Local Food bank puts Food on the Table in Jane and Finch, Feeds Most Vulnerable During COVID-19

BY: AYESHA KHAN

As food insecurity reaches a critical point due to COVID-19, one local food bank in the Jane-Finch area has been working non-stop to provide healthful and consistent food for most vulnerable residents. 

The Society for the Living Food Bank began in 1988, serving hot lunches to people on Queen St. in Toronto’s downtown area. Since then, they have made connections with North York Harvest Food Bank and Second Harvest, leading to the bustling and thriving food bank operation on the mostly industrial Eddystone Avenue off Jane St. They are one of the few food banks in Toronto’s often food insecure Jane-Finch community. 

The director of the food bank, local (s)hero Reverend Venunye Nyamadi spoke of mothers pushing strollers a kilometre through the snow to reach the food bank. The need during COVID-19 has only increased. The food bank serves a clientele of mostly single income households. Single-parent homes, racialized residents, and seniors are regulars. Reverend Venunye (lovingly known as Sister V by those close to her) keeps rich, individual relationships with food bank clients. “When people come to Society for the living and get what they need they feel happy and that makes my soul happy,” She said of the workers. 

In partnership with local organization, the Afri Can Food Basket, using space on the Black Creek Community Farm, they are beginning to grow fresh and culturally relevant produce to be given to community residents. 

“We are an organization that takes pride in our community and supporting our members. We want people to see this community for all it has to offer. When it comes to food we try to offer the best options to our members, which is part of the reason we started a community garden in collaboration, growing kale, basil, Swiss chard, okra and more to come. All families should have access to healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate food.” Spoke Immanuel Cozy-Sosoo, Project Coordinator for the food bank. 

“…We recognize the importance of making sure that the foods people get they are excited to get, they know what to do with it. This is the reason behind this project we are doing, along with our cultural distribution. We…try to target it towards the community, so people can learn as well as for the people we support to get access to the type of food that they want.” Echoed Aisha Wovenu, Program Manager. 

The food bank is open to collaboration as well, having recently partnered with local Ward 7 City Councillor Anthony Perruzza’s office to pack and hand out leftover meals donated from film sets to food-insecure community members. 

 “We understand intersectional needs and support. If there is a way to collaborate to reach more people and support more community members, we are open to that as well.” Joyce Nyamadi, Community Developer, shared the evolving and community-oriented nature of the food bank. 

While COVID-19 restrictions may be easing, and case rates going down as vaccinations go up, the effects of COVID-19 on the economy, food security and individual trauma will be felt for years to come. The important work of local mainstays such as the Society for the Living Food Bank continues to keep this unique, vibrant and diverse community healthy and moving.