North York Harvest Issues Urgent Appeal

Food Bank Extends Spring Drive to Meet Goal

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2010
 

TORONTO – The North York Harvest Food Bank is extending its annual spring food drive by another week, urging residents to give generously to help others in need.

“We’re grateful that we’ve raised about half of our goal of 72,000 pounds of food, but we still have a ways to go. That’s why we’re extending our food drive until April 16 in order to give more time for residents to donate,” said North York Harvest Executive Director Anette Chawla. “We hope that as many families gather this holiday weekend, they will also remember to reach out and help those who need help putting food on their table.”

Demand for food assistance rose by 20 per cent last year, with families in need still feeling the effects of the recession. Chawla said the economic recovery takes time to trickle down before some individuals and families begin to feel any benefits.

As Toronto’s second-largest food bank, North York Harvest distributed 160,000 hampers of food last year to residents living in six of the city’s 13 priority neighbourhoods with lower incomes and limited access to social services. Some 40 per cent of food bank users are children and youth under 18; the median monthly household income of food bank users is $1,000.

This weekend, volunteers will help the food bank sort donations received to date at its warehouse on Lawrence Avenue West. Chawla will also be available for media interviews.

Time:  10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Date:  Sunday, April 4
Place:  North York Harvest Food Bank
640 Lawrence Ave. W. (East of Allen Road)
Directions: Turn north from Lawrence onto Varna Drive about 100 meters to enter school parking lot and then head west about 150 meters until you see the warehouse.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at all fire halls in northern Toronto, as well as participating supermarkets. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit www.northyorkharvest.com. Online donations of cash can also be made to help the food bank purchase food.

About the North York Harvest Food Bank

The North York Harvest Food Bank is the second-largest food bank in Toronto, distributing more than 1.4 million pounds of food last year through 60 neighbourhood programs. An independent, charitable organization, it envisions a community where all members are able to meet their food needs. In 2009, more than 160,000 food hampers were provided to people living in northern Toronto, an area bounded by Hwy. 27, Steeles Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue, and St. Clair Avenue/Eglinton Avenue.

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Contact:

James Ip
Communications Manager
North York Harvest Food Bank
Cell: 647-297-7759