Community Support

Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed The People) is a community-based Indigenous food sovereignty support effort formed in June of 2020 to provide healthy, whole, fresh, and traditional foods to local Elders and Indigenous folks that are houseless and living in the encampments in Toronto.  They focus not only on food but also on wellness and community connections and recognize that Indigenous food sovereignty is about more than making sure that people are fed, and that they have opportunities to thrive and honour their spirits whenever possible.  Through their efforts, Dashmaawaan Bemadzinjin has provided over 25,000 meals and meal kits to Indigenous Elders and Indigenous folks that are houseless and living in the encampments in Toronto, and we are very proud and honoured to be supporting them through fundraising efforts and donations of food.

Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction is a response to the pandemic of ongoing colonization and lack of services for the urban Indigenous population. They are a grassroots initiative that works on the frontlines of encampment support and the devastating overdose crisis that is currently taking place across Turtle Island, providing traditional meals and supplies that are desperately needed.  We are honoured to support their amazing work through fundraising and regular donations of food and vitamins.

Romero House came to life in 1991 when a small group, who believed that refugees should be treated differently, took over a refugee shelter threatened with closure.  They operate four houses in our neighbourhood, where refugee claimants live safely while they establish themselves, work to bring their family to Canada and develop their claims, and forge warm bonds with the live-in staff (one staff member is assigned to each household) and the larger community.  We have long supported them with regular donations of food and toiletries, as well as supporting their annual Street Party!

The High Park Nature Centre does amazing educational programs in nearby High Park.  We’ve long supported a selection of their events in the past, and we were thrilled last year to take a large part in supporting their Indigenous-Led Family Nature Walks. The Nature Center balances natural education with important equity work, and we’re thrilled to help them in their mission.

Food Share is a truly incredible organization, with an incredible vision – in addition to supporting food-insecure individuals and populations, they also do amazing advocacy work, nutrition education, and community gardens, all through a uncompromising lens of food justice for those most affected by poverty and food insecurity – Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, and People with Disabilities.

Sistema Toronto provides musical and intellectual opportunities to children in vulnerable communities, with the goal of transformative social change.  We are lucky enough to be located right near one of their facilities, and every month we send over a hot meal for their Honours Orchestra.