Why Impact Food Security Program? Research, including a late 2019 report, documents a prevalence of food insecurity among low-income populations in Canada, including Newcomer Immigrants. Food insecurity is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused the loss of income for some and forced others to stay home to care for their children. This financial difficulty has posed an immediate threa
t to the food security of these individuals, their children and families. This project will provide healthy and nutritious food for Newcomer Immigrant families and low-income individuals at risk of food insecurity in Toronto. Food will include food hampers, grocery gift cards and locally cooked cultural food supplied in partnership with local restaurants in Toronto. Impact Center Foundation is currently leveraging a food rescue partnership and support from Global Access and Inclusion Foundation to run a food security project for Black immigrants in the Etobicoke area. How will your project benefit the lives of newcomers in the GTA? This project will provide nutritious food for immigrants and low-income populations in Toronto, thereby improving their health, quality of life and promoting a sense of belonging that they feel in the community. Moreover, through this project, beneficiaries will become aware of food resources and support in the Toronto community that they can continue to access beyond the duration of this project. This project will also benefit youth to establish employment and pre-employment skills through volunteer opportunities, teamwork, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and a sense of community service. Access to resources is believed to ease the settlement of immigrants, reduce a sense of alienation and promote social inclusion. Finally, with food on their tables, immigrants in Toronto will be able to shift their focus to other daily concerns that will enable them to further enrich and contribute to the Greater Toronto community.
