Emergency Food Access
Good Food Matters
What we eat, and how we eat it, has a powerful impact on our sense of self. Our ability to access the foods we love, to express ourselves through cooking, and to share our traditions with others can build pride in our identities. It also deepens the connections we have with our families, cultures, and neighbours. Food is at the heart of all of our work at The Stop. We provide opportunities for people to share a meal, enjoy a taste of home, and foster their sense of community. Using food as a tool, we aim to improve the mental and physical health of people experiencing poverty or even homelessness.
Although we know the answer to poverty and food insecurity is not food – but rather increased income – we are committed to serving our community members and meeting the immediate needs of the 1 in 4 Torontonians who live in food-insecure households.
We should all be alarmed that there are so many people in our own community who need access to emergency services. It hasn’t been easy, but The Stop took the necessary measures to scale up our food access services to feed thousands of people during a global health crisis. The demand has not eased as we enter our second year of COVID, 2021.
The Stop’s COVID Report
Our Food Bank
Food Bank Hours: Mondays and Fridays (no service on statutory holidays), 10 AM-2 PM
Households from within our catchment area can access the food bank once per month, and those outside of our catchment area can access the service once every six months. Food bank users receive enough food for three days.
The Stop’s food bank at 1884 Davenport Rd. provides emergency food access to the community through creative partnerships and the support of our donors. Our hampers always feature fresh produce, milk, eggs, and whole grains. Hampers highlight a seasonal vegetable—our Food of the Month—and give examples of cooking it with food demos and recipes.
The Stop’s food bank prides itself on offering a dignified, safe, bright, and cheerful space where the people are very knowledgeable on social and economic issues and treat each guest with respect.
1 to 9
Each one of our food bank files represent a household of 1 to 9 people
17%
We have seen a 17% increase in the total number of people served, compared to 2021
21%
Of the 23,668 people served through the food bank, children represent 21%
40%
Of newly registered food bank service users commute from outside our catchment area
Drop-in Meals
We serve drop-in, seated meals at two locations: 1884 Davenport Road and Wychwood Open Door (729 St. Clair West). Our meals are culturally-appropriate, balanced, and prepared by Community Chefs and volunteers.
Drop-in hours: Breakfast and lunch are served at 1884 Davenport on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 9 AM and 12 PM respectively.
At 729 St. Clair West, breakfast and lunch are served on Wednesdays at 9 AM and 12 PM respectively. We also offer a dinner service on Thursdays at 4 PM.
431
Average meals we serve each day to individuals and families
76,599
Take away meals served in 2022
40%
Of our food budget is spent on all local food/farms
Our Good Food Market
The Good Food Market is held every Tuesday at 1884 Davenport Road, from 12 PM to 3 PM.
The Good Food Market at 1884 Davenport Rd. is just one of the ways that The Stop aims to generate sustainable access to healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods. Residential areas without a grocery store within walking distance are called “food deserts” and Good Food Markets were specifically designed to fill the gaps in these areas by bringing healthy foods closer to home.
The Good Food Market is a multidimensional food security tool. It allows us to provide reliable access to whole healthy affordable foods in our community while simultaneously supporting our local food economy.
The GFM at 1884 increases community access to high-quality and affordable food. The Good Food Market supplies our customers with fresh baked goods, healthy prepared foods such as soups, stews and sauces, as well as produce.