FoodShare Toronto facts for kids
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| Formation | 1985 |
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| Purpose | Community food security |
| Headquarters | Toronto |
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Executive Director
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Matt Johnstone |
| Website | https://foodshare.net/ |
FoodShare Toronto is a special organization in Toronto, Canada. It's a not-for-profit group, which means it doesn't try to make money for owners. Instead, FoodShare helps people get healthy food. They also work to make sure everyone has enough to eat. They do this by delivering food boxes and supporting city farms. FoodShare also talks to the government to ask for better rules about food.
This organization started in 1985. It has over 100 staff members. FoodShare is known for treating its employees very fairly.
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FoodShare began in 1985. Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton helped start it during his election campaign. Mayor Eggleton wanted an organization that could connect groups helping people with food. He hoped it would make food support easier to find.
As of 2021, FoodShare had more than 100 people working there. In 2020, the organization received about $10.7 million to help with its work. The board of directors, which helps guide the organization, includes Rosie Mensah. Paul Taylor became FoodShare's Executive Director in April 2017.
Fair Work Practices
FoodShare has some really fair rules for its workers. Since March 2022, they pay every person who comes for a job interview $75. This is to thank them for their time.
As of 2022, all staff members were paid at least $24 per hour. This amount is higher than Toronto's living wage rate. A living wage is the amount of money a person needs to earn to cover basic living costs. FoodShare also has a rule that its highest-paid employee cannot earn more than three times what the lowest-paid employee makes. This helps keep pay fair for everyone.
In 2021, FoodShare asked a website called CharityVillage to make companies share salary information on job ads. This helps people know what a job pays before they apply.
FoodShare runs several helpful programs. These programs aim to improve how people get food. They also work to make sure everyone has access to healthy meals.
Phone Help Line
When FoodShare first started in 1985, one of its main activities was a phone line called the Hunger Hotline. Later, this hotline changed its name to FoodLink. This new name showed that the organization was focusing more on big changes. They wanted to fix the food system, not just help individuals one by one.
Food Box Deliveries
In 1993, FoodShare began its Good Food Box program. This program delivers fresh food boxes to families who need them. These families might not have enough money for healthy food. The food boxes are delivered every week or every two weeks.
At first, FoodShare bought food for the boxes from a large market called the Ontario Food Terminal. Later, they started buying food directly from local farmers. This helps support farmers in the area. A writer named Kathryn Scharf noted in 1999 that the Good Food Box program was special. It focused on changing the whole food system. Other similar programs often just focused on helping individual families.
FoodShare also has a program called The Food Rx Program. They work with University Health Network on this. People in this program get a box of fresh food every two weeks. This helps them stay healthy.
Urban Farming
In 2021, FoodShare helped start Flemo Farm. This project helps people from different communities learn about urban agriculture. Urban agriculture means growing food in cities. It helps people grow their own fresh food close to home.
Speaking Up for Food Security
FoodShare also works to make changes by talking to the government. They speak to city, provincial, and national leaders. They ask for new rules and programs that help everyone get enough healthy food. This is called advocacy. They want to make sure food security is a priority.
See also
- Food security
- Community food security
- Indigenous food security in Canada
External links
- Official website: https://foodshare.net/
