FOOD BANK PROGRAMS Feed a Family Feed the Homeless Winter Clothing Transit Tickets Internships Professional Development and Job Search Humanity First 600 Bowes Rd Unit 40, Concord, Ontario, L4K 4A3 416.440.0346 foodbank@humanityfirst.ca www.humanityfirst.ca 1 P a g e Charity Registration #: 87254 1040 RR0001
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Table of Content 1- Introduction...5 2- Feed a Family Program..7 3- Feed the Homeless Program.9 4- Clothing...10 5- Transit Tickets...10 6- Student Internship.11 7- Professional Development and Job Search..11 8- Impact...12 9- Pictorial Report..13 3 P a g e
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What we do: Introduction Humanity First provides monthly food support to the low or no-income residents of York Region and GTA. In addition to the food support, Humanity First also offers supplementary support such as winter clothing, regular clothing, transportation support, school supplies, toys and books provided to low income families registered with us. Humanity First always strives hard to respond to the local needs of an ever growing diverse population of the needy families with an amplified capacity and outreach. We strongly believe our service bring resilience to the families in need by supplementing their monthly shortfalls and giving them a ground to spring back. Why we do: Household food insecurity because of financial constraints is a significant social and public health problem in Canada. It has become very expensive to afford basic living costs, such as safe and appropriate housing and healthy food to eat. There are many contributing factors as to why so many Ontarians are having trouble making ends meet each month: Average rental prices increased over 15% in the last seven years Mortgage rates increased 17% between 2008 and 2012.2 In June 2014, the price of food purchased in stores increased an overall 3.2% from the year before: o fresh meat prices rose 9.4% in one year o fresh vegetables prices rose 9.5% in one year Living expenses are especially challenging for those who receive social assistance. 5 P a g e
Social Services in Ontario provide single recipients with approximately $650 per month. People with disabilities get a bit more. But with this amount, the recipient has to make choices between food and accommodation. The poverty line is defined as $23,000 per year for a single person, so it is understandable that individuals receiving support through social assistance would have no other choice but to reach out for additional support to make ends meet. The minimum wage in Ontario provides full-time employees with an annual salary of approximately $20,000 per year. This too falls below the poverty line and exemplifies why additional services, such as hunger-relief programs and food banks, are needed to help offset the costs of day-to-day living. The number of households accessing food banks for the very first time has increased by 20%, from 14,206 in 2013 to 17,182 households in March 2014. This dramatic increase clearly shows that more and more new families are turning to food banks to help off-set the rising cost of living just to make ends meet each month. o The poverty line is defined as $23,000 per year, $1,900/month o Social Assistance monthly rate is approx.. $650 per month o Basic rent of one bed room apartment is from $800 to $1000. This leads people to make a choice in proper food and keeping a roof over their heads 6 P a g e
Feed a Family Program Humanity First provides monthly food support to the low or no-income residents of York Region and Greater Toronto Area. Food is provided according to each family s cultural and dietary needs. Free home delivery to deserving clients: Besides helping the walk-in clients, monthly food hampers are delivered to those who are unable to reach this service, rain or shine. These clients have no transportation or have physical impairments and they struggle for daily sustenance. Humanity First fills that gap and bring the service to their door. Who we serve: Our client priority ranges from families relying on social services or disability to lone seniors with limited income as well as youth bearing debts and living independently and working hard on getting education or employment. We also serve new-immigrants and refugees without jobs and struggling in their early settlement. The Food Bank clients are from the following categories: 1. Low income individuals and families 2. New-immigrants and refugees 3. Social Assistance clients 4. People with mental and physical disabilities 5. Lone seniors 6. Unemployed 7. Students / youth living independently 8. Homeless, shelters What we serve? Mandatory items as per the cultural and dietary preferences of the household are included in the food package. To prevent the clients from malnutrition we provide a wide scale of items to have a balanced diet, such as: 7 P a g e
Meat, Fruits and vegetables, Juices, Milk, Healthy snacks for schools going kids, Oatmeal and breakfast cereal, Peanut Butter, High protein beans, rice, oil, flour, pasta, etc. The cost of one food package of one family on average is between $70 to $100 per month (Depending on the family size) What gap this program addresses? The monthly food support provided by Humanity First to the needy families gives them an extra financial margin and mental relief which otherwise they bear while surviving through the low budget. The food home delivery service to people without transportation and with physical handicap is unique in nature and is generally not offered by other food banks which leave a gap between the service available and the recipient. Humanity First fills this gap. The delivery service is phenomenal in putting food on their table in all seasons. A brief overview 2014 More than 1500 families with financial constraints are registered with the Food Bank, however an average of 250-300 families (more than 1200 people) access monthly food support. Most of the families request support occasionally. Food is delivered to 90% of these clients who do not have any transportation to reach to the food banks. 10% are walk-in clients This year more than 3600 food hampers are served to various families in York Region and GTA serving 14,000 people. 8 P a g e
Feed the Homeless Program: Under this program, homeless on the streets are served hot meals, mostly Pizza, at least 4 times during the year in various communities of Greater Toronto Area. Various shelters are also served with freshly cooked meals. Humanity First University Clubs Teams also participate in this service and visit various shelters to serve the meals to the residents. In youth shelters, our teams spend time with the youth residents and spent quality time with the residents for peer mentorship. Such initiatives help the homeless youth in building their morals and a positive attitude towards life. In one service 300 to 400 homeless are served, resulting in serving 1600 homeless per year. 9 P a g e
Clothing Support: New clothing is provided to low-income families which is donated to Humanity First by a few clothing stores. In addition, the Food Bank is running a successful Winter Clothing Program with the support of York Region Social Services Department and provides new winter coats, snow shoes and pants and other winter accessories to deserving families. Mostly they are new immigrant or refugees and do have adequate outerwear to protect them from the severe weather while going out for their needs. In 2014, clothing worth of $20,000 was distributed among the needy. Transit Tickets Program: Under this program, bus tickets are provided to those who do not have their own transportation and purchasing bus tickets for daily commute is a burden on their monthly budget. 10 P a g e
Internship / Job Placement: Humanity first Food Bank offers internships or placements to university/college students who are pursuing a career in social services area. These students are required to complete 400 hours in a professional working environment in order to get their degree/diploma. We provide them a platform within the Food Bank facility where they get the following professional opportunities and grow their skills: Client service, on the phone and in-person Reception work Ongoing professional communication Client data management, using computer applications Warehouse management, inventory management Procuring supplies from vendors, order placing, purchasing Finance data entry Professional Development: While working within the facility of the Food Bank, the volunteers achieve high levels of professional skills required to pursue better careers. Volunteers receive training on customer service, data entry, using computer application, filing, etc. The volunteers at Humanity First while client intake and ongoing dealing with clients increased their knowledge on income resources of government, eligibility criteria, poverty related issues and public service agencies approaches and programs. New immigrants are offered volunteer opportunities at to develop their skills required to integrate in their community and participate confidently in their work places. Humanity First offers computer training courses for senior ladies and stay home mothers who do not know how to use computers, internet and emails, etc. This helps them in many ways at home with their children, grandchildren and in staying connected with family. Every year more than 20-25 volunteers are able to secure a job through Humanity First referral and due to their volunteer experience with Humanity First. Similarly, many students use Humanity First reference while applying for admission in universities. 11 P a g e
Impact: Short Term Impact The food support we provide plays a vital role in providing the daily sustenance to the needy families in enhancing physical and mental health, learning ability and their overall well-being. A significant portion of our clients are new immigrants and refugees and need help in the transitional period of their lives until they become self-sufficient. Humanity First has served clients who were sending their kids to school with bread and butter sandwiches every day OR with a simple pack of juice for lunch. The high cost of living, rent and the lack of affordable housing are among the key reasons for which people approach a food bank. For residents relying on our support, Humanity First is working tirelessly to ensure families do not have to make a choice between food and other necessities of life. Humanity First strives to take immediate action in this domain in order to successfully counter these startling patterns, otherwise these statistics will only increase and individuals and families in York Region will only further sink deeper into poverty. Lasting Impact 1. The recipients meet their urgent and desperate needs of everyday life thus resulting in becoming an active, healthy and vibrant part of the community. 2. With the philanthropy of time, funds and efforts of Humanity First in providing food support, the recipients are empowered to fight against the under privileged circumstances with less stress. 3. With the services offered, the spirit of community giving and volunteerism continues to grow and an increased number of community residents realize their social responsibility towards lending a hand to those in need, thus making their community strong and resilient. 12 P a g e
Food Bank Reception and Warehouse 13 P a g e
School and Community Food Drives 14 P a g e
Various Businesses Celebrating Community Service Day at the Food Bank 15 P a g e
Feed the Homeless on Streets and in Shelters 16 P a g e
Thank You Letter from a Church 17 P a g e
Thank You Volunteers! Thank You Donors! We make the difference with your help! We put food on the table with your help! You make us do the best charity of Satisfying a Hungry Stomach! 18 P a g e
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