Do More Mondays - #148 - FoodShare Toronto

It is Thanksgiving here in Canada and I am thankful for many things: family, friends, shelter, access to education, employment, healthcare etc.  I can attribute some of these things to being in a country where the standards of living are higher than most, but that is no cause for complacency.  Amid so much plenty there are people close to home going without.  I will not take the moral high ground and say it is my duty to share, but giving back is the decent thing to do when privileged.  

That is why this week I'm supporting FoodShare ~ a Toronto-based social enterprise and community development organization whose vision is "Good Healthy Food For All".  Founded in 1985 with an anti-poverty mission, the organization's programs include direct fresh produce access, childhood nutrition and education, community cooking, community growing, and urban agriculture.

The Good Food Box and FoodShare School programs aims to improve access of low-income people to affordable food, promote healthy eating, support local farmers, encourage sustainable agriculture and promote community development.  They buy food from farmers at a fair price and resell it at a subsidized price, delivering 37,000 boxes per year and serving 7000 families each year.  Its school programs provide support for 700+ programs across Toronto serving approximately 149,000 healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to children and youth.

By focusing on the entire food system - how food is produced, distributed and consumed - FoodShare respects communities and their inherent strengths and capacities.

I challenge anyone to do more.