The Avenue Road Food Bank is a Daily Bread member food bank located in and operated by the Church of the Messiah. We provide weekly food support to community families and individuals. We are supported by dedicated volunteers, our partners, and many generous donors.
The Avenue Road Food Bank can no longer take new registrations onsite. Please register at dailybread.ca to be directed to your closest food bank.
Register here
https://dailybread.link2feed.ca/
DB Locations here.
https://www.dailybread.ca/need-food/programs-by-location/
We are open with enhanced COVID-19 protections and protocols. We have returned to grocery shopping model. Each guest may select their own groceries.
Location: Church of the Messiah (240 Avenue Road, Toronto)
Entrance: Doors marked ”Bell Tower” at the corner of Dupont and Avenue
Open Hours: Wednesday, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Giving to The Church of the Messiah
Financial support maintains the life and work of the church.
You may give in person during a service through the collection plate by cheque or in cash. You may also mail a donation to the church office.
You may give online and receive an immediate tax receipt through our Canada Helps page. You may make a one-time gift or set up a monthly donation to help the church plan ahead.
If you wish to give directly to the Foodbank, on the right side of the Canada Helps page you will find a drop down menu under “Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity* and choose “Avenue Road Food Bank”
If you wish to give by cheque: the cheque should be made out to Church of the Messiah with foodbank in the “RE:” space.
Give online from The Church of the Messiah’s Canada Helps page.
ARFB Report (for Sept. 9, 2024)
It was a busy one again last week, and we ran out of the produce right near the end. We doubled up on the shelf stable items at that point, and give everyone extra canned veg and fruit, tuna, treats, rice and beans.
447 households
866 individuals
I was down at Daily Bread this morning for the annual press conference in support of the release of Who’s Hungry 2024, in partnership with North York Harvest Food Bank. The Report reveals an unprecedented food insecurity crisis across the city. Here are a few of the findings:
+ In the past year, Toronto food banks served a record-breaking 3.49 million client visits—almost 1 million more visits than the year prior and the highest annual increase ever reported. This represents a 273% increase since pre-pandemic. It took 38 years to exceed 1 million visits/year, two years to reach 2 million, and just one more to reach 3.
+ More than 1 in 10 Torontonians are now relying on food banks, a 36% increase in unique clients compared to last year. These are our neighbours, families, and friends.
+ Despite clients reporting higher median work hours and incomes than ever before, almost 155,000 new clients were forced to turn to our emergency services for the first time due to the crushing costs of housing, food, and other basic needs, paired with insufficient income supports and wages. This is over four times the number of new clients we saw pre-pandemic.
+ Without critical policy shifts, food insecurity will continue to rise, keeping far too many Torontonians trapped in a cycle of poverty. The report therefore includes concrete policy recommendations for each level of government.
The major policy recommendations include focussing on affordable housing, ensuring a living wage, and increasing the disability benefits. The full report can be accessed here.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!
Email: foodbank@churchofthemessiah.ca
For GTA open food banks and meal programs please check Toronto 211 Information
NEWSLETTERS
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Proud partners of
- Daily Bread
- Second Harvest
- Bike Brigade
- and our amazing donors
Volunteering at the Avenue Road Food Bank:
- We are able operate and serve our food bank community because of the time and skills of our many committed volunteers.
- We regularly bring new in volunteers for many roles. Please email us at foodbank@churchofthemessiah.ca with your interest and availability.
- We are always looking for drivers for local food picks and deliveries.
- All volunteers must fill out applications, and sign policy and privacy agreements.
Donations:
- We accept non-perishable food donations on Wednesday mornings at the ”Bell Tower” door.
- We are NOT currently accepting clothing donations.
- Monetary donations support food and supply purchases made by the food bank – see Donations for information.
We are committed to providing food to our community. We have safety protocols in place during COVID-19.
