Community Christmas luncheon prepares for a big turnout

TORONTO:

For the past 16 years, the Rhema Foodbank of Rhema Christian Ministries has been supporting families’ grocery needs on a weekly basis.

During the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons it offers pre-packaged grocery bags to families and over the last five years added something special – a free Christmas luncheon – for clients of the foodbank.

“This year, however, marks an exciting milestone as we partner for the first time with the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) to host a Community Christmas Luncheon. This collaboration will enable us to extend our reach and serve an even broader audience,” says Grace Williams, coordinator of Rhema Foodbank. Previous luncheons were held at the foodbank location in Downsview Park.

Working alongside community sponsors they are preparing to serve 300 guests at the Jamaican Canadian Centre from 12p.m. to 2p.m. on Christmas Day. The deadline for registration is December 15.

Currently, the Rhema Foodbank supports approximately 500 families each week.

“Through this special event, we aim to provide a festive meal and warm gathering for individuals and families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate – whether they are alone, without family, homeless, or facing financial hardship,” said Williams.

In November, the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank jointly released Who’s Hungry 2024 – an annual profile of poverty and food insecurity in the City of Toronto.

It found that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, there were 3.49 million client visits to Toronto food banks – nearly one million more visits than the year prior and a 273 per cent increase since the pre-pandemic period.

‘It is unfathomable that the number of client visits to food banks is now higher than the City of Toronto’s entire population’ the report noted.

“More than one in 10 Torontonians now rely on food banks. This could be you, your neighbours, friends, colleagues, or the people sitting next to you in the subway car.

“And more than ever, we are seeing individuals who had never considered using food banks walking through our doors and accessing our emergency services for the first time. Even with food bank clients reporting higher employment rates and wages, the rising costs of living are making it impossible to keep up. With no way to escape poverty, too many of our neighbours are struggling,” write Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, and Ryan Noble, executive director of the North York Harvest Food Bank in the foreword.

They note that almost 155, 000 new clients in a year cannot be the new normal in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. “Food banks are not long-term solutions to hunger in our city,” they emphasised.

Daily Bread Food Bank noted that “in the midst of crushing rent and food prices, and an unsustainable cost of living, our neighbours are struggling to meet their most basic needs.”

It said every food bank visit is a policy failure and that the new report is a call to action from real individuals trapped in poverty.

“Together, we are calling on all levels of government to create real long-term solutions to end poverty and food insecurity.Stronger policies around affordable housing, decent wages, newcomer supports, and higher social assistance rates will help to ensure that every Torontonian is able to live a life of dignity and realize their right to food.”

In 2021, City Council approved Canada’s first Black Food Sovereignty Plan for Toronto to respond to the need for immediate and comprehensive action to address the problem of food insecurity experienced by many black Torontonians.

Although the City of Toronto is globally recognised as a food systems and equity leader, research showed that black families are 3.5 times more likely to be food insecure compared to white families, with 36.6 per cent of black children living in food insecure households.

“High food insecurity rates have been linked to poor health outcomes, including an increased likelihood of developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and depression. Populations most affected by food insecurity have also been identified as being more vulnerable to COVID-19, putting Black populations at greater risk of contracting the virus,” said the City in a media release announcing the five-year plan.

On December 6, CBC Toronto held its holiday campaign ‘Make the Season Kind,’ formerly ‘Sounds of the Season,’ to support food banks across the Greater Toronto Area. This year, they joined 24 other CBC stations nationwide.

Since 2002, CBC Toronto has raised over $11 million in support of food banks across Ontario through the annual holiday fundraiser.