Family Day Food Drive a great success
February, 2024
Talk about giving back!
Alex Zhvanetskiy, a Toronto-area realtor, partnered with York Regional Police for a Family Day Food Drive at the Richmond Hill police station.
He posted photos and this thank-you message on social media:
“Our Family Day Food Drive in partnership with York Regional Police was an immense success.
We were able to cram-a cruiser with food for families in need, which was donated to the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank!
“When my family moved to Canada in 1993, we relied on food banks for support. I still have memories walking with my parents down Spadina Ave to the Scott Mission from our small rental apartment in the Annex.
“Thank you to those who donated. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome!”
Thanks, Alex and YRP - #GiveWhereYouLive
What's New
What's New
Legion Darts and Karaoke groups support our food bank
May, 2023
Russ Horner (foreground) brought in a large collection of food and hygiene items on May 1, collected by the Friday Night Darts and Karaoke groups at the Richmond Hill Legion.
The combined social groups at the Legion do food drives for our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank twice or three times a year, for which we are very grateful!
Thanks, Russ and friends, for helping feed hungry families in your community! #GiveWhereYouLive
Muslim Youth Association supports our food bank
March, 2023
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association did a special food drive for our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank in March, and our manager, Lee Reynolds, was so pleased to pose with representatives in a celebratory photo!
The youth group posted an invitation and a challenge on social media, telling the community that our food bank is now serving more than 2,600 individuals per month, representing some 1,149 local families. “Let's come together and donate food or make a financial contribution,” they suggest.
We are so grateful and thankful that this Muslim youth group fulfils our motto: #GiveWhereYouLive!
MPP visits during Non-Profit Appreciation Week
February, 2023
On Feb. 17, Richmond Hill MPP Daisy Wai (centre, left) presented our food bank manager, Lee Reynolds, with a certificate celebrating Non-Profit Appreciation Week.
Flanked by warehouse manager Bob and volunteers Lucy, Michelle and Cindy, Lee took the opportunity to tell the MPP that our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is now serving nearly double the number of hungry clients compared to last year, and that food supplies are running low in both our warehouse and storefront shelves.
She provided our MPP with full statistics from 2022, showing the rapid rise in demand from local families in need, and MPP Wai saw our volunteers in action, serving today’s lineup of families in need of emergency food.
Thanks to MPP Wai for celebrating Non-Profit Appreciation Week with everyone at our food bank!
Holiday Food Drive at Bingo World
Dec. 2, 2022
Our food bank is so grateful that Bingo World & Gaming in Richmond Hill is doing a special Holiday Food Drive in December!
Each bingo customer at Bingo World on Newkirk Road who donates a food item between Dec. 1 and 22, will be entered into a raffle for prizes! The raffle prizes have been generously donated by many of the 40+ agencies, which receive regular proceeds from Bingo World. #GiveWhereYouLive
Turkey time at the food bank!
October 2022
Thanksgiving is one of our favourite times of the year at the food bank. So many businesses, individuals and schools demonstrate generosity to less fortunate people in their community. This year, volunteers had three big turkey donations to celebrate! Vermeulens Cost Consultants donated 40 turkeys with all the trimmings; then Heidi and Vanessa of J. Kreiner Real Estate returned with more turkeys and a financial donation; followed by representatives of Dawoodi Bohra in Richmond Hill, who dropped off even more turkeys! Our clients were so grateful and we all gave thanks.
Generous businessman donates more pet food
August, 2022
HE’S BACK, all the dogs and cats among our client families can rejoice! Michael Taggart of Tru Pet at Richmond Heights Plaza donates pet food to our food bank several times a year, and always comes in the nick of time! Earlier in August, we had run out of cat food, so his delivery of approximately $5,000 retail worth of pet food has saved the day. Clients with pets are always especially grateful when we offer them dog or cat food – huge thanks to Michael, such a community-minded businessman!
First Give Where You Live food drive a huge success
July 4, 2022
From June 15 through 19, the local community food banks of Aurora, Georgina, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Vaughan conducted their first annual, ‘Give Where You Live’ springtime food drive.
The Give Where You Live theme is designed to encourage local residents, businesses, schools, churches and community groups to donate urgently needed food items to their local community food bank.
Combined, the food banks collected a total of 26,750 pounds of non-perishable food items and just over $3,000 in cash donations.
With our Give Where You Live food drives, donors can be assured that all donated food will be distributed to families in need within their local communities to help fight food insecurity.
Your local community food banks thank all our donors and supporters for making our first Give Where You Live food drive a huge success.
The photo shows warehouse manager Bob and volunteer Roy with just some of the bins of donated food at the Richmond Hill Food Bank.
You can still Give Where You Live! Throughout the summer, food and financial donations will still be gratefully received by your local food bank. On this website home page, click on the Donate Now button!
Shout-out to volunteers during National Volunteer Week
April 27, 2022
April 25 - 29 is National Volunteer Week, a fitting time to state that without volunteers, there would be no Richmond Hill Community Food Bank! The theme for 2022 is “Volunteering Is Empathy In Action,” and that couldn’t be more true for the more than 25 volunteers working every weekday in our warehouse, our food sorting area, the registration wickets, our shelves and storefront, and our food distribution area.
But there are numerous unsung and less traditional volunteers who make a huge difference to our operation, which is now serving more than 1,800 people in need each month.
High school student Caleb, (in photo) is the volunteer co-ordinator of our high school student volunteers. He helps organize grocery store events where students bag donations for our food bank, earning volunteer hours and encouraging shoppers to help re-stock our shelves all year long. He trains the students, helps keep track of their hours, and works with the store manager to ensure the safety (and fun!) of these volunteer events.
Other people we couldn’t do without are our volunteer drivers, represented by our first and longest-serving driver, Nadine. She and others have made the first year of our new home delivery program for seniors and disabled clients a huge success.
So here’s a Volunteer Week shout-out to Caleb and Nadine, and every single volunteer who makes a huge difference at our food bank!
Local newspaper publishes pandemic update on our food bank
March 2, 2022
By reporter Yoyo Yan
Richmond Hill Liberal newspaper, March 1, 2022
Ashamed, bewildered, embarrassed. These are some of the emotions felt by those who set foot in food banks for the first time.
That is why Marney Beck Robinson, who volunteers at the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank, always tries to be extra patient and friendly with first-time clients.
"They've never had to ask for food before," said Robinson. "So, sometimes they don't even look you in the eyes."
"Sometimes they're abrupt or they act angry, but I know it's just a cover for being embarrassed.”
Time after time she has people who have worked all their adult lives, but have to turn to the food bank for the very first time. Some cry while she serves them.
"It's a sad situation for them that they're there, especially during the pandemic."
"We continue to see people accessing our food bank who have been significantly affected by the pandemic," said Lee Reynolds (shown in photo), Richmond Hill Community Food Bank's general manager.
"Job losses, business closures and reduced incomes have resulted in many people turning to us for help for the first time in their lives," said Reynolds.
"Our volunteers work empathetically to turn that very difficult first step of coming to a food bank into a friendly and positive experience."
The pandemic has driven more hungry people to local food pantries, which draws additional needs for services, according to food banks in the region.
Pre-pandemic, the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank served 10,327 clients in 2017, which rose rapidly to a year-end total of 14,561 in 2019. This represented a 40 per cent increase in people accessing the food bank in three years.
A total of 14,688 individuals accessed the food bank in 2020, and the demand rose to 15,194 in 2021, when food bank visits hit a five-year high, despite pandemic lockdowns and restrictions.
In December 2021, volunteers served a record 1,605 people in a single month at the food bank. As many as 40 per cent of people relying on the food bank are children.
2022 is trending for another increase in client visits. In January, 1,559 individuals were served by the food bank, which is a 48 per cent increase over the five-year average.
Due to constraints such as losing volunteers and capacity limits, the pandemic significantly impacted the food bank's operation in many ways.
“But we never closed and kept our five-day per week operation open and accessible to clients,” said Reynolds, the general manager.
To help meet the increasing demand, the food bank increased its client service area by taking on an additional 1,000 sq. feet of floor space in 2020.
The agency also initiated a home delivery service in 2021 to ensure some of the vulnerable clients received food relief.
Additionally, the food bank continues to find ways to meet the special food needs of an increasingly culturally and religiously diverse community. It has connected with businesses and social groups to provide food selections such as Halal meat products, Kosher food items and vegetarian meals.
“Over the past five years, our community has gained a greater awareness of their local food bank and how it provides such a vital service to those in need,” said Fergie Reynolds, board chair of the food bank.
“Local residents and businesses, as well as our faith groups and social clubs, have generously stepped up during the pandemic with donations to help us keep our doors open and provide food relief to local families and individuals.”
High school students organize fundraiser for food bank
Feb. 15, 2022
In early February, this student from our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy brought in a welcome financial donation to our manager, Lee Reynolds. Lawrence (pictured) and fellow Our Lady student, Kevin, along with three Richmond Hill High School friends – Corey, Avery and Justin – did their own fundraiser for our food bank. Our manager was delighted by the resourcefulness and generosity of these local high school students – well done, all!
Holy Trinity students offer promotional, volunteer ideas
Jan. 21, 2022
This week our Richmond Hill Food Bank was able to tap into the creative minds of students at Holy Trinity School’s Grade 11 marketing class.
The class partnered with our food bank and gave us marketing and promotional ideas, with all students in the class told to treat our food bank like a “client” and give advice on increasing public awareness and boosting donations and volunteerism in the community.
The resulting proposals were creative, fun, interesting and illuminating! They included post-pandemic events at local parks such as a community barbecue, a food festival, educational and awareness campaigns, a regular newsletter service, a Hockey For Hunger event involving local hockey teams, a donation competition between classes or schools, a website re-design and even a new app to connect with student volunteers!
Wonderful mottos and slogans were suggested and their multi-media presentations featured fun and creative logos, posters and awareness posts for social media.
Thank you to teacher Adam Maingot and the Grade 11 marketing students at Holy Trinity in Richmond Hill. You rock!
Thanks Mazda, for 'Giving Where You Live' (and Work)
Nov. 24, 2021
Our friends at Mazda of Richmond Hill were happy to show off their first carload of food donations heading to the Richmond Hill Food Bank warehouse today.
Their ‘Holiday Giving Drive' started on Nov. 4, and they have already filled the trunk of a brand new Mazda3! The campaign continues right through the holiday season until Dec. 23, so the staff at the dealership on Yonge Street hope to collect another trunkload (or two!) before Christmas.
This generosity from a local business is greatly appreciated by our food bank volunteers, and especially hungry families, who depend on us for support. "Give where you live (and work)!"
Our food bank is now on Twitter; give us a follow!
Oct. 22, 2021
We’re now on Twitter! Stay up to date on what’s happening at our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank with our new Twitter account!
Follow us at https://twitter.com/RHFoodBank and see what food items we need; upcoming school or church food drives; and which companies and organizations are generously helping feed hungry families in Richmond Hill and Thornhill.
Please give us a follow and reTweet our messages to help us spread the news about “giving where you live”!
Bingo Fun Helps Our Food Bank
Bingo Fun Helps Our Food Bank
Sept 28, 2021
During August and September, more gaming options became available to patrons of Bingo World and Gaming Richmond Hill. Two bingo sessions Wednesday through Friday were opened during the month of August, and in September, the gaming centre opened seven days a week, and is currently open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Social distancing, contact tracing, masks, and since Sept. 22, proof of vaccination are all requirements for anyone entering the gaming centre.
Why is this important news to share for our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank? Because we are among more than 40 local charities and non-profits which benefit from funds generated at Bingo World.
Go to www.BingoWorld.ca/richmondhill for details, including a special, live Thanksgiving event on Monday, Oct. 11.
Celebrating our new, larger refrigerated food bank van
July 8, 2021
Richmond Hill MP Majid Jowhari came to the food bank June 30 with a certificate to celebrate our new, larger refrigerated van with our manager, Lee Reynolds, board chair and volunteers.
The number of people accessing the Richmond Hill Food Bank grew over 40% from 2017 to 2019, and Ms Reynolds says the demand continues to grow. “We’ve seen a 15% increase in the number of new clients visiting our food bank over the past year,” she said.
COVID-19 has intensified the food needs of the most vulnerable people, while also having a major impact on the operation of organizations working to improve food security. Ms Reynolds added that, “The demand for perishables has increase dramatically. The refrigerated van will help immensely in addressing a critical need for more perishables.”
On behalf of the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, MP Jowhari said: “Investments in food health and well-being are essential for a thriving and safe community. Richmond Hill Community Food Bank serves hundreds of families every month with supports from local volunteers, and their efforts are an enormous service to our city. I was delighted to see that they have received the funding under the Local Infrastructure program. With the addition of the refrigerated van, they now have the capacity to serve perishable foods, like fruits and vegetables, to people in need.”
The LFIF program is part of the Government of Canada’s Food Policy which is Canada’s roadmap for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. The LFIF Fund, is a five-year, $50-million program. In addition to the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada is investing $200 million under the Emergency Food Security Fund, which provides funding to national and regional organizations, who then support food banks and local food organizations across Canada to help reach people experiencing food insecurity.
The LFIF fund supports community-based, not-for-profit organizations to improve their food systems through investments in infrastructure that are directly related to addressing food insecurities and increasing the accessibility of healthy, nutritious, and ideally, local foods within their community.
The Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is a non-government, independently run non-profit agency, founded in 1986, to provide temporary emergency food assistance to those in need.
Local business supports our food bank; give where you live!
May 26, 2021
Jeff, Chris and Julia, representing Wilson Niblett Motors in Richmond Hill, were proud and excited to present a generous cheque donation to our Richmond Hill Food Bank in May.
Wilson Niblett owner Patrick Priestner believes in giving back to the local community, and encouraged Wilson Niblett staff to nominate and vote on worthy local charities to receive financial support. Our food bank manager, Lee Reynolds, our board members and all our volunteers are thrilled our food bank was one of the selected non-profits and pleased to see Richmond Hill businesses supporting Richmond Hill charities. We love it when people “give where you live”!
City awards our food bank a Community Recognition Certificate
April 23, 2021
Volunteers with the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank were pleased and proud to be awarded a special Community Recognition Certificate during an April 20 virtual 56th annual Volunteer Achievement Awards. The City of Richmond Hill honoured three groups and seven individuals for helping the community during the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A collage of photographs (on our Facebook page) shows many of our volunteers in action: warehouse trio Chuck, Rocco and Al, plus another warehouse foursome of Louis, Bob E., Mike and Tom. Working mostly in the storefront are Leslie, Nancy, Becky, Mary and Susan; plus Kathe, Pat, Rocco and Al; and a larger group of Marney, Wayne, Chuck, Dieter, Wendy, Lucy, Frances and Ann. Shown holding the actual certificate (delivered prior to the virtual ceremony) are Pat and Dave while the page in the program shows all the Community Recognition winners.
Two other unsung and mostly unseen volunteers are Demir and Laura, who pre-package client food bags when the food bank is closed (afternoons, nights and weekends). Also not pictured, are key volunteers: Glenna, Liz, George, Vito (who earned his own John Weir Memorial Accessibility Award) and dedicated board chair Fergie and vice chair Judy. And not to forget student volunteer Caleb, Bob S., and father and son Stephan and Noah.
Because of the efforts of all these volunteers, our food bank can serve up to 1,400 hungry people every month, even during a pandemic!
Food bank now offers home delivery to select clients
March 5, 2021
In the face of the continuing COVID-19 emergency, the manager and board of directors at our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank started up a food home delivery service for eligible clients in February. The first month has been a resounding success.
Eligible clients include existing or new clients in need who:
• are 65 years of age or older, with mobility/transportation issues;
• have a disability or mobility issues that prevent them from coming to the food bank; or
• are a single parent with young children.
As with all our qualifying clients, you must also live in Richmond Hill or Thornhill to be able to use our free home delivery service.
Our food bank has partnered with another York Region transportation agency to offer this service. This new program allows us to reach out to vulnerable individuals and families who need emergency food aid, but have difficulty coming in person to our food bank, especially in the face of heightened worries about the virus.
The photograph shows volunteer driver, Nadine, with our first two deliveries during the first week of February.
To arrange for our free home delivery service, call our manager, Lee Reynolds, to discuss your needs and situation at 905-508-4761.
Happy Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks
Oct. 11, 2020
Vanessa Ley and Heidi Kreiner-Ley from Jos. Kreiner Real Estate Ltd brokerage in Richmond Hill brought in a carload of frozen meat days before Thanksgiving weekend to distribute to our food bank clients. The very generous donation, purchased at Longo’s, was gratefully received by food bank board member and volunteer Marney Beck Robinson. “We’re wishing all families in Richmond Hill a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude and blessings,” noted Heidi, a sentiment shared by our Richmond Hill Food Bank board members, volunteers and general manager Lee Reynolds, who reminds both donors and clients that the food bank is closed Monday, Oct. 12 for the holiday. You can safely support your local food bank with a financial donation any day of the week by going online to our page on the Canada Helps website and receive an immediate receipt! https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/richmond-hill-community-food-bank/
Rotarians have successful Bottle & Food Drive
Sept. 30, 2020
Twenty-five volunteers from the Richmond Hill Rotary Club completed their Bottle and Food Drive on Sept 26. The result? Some $1,200 was raised for charities supporting our community, plus 750 pounds of food for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank was collected. Rotarians Peter Szoke (left) and Hira Joshi are shown handing over the food to manager Lee Reynolds of the food bank. Thank you for caring and sharing!
Help Support Girl's Rainbow Food Drive
Sept. 12, 2020
An amazing, creative young Richmond Hill student with a generous heart is organizing a “Rainbow Food Drive” for our food bank this month. Jessie, age 9, with help from her mom, Kerry, and dad, Jason, is asking for non-perishable food items to be dropped off at their home, 2 Birchbark Court, any time between Sept. 17 and 24, from the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. You’ll know it’s the right location, as you’ll see the colourful rainbow fence that Jessie painted herself!
“I learned about the urgent need for food during the pandemic, so I want to help,” Jessie wrote in an email to our food bank manager, asking a few questions about what foods we need most. “We have an nearly impossible goal of collecting 1,000 cans and 100 types of food. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me make my food drive possible!”
Our food bank volunteers, in turn, thank Jessie from the bottom of our hearts, for having such a great idea and for wanting to collect food to help feed hungry families!
Birchbark Court runs off Silver Maple Road at Pexton Avenue and is north of Jefferson Sideroad and just west of Yonge Street in north Richmond Hill. Check out Jessie’s Rainbow Food Drive poster and please drop off your donations to make her food drive a big success!
For details, photos and results, check out https://www.facebook.com/RichmondHillFoodBank
Fantastic Family Volunteers
Aug. 16, 2020
This is the amazing Bourassa family: dad Stephan, wife Cristina, daughter Oceana and son Noah. During the past challenging COVID-19 months, they have made an incredible family effort to support our Richmond Hill Food Bank and keep food flowing into our warehouse. In fact, over the past six months, they are personally responsible for delivering an estimated 100,000 pounds of donated food to our food bank!
At first, Stephan volunteered with other members of Knights of Columbus and his church, Our Lady Queen of the World, to pick up food donations from parishioners. As weeks went on, Stephan realized we had a shortage of volunteers able to drive our food bank van. He began weekly pickups to clear out the Loblaws, Freshco and Sobeys donation bins and haul in heavy groceries to our warehouse, where they were quarantined, then later sorted and packed into bags for our client families. He was often accompanied by his son, daughter or wife.
Through the cold days of spring and the hot, humid days of summer – every single week, whether we were in “stage 1, 2 or 3” – the Bourassa clan has continued to do the grocery store pickups, wearing our green volunteer lanyards and, of course, sporting protective masks and gloves. Our volunteers and board members gratefully salute Stephan and his family for their incredible commitment to our food bank and for ensuring hungry families have food on their tables during the pandemic.
Coronavirus update re change in procedures
April 23, 2020
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, PLEASE DO NOT VISIT THE FOOD BANK
•Please wear a mask or facial covering to protect yourself and others
•Practise social distancing
•Identification and proof of address for all family members is required
• You must live in our Richmond Hill or Thornhill service area
•Bring bags
•Registration will be done one person at a time at the front door
•Pre-packed bags of groceries will be given out at the rear of the building
•Expect longer wait times
Knights in Shining Armour & Online Donations
March 30, 2020
They are really our “Knights” in Shining Armour! These Knights of Columbus members, with Our Lady Queen of the World Church, are not just bringing ‘40Cans For Lent’ / Easter donations picked up from church members. Last week they even went to the local Freshco store to pick up the $5 brown bags of customer donations and deliver them our food bank! As with all non-perishable donations in these days of COVID-19, we put all food items in “quarantine” in our warehouse, where they will stay for between 5 and 7 days, before they’re handled and put on our shelves. That’s for the protection of both volunteers and clients. So if you’re wondering what’s the best way to help your local food bank, an online donation that involves no touching or quarantine is the best way! Here’s the direct link from our website page to our Canada Helps page: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/richmond-hill-community-food-bank/
COVID-19 Health and Safety Notice
March 14, 2020
During the current COVID-19 emergency, the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank will keep its doors open to serve hungry clients and accept donations. However, for the protection of our clients, donors and volunteers, numerous operating procedures will be changed, effective Mon., March 16. Only one client at a time will be allowed inside the food bank’s front door to show ID and be registered. Then basic pre-packaged grocery provisions will be handed out through the back doors. Our manager and board of directors believe that as a basic emergency food service it’s vital to keep our doors open as long as possible. We thank clients and donors, and especially our volunteers, for their patience and understanding.
Winter carnival committee donates food
Feb. 3, 2020
Again this year, food left over from the 52nd Richmond Hill Winter Carnival was donated to the food bank. Marney Beck Robinson, a volunteer with both the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival Committee and the food bank, brought a carload of food to the warehouse Feb. 3 from the Feb. 1-2 weekend. Manager Lee Reynolds was pleased to receive the juice boxes, milk, cream, pop, water, hamburger buns, butter, sugar, hot chocolate, plus numerous individual maple syrup servings – all surplus after the carnival's pancake breakfast. So again, one community group is helping out another and feeding hungry families!
Scaring up food at Halloween Haunt for Hunger
Oct. 26, 2019
He’s scary generous again this Halloween. Ken Samells and his sons have created their annual Halloween Haunt for Hunger at their Richmond Hill home, scaring up donations for our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank. He and younger son Matthew posed for photos for Liberal newspaper videographer Justin Greaves, whose photos and video will spread the invitation to a wider audience, that 249 Taylor Mills Dr. South (behind Centennial Pool and near Crosby Heights P.S.) is open now for spooky fun. Residents and visitors of all ages are encouraged to wander through his front-yard display of frightening and animated creatures, colourful light features, and glowing pumpkins any day or evening from now until Halloween. Everyone is encouraged to drop a non-perishable food item or financial donation into collection boxes created by Ken, who will bring all the food and funds to the food bank after the spooky fun. We offer no ‘boos,’ only cheers to Ken and his family for their generosity!
Summertime Cram The Cruiser
August 9, 2019
Sergeant Joan Wilson of 2 District York Regional Police, with the help of numerous YRP officers, organized a recent food drive at Sobeys at Bathurst and Rutherford for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank. Food bank manager Lee Reynolds (black print top) personally came to thank officers Nigel Cole, Robert Li and Vince Garisto, who were on hand to accept food donations and sell cupcakes to raise money to help feed hungry families in Richmond Hill and Thornhill. Warehouse manager Bob Ewart brought the food bank van to accept all the donations. We so appreciate the generosity of families, Sobeys management and staff, and York Regional Police, for helping make this summer Cram the Cruiser event a success!
Expressing appreciation to local church
June 16, 2019
On June 15 our food bank manager Lee Reynolds, along with board chair Fergie Reynolds, participated in a Community Guest Day at Richmond Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. Prior to the worship service, food bank representatives and other guests were invited to speak about how their organizations serve and impact residents of Richmond Hill. As part of their visit, they presented the church, represented by Ritva Croughan and Pastor Todor Levterov (not shown) with a plaque of appreciation for ongoing support of the food bank. Members of the church, located at 210 Elgin Mills Rd. W., have been bringing in non-perishable food items for the food bank for many years, and their long-term commitment to helping hungry families is sincerely appreciated.
Dodgeball Tourney Spring Food Drive
May 29, 2019
A pleased and proud Sonny Dhillon, (far right in photo), oversees the incredible collection of more than 6,000 pounds of food contributed Friday, May 24 at the Rouge Woods Community Centre charity dodgeball tournament. Sonny is a longtime supporter of both the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank and 360Kids, and the food collected in this spring food drive is very much appreciated by both agencies that serve hungry residents of our community. George Keller (striped shirt), a board member of the food bank, joined with Mayor Dave Barrow and Councillor David West to congratulate and thank the players and their families for their food donations, which filled our food bank van, and was also happily received at 360Kids. Sincere thanks to everyone involved!
Sobeys is Super!
April 30, 2019
In April, Sobeys store manager James Mercier, from store #794 at 9200 Bathurst St. in Thornhill, presented manager Lee Reynolds with $1,227 worth of gift cards for her to purchase much needed food items for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank. When certain shelves in our warehouse are running low or even sitting empty, having the funds available to shop at Sobeys for specific foods we need for our hungry families in Richmond Hill and Thornhill is vital. And just before Easter, Gus Ucci, store manager of Jefferson Square Sobeys store, along with store staff Brett, Ashley and Daniel, came to the food bank to present our food bank manager with $1,700 worth of Sobey gift cards to purchase needed food items. Our families and volunteers are very grateful to both Sobeys stores for their generous support for hungry families – thanks so much!
Community Organization of the Year!
April 12, 2019
Thanks to our incredible 60+ volunteers, the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank has been honoured by the City of Richmond Hill as Community Organization of the Year! During the 55th annual awards ceremony April 10 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, food bank board chair Fergie Reynolds was presented with the award on behalf of all of our dedicated volunteers who serve hungry families. The food bank was nominated by Filomena Smith, who has supported the food bank through her work at RBC and with own longtime volunteerism with Girl Guides of Canada. Holding the actual award are manager Lee Reynolds and Mary MacCon, one of the many longserving volunteers at the food bank. Former regional councillor Vito Spatafora wrote a heartfelt letter to support the food bank’s nomination and is an incoming board member, and Marney Beck Robinson celebrated the award as a volunteer and board member. Both Filomena and Fergie spoke about the work the food bank does and the 1,300 clients served each month in a video shared with the audience, and Councillor Tom Muench presented Fergie with the award on stage.
Food bank wins non-profit award
March 9, 2019
At the March 7 Business Achievement Awards, presented by the Richmond Hill Board of Trade, our Richmond Hill Community Food Bank was honoured with the best non-profit award! Board member Marney Beck Robinson and manager Lee Reynolds accepted the award, presented to a “non-profit or charitable organization which has shown exceptional community service and leadership”. So Lee and Marney salute all our dedicated volunteers who really won this award for the food bank, people who volunteer their time to help clients and do so week after week, year after year, some for 10, 15 and even 20 years! And of course, the real beneficiaries will be the hungry clients who depend on us for emergency food aid. This award will hopefully help spread the word that there are people in our community who are hungry and need our help, 1,300 every single month. So thanks to the board of trade for this honour and spread the word about your local food bank!
Community responds with generosity
Dec. 28, 2018
If you read the Liberal story about ‘unprecedented demand’ stressing our Richmond Hill Food Bank resources and resulting in empty shelves, we want you to know the community has responded with generosity! Our food bank board vice chair and chair, Judy and Fergie, show off two huge donation bins filled to the brim Dec. 22. Earlier that week one was filled with food donations, and by the end of our special Saturday morning donation drop-off, the second bin was filled, too! The warehouse was also open Dec. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to noon (for donations only; no clients were served). Thanks, Richmond Hill and Thornhill, for caring for your hungry neighbours, and we’ll need your continued support as we deal with ever growing demand in 2019.
Very Hungry Caterpillar and Very Creative School!
Dec. 19, 2018
Check out Bond Lake Public School’s Very Hungry Caterpillar. This special school in Oak Ridges used this creative display and a December donation campaign for their local food bank as a teaching tool. One of the teachers reported that a team of Intermediate students created the innovative hallway caterpillar collector to encourage students to bring in non-perishable food items, and the older students also went into primary classes to read the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar and talk about poverty in our community. Thanks to the teachers and students of Bond Lake PS for this inventive way to help local families this holiday! And thanks to the 10th annual Music Marathon and New Horizons Band of York Region for musical and tangible contributions to the food bank.
Generosity in Action
Dec. 3, 2018
Class act and fond farewell
December 1, 2018
Thank you Sobeys!
October 7 2018
Staff at Sobeys Rutherford launched a food drive for the Richmond Hill food bank and are continuing to sell donation bags to customers for the food bank until the end of the year. Manager James Mercier and assistant manager Andrew McFaddyen, with assistance from York Region Police and Sobeys staff, transfer donated food from the overflowing food bank bin into a van for transportation to our Newkirk Road facility. Clients and volunteers appreciate this generosity at this time of Thanksgiving!
Thank you Cosmo and Rose!
October 7 2018
Cosmo and Rose are the picture of generosity! They donate fresh vegetables and produce from the Hillcrest Mall Farmers Market every Sunday and Wednesday to the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank – from May until the end of October! The food bank board of directors, manager Lee Reynolds and most of all, the 1,000 clients they help feed, say a huge Thanksgiving thank you to Cosmo and Rose!
Thank you State Farm and Cobs Bread
October 5 2018
Thank you State Farm and Cobs Bread
October 5 2018
What a great way to start the Thanksgiving weekend! Dan Vacca and his wife Dina, agent and owner of State Farm in Thornhill, brought a truckload of food donations to the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank this week! The company had a food drive and collected much-needed peanut butter, soups, beans and hygiene items. Food bank manager Lee Reynolds and Dan held a large, tangible sign saying ‘thank you’, on behalf of hungry families in Richmond Hill and Thornhill! Volunteers and board members also give thanks to Rae and sister Ronnie, from Cobs Bread, who have donated bread and baked goods to the food bank every week from the Hillcrest Mall Farmers Market.
Generous Donation Helps Pet Families
July 27, 2018
Birthday Generosity
June 8, 2018