of free food on the street for anyone that needs it. 

There are community fridges located in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Saskatoon. Check this map to find out if there is a community fridge near you!

Community Fridge resources

Food sovereignty in the arts

Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. This movement is a direct response to injustice in the food system. 

Debajehmujig is a professional theatre company that has incorporated food sovereignty into their programming with projects like a Seed Bank, “From Seed to Table” workshops, and hosting community seed swaps.

Research and reports on food insecurity in Canada

Below are a few studies on household food insecurity in Canada/Toronto:

 

Created by kpalm. Last Modification: Friday November 6, 2020 17:11:53 EST by kpalm.