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

October 19, 2021 Ayesha Khan

Sister V, food bank director, poses with Ayesha Khan of Councillor Perruzza’s office and Terryl Knox, volunteer, outside the food bank’s operation at the Jane-Sheppard library. Photo credit: Matias de Dovitiis

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 Bloom Red Project and Anthony Perruzza’s Office Hold a Period Product Donation Drive to Fight Period Poverty in Downsview Community

July 19, 2021 Krystal Grover

Pictured from left to right: Alexandra Modi, Krystal Grover, Tanvi Balasubramanian and Ayesha Khan at the donation drive booth. Photo credit: Sinthura Chandramohan

What was once forecasted as a rainy and gloomy day took a turn for the better and resulted in the raising of many menstrual products and a significant community impact. The Bloom Red Project, in collaboration with Anthony Perruzza’s office, held a menstrual product donation drive for the Downsview community. Krystal Grover, the co-founder of The Bloom Red Project, and Ayesha Khan, the Councillor’s Outreach Staff and Aide, organized this event, coordinating volunteers, donation drop-offs, logistics and everything in between.

Jane Finch Community Groups Say: Enough Is Enough – Host Virtual Event Calling for Intersectional Equity

May 28, 2021 Ayesha Khan

Residents and activists gathered for the virtual town hall. Photo credit: Jane Finch Action Against Poverty

On Wednesday May 5, 2021, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty in conjunction with Black Creek Food Justice Network, Jane Finch Education Action Group and Jane Finch Housing Coalition hosted a virtual public event speaking out against various injustices they feel have been wrought against the community.