A Message from the Executive Director
The predicted economic downturn arrived in late 2008. What no one predicted was the extent of the devastation this recession would have and continues to have on so many individuals and their families.
The U.N. announced that over one billion people globally are now facing severe food insecurity. Since the Canadian labour market peaked in October 2008, Ontario welfare caseloads have hit a nine-year high with dire warnings of long-term chronic unemployment and depleted EI benefits. Yet, many politicians and economists have declared an end to this recession. However, based on the 20% increase in need for food that we witnessed and the look of despair on our clients’ faces, this declaration is premature.
Food banks and similar front-line social agencies have been hit especially hard. The Ontario Association of Food Banks has reported significant operating challenges among its food bank members including declining food donations, diminishing financial support often resulting in reduced operating hours or closures, and increasing demand for services. This is the environment in which we find ourselves and the on-going challenges we face.
The staff and volunteers of The Mississauga Food Bank have risen to these challenging times and have worked especially hard this past year fulfilling our mission of positively impacting the lives of those who are hungry in our community by effectively sourcing, managing, and distributing food.
The Mississauga Food Bank was very successful last year rebranding itself, raising required funds, and sourcing and distributing a record amount of food. In addition, prudent investments were made in new staff, infrastructure improvements, and initiatives to help raise community awareness of the unacceptable levels of poverty/hunger here in Mississauga.
I am pleased to report that The Mississauga Food Bank is solidly positioned to continue meeting the growing needs of its member agencies and clients and I am honoured to serve as your Executive Director.
I look forward to another successful year working together towards the achievement of our strategic priorities and mission.
Client Story
Kim never imagined she would need to rely on a food bank to meet her family’s needs each month. Two years ago, she and her husband, along with their two teenage sons, lived in relative comfort in their Mississauga home. When their marriage broke down, and financial problems ensued, Kim found herself responsible for all of their financial needs on one income.
Even though she works full-time in an office, her salary only covers her mortgage payments and utilities, not leaving enough money to pay for food. Her oldest son has been looking for work for months to help with the family’s expenses, but as they don’t have extra money for transportation, he has to find a job within walking distance of their house, and so far has been unsuccessful in his search. Kim’s younger son has some learning disabilities and needs her help with homework, thus making it impossible for her to take a second job to make ends meet.
Approximately 8 months ago, Kim came to The Mississauga Food Bank for the first time. “I was nervous to go to a food bank,” she said, “as I didn’t know what I would expect there. But I found that the staff were compassionate and helpful, and treated me with respect.”
Kim now comes to The Mississauga Food Bank every two weeks to receive 7-10 days of nutritious food, and her eldest son has learned to make the food she receives stretch to last the full two weeks between visits. “Without The Mississauga Food Bank, I don’t know how we’d be getting by,” says Kim, “We wouldn’t still be in our home if it weren’t for the food bank.”
Kim is now volunteering on Wednesday nights to give back to others who find themselves in the same situation as her family.
Provide a family like Kim’s with food and hope
For every $1 you donate to The Mississauga Food Bank, $10 of food is collected, cleaned, sorted and distributed to families like Kim’s. You can make a difference in your community by feeding your hungry neighbours. By making a donation today, you are helping to alleviate hunger here in Mississauga. Help show your neighbours that even in these tough economic times, there are truly people who want to fight hunger and feed hope.
Please click here to make your online donation and receive a tax receipt by email immediately.
You can also give online by clicking the ‘Donate Now’ button on the front page of www.themississaugafoodbank.org.
Featured Program – Volunteer Management
The Mississauga Food Bank operates a variety of programs as a part of our mandate to positively impact the lives of those who are hungry by effectively sourcing, managing and distributing food. One of these programs is our volunteer management program.
Each month, we source, warehouse, and distribute food valued at over $6M per year to over 12,000 clients. Food is sourced through corporate and individual donations, sponsorships, and through collaboration with the Ontario Association of Food Banks. The food is then picked up and transported to The Mississauga Food Bank, where is it inventoried, sorted and stored before it is delivered to clients and member agencies within the community.
Much of this work is performed by volunteers. In 2009, The Mississauga Food Bank volunteers logged over 26,000 hours! From high school students seeking hours to graduate, to developmentally challenged adults, to those mandated to volunteer by the court system, the volunteers at The Mississauga Food Bank are as diverse as the clients.
Funding for the volunteer management program helps us to build an effective infrastructure and supporting management systems so that volunteers can carry out key organizational tasks.
The volunteer management program includes the following activities:
- Staff – To oversee recruitment, training, management and recognition of volunteers
- Phones – Maintenance of and fees for the phone system, allowing contact with volunteers
- Website – Development of website to serve as a volunteer recruitment tool and awareness-raising medium
- Database – Development and maintenance of an online volunteer database
- Materials – T-shirts, name tags and smocks for volunteers
- Appreciation – Costs for thanking volunteers (events, token gifts, thank you notes, etc.)
The total cost associated with the volunteer management program for 12 months is $71,200.
For more information on how to financially support the volunteer management program, please contact Meghan Nicholls, Director of Marketing & Fund Development at 905.270.5589 x226 or meghan@themississaugafoodbank.org.
New Truck!
Thanks to the generosity of 3 of our great supporters, BDO Canada LLP, EMD Serono, and the Community Foundation of Mississauga, The Mississauga Food Bank has been able to purchase a second, smaller refrigerated truck! This truck will enable us to do smaller pickups and deliveries more affordably, and increases our ability to collect and distribute food during busy times of year. Plus it is small enough that anyone with a G class license can drive it, so it is an effective tool for us as we work to feed the hungry in Mississauga.
Watch for it on the roads and at community events across Mississauga!
Upcoming Events
The Mississauga Food Bank Spring Food Drive
March 18 – April 8
From companies organizing internal food drives, individuals dropping off non-perishables at their local fire hall or grocery store, and religious groups having a collection barrel in their foyer, this is a great way for the Mississauga community to come together to ensure their neighbours don’t go hungry this Spring, as the food from this drive carries The Mississauga Food Bank through the summer. Watch for our logo in your community and donate!
Our goal for this year is 60,000 lbs of food and $60,000 raised!
We need volunteers to help sort all the food that comes in on Friday, April 2nd, Saturday, April 3rd, and Sunday, April 4th. To register as a volunteer (MANDATORY) or find information on how to run a food drive or what items are most needed, please visit www.mississaugafooddrive.org.
Greater Toronto Apartment Association
Spring Hope Apartment & Condo Food Drive
For the fourth year in a row, and after winning the Guinness World Record for largest one-day food drive in 2008, the Greater Toronto Apartments Association is once again launching the Spring Hope Food Drive.
Rental and condominium buildings across the Greater Toronto Area will be raising food on Tuesday, April 13th to feed their hungry neighbours. 150,000 lbs were raised last year! Let’s see if we can exceed that goal! If you live in an apartment or condominium building, speak to your superintendent today about getting involved!
For more information, visit www.springhopefooddrive.ca.
Staff Changes
In February, we said goodbye to Khush Patel, who has been working part-time as a Client Intake Worker. She will be graduating from the University of Toronto, and heading out to spend the next year travelling and volunteering around the world. We wish you all the best Khush!
On January 26th, we were pleased to welcome Jennifer Paratholil to our team as our new full-time Office Administrator. Jennifer comes to us with over 10 years of administration experience, and has started her BIG task of getting us better organized! She will be responsible for all of our reception, database management and some finance functions. Jennifer can be reached at 905.270.5589 x222 or jennifer@themississaugafoodbank.org. Feel free to drop her a line to say hello!
2010 Gala
We would like to invite you to join us for our 2010 Gala on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at The Mississauga Grand Banquet and Convention Centre. This year’s theme is “A Night in the Tropics” and we’re looking forward to a tropical evening featuring the sights, sounds and flavours of the Caribbean!
Those who have attended in previous years know it is an evening full of amazing entertainment, delicious food and cocktails, and an exciting silent auction. It is always a fabulous evening, and over the past three years, has raised over $180,000.
If you’re not able to attend, you can still help this event be a success by donating items for our Silent Auction that are new, and valued at over $25.
Tickets are $250 each or $2500 for a table of 10. They’re selling fast, so please contact Meghan to purchase your tickets today at meghan@themississaugafoodbank.org or 905.270.5589 x226.
