Scarborough food bank sees success using UN sustainability goals
Sustainable development goals aim to eliminate poverty, food insecurity and other inequities
Feed Scarborough is tackling food insecurity by using the United Nation's sustainable development goals as a guide. And the head of the food bank says more organizations should do the same.
There are 17 goals in total, including eliminating poverty and hunger, as well as "responsible consumption and production."
Suman Roy, Feed Scarborough's executive director, told CBC Toronto the goals have had a positive impact on the food bank and its clientele since he started applying them to the charity's operations and programs about a year and a half ago.
"We are helping our community members to have better income and have the wraparound services, so they don't need a food bank," he said. "And we are seeing results."
In a recent survey, 46 per cent of Feed Scarborough's clients said they would have to go to bed hungry if the food bank closed its doors today. That's down from 91 per cent a year ago, Roy said.
That impact is largely due to the food bank's comprehensive programming that aims to go beyond simply supplying food. Those initiatives include Canada's first online food bank, culinary training programs and a healthy meal program.
It also opened FoodHall TO earlier this year. The culinary incubator, located at 5210 Yonge St., offers newcomers to Canada the chance to grow a business and gain experience running a food kiosk.
Food banks seeing record numbers
This all comes at a time when food banks across the country have been reporting record-breaking numbers and calling for government assistance to address systemic issues that contribute to poverty and food insecurity.
But the Feed Scarborough team says that organizations can start addressing those issues now by implementing the UN sustainable development goals.
"Our ask is to all other smaller community organizations. Please look at it. Reach out to us," Roy said, noting that members of his team recently began mentoring Feed Ottawa, another small food insecurity organization.
Aleyda Ramirez has benefited from Feed Scarborough's approach to sustainability and community development. She was initially a client of the food bank and is now a co-ordinator with the organization.
"Going back to 2020 when the pandemic started, I didn't have enough support for my family, so I went out. I asked for help," Ramirez told CBC Toronto.
She wanted to return that help to others, so she started volunteering at Feed Scarborough and was eventually hired on and trained by the food bank.
Initiatives support UN's 2030 zero-hunger goal
"They trained me and today I have a full-time job. I'm able to support my family and I'm just so happy to be part of this team," Ramirez said.
Earlier this year, Feed Scarborough presented its approach to integrating the sustainability goals at an event called the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York City.
Bob Rae, Canada's permanent representative to the UN, praised the food bank in a recent news release.
"Food insecurity is a crisis we can and must address. Feed Scarborough's leadership brings hope and tangible action toward achieving the UN's zero hunger goal by 2030," he said.
Meanwhile, Roy said he's happy to see the goals are having an impact.
"Our approach is working. Many of our folks have a full-time job now. They are able to support their community, their families," he said.
And for those who do still need support, Roy said Feed Scarborough will continue to offer help under the guidance of the sustainability goals.
This December, CBC Toronto is running its annual Make the Season Kind fundraiser in support of local food banks that includes a special day of live broadcasting at our headquarters on Dec. 6. To donate or get more information, head to our Make the Season Kind website.
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