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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Paul Taylor |
| Website | https://foodshare.net/ |
FoodShare Toronto is a Canadian group based in Toronto that helps people get healthy food. It works to solve hunger and asks the government to create better rules about food. Besides talking to the government, FoodShare also delivers food boxes, supports city farming, and runs a helpful phone line.
This organization started in 1985 and has more than 100 people working for it. FoodShare is known for treating its employees very fairly.
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FoodShare began in 1985. It was started by Art Eggleton, who was the Mayor of Toronto at the time. He wanted an organization that could help different groups work together to make sure everyone had enough food.
Today, FoodShare has over 100 staff members. Paul Taylor became the leader, or Executive Director, of FoodShare in April 2017.
FoodShare believes in treating everyone fairly, especially its workers. Since March 2022, the organization pays every person who comes for a job interview $75 for their time. This shows they value people's effort.
Also, as of 2022, all staff members earn at least $24 per hour. This is more than the "living wage" for Toronto, which means it's enough money for people to live comfortably. 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 things fair for everyone.
In 2021, FoodShare asked a job website called CharityVillage to always include salary information in job ads. This helps people know what to expect before they apply.
The FoodLink Phone Line
When FoodShare first started in 1985, it had a "Hunger Hotline." This phone line helped people find food support. Later, it changed its name to "FoodLink." This new name showed that the organization wanted to do more than just help individuals. It wanted to make bigger changes to the food system.
Good Food Boxes for Families
In 1993, FoodShare started its "Good Food Box" program. This program delivers boxes of fresh, healthy food to families who might not have enough to eat. The food boxes are delivered regularly, either every week or every two weeks.
At first, FoodShare bought food for these boxes from a large market called the Ontario Food Terminal. Now, they buy food directly from local farmers. This helps support local farms and provides fresh produce. The Good Food Box program is special because it focuses on changing the whole food system, not just helping one family at a time.
FoodShare also has a program called "The Food Rx Program." It works with University Health Network. People in this program get a box of fresh food every two weeks, like a prescription for healthy eating.
Growing Food in the City
In 2021, FoodShare helped start Flemo Farm. This project helps people from different communities learn about and get involved in urban agriculture, which means growing food in the city. It helps more people have access to fresh food and learn new skills.
Speaking Up for Food Security
FoodShare talks to local, provincial, and national governments. They ask for new rules and programs that help make sure everyone has enough healthy food. This is called food security.
See also
- Food security
- Community food security
- Indigenous food security in Canada
