The ongoing and persistent struggles of systemic inequality are more severe in times of crisis. Even as Ontario reopens, many of our fellow community members continue to face the combined stresses of their immediate health and safety in addition to dealing with challenges such as lack of sick leave, child care, housing payments, and mental health struggles, among others.
Lack of access to healthy food should not contribute to problems posed by COVID-19.
What has Greenest City been doing?
Distributed 200 fresh produce boxes every week, in partnership with FoodShare Toronto
Rapidly increased our food growing in the community gardens to support over 190 people in getting access to fresh produce
Supported our Indigenous partners and community members in holding ceremonies and online gatherings — integral to the spiritual, physical, and mental health of the Indigenous community.
Collaborated with our partners at Sand in Water (formerly Making Room) to host weekly online creative gatherings and silent meditations for Helpers
Partnered with other Parkdale-based front-line organizations to support them and their community with grocery cards, space, and mutual aid efforts.
The pandemic is not over until we’re all safe. We continue to support the community organizations that are making vaccines more accessible, and community safety remains a priority in our work. As of July 2021, we are offering in-person programming again in accordance with public health measures. As we continue to support people in the community, we are aware that many face prolonged and complex challenges.
Your commitment to an ongoing donation will help us commit to ongoing support!
Updates
Times of uncertainty brings both bad and good. There is increased racism, ageism, and ableism. But people also rise to the challenge of supporting their communities. The spread of COVID-19 provides the opportunity for us to step up in collective action to mitigate increased oppression.
In this spirit of solidarity, Greenest City will facilitate efforts to build community and support each other, in all of our diversity, including across income, faith, ethnicity, culture, and generations.
We will do this in ways that follow public health guidelines to keep our staff and communities safe. We will practice physical distancing, while nurturing social connection.
We will do this in ways that creatively connect us, support food access, and care for our most vulnerable community members and each other together.
In Solidarity,
Angela ElzingaCheng
Executive Director, Greenest City
August 12, 2020
The work continues! The past few months at Greenest City have been filled with adjustments and learning. Our community gardens are open to gardeners with COVID-19 protocols in place. The Good Food Market is back up and running with fresh vegetables and fruits available at affordable prices. We’ve been adapting our workshops for an online platform and are hosting our first Parkdale Cooks workshop later this week! Our partners at Sand in Water have also been running their Sharing the Sacred program online. We continue to distribute Good Food Boxes throughout the community in partnership with FoodShare Toronto. Special thank you to The Bike Brigade for volunteering their time and efforts to deliver boxes to those unable to pick them up.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to everyone who called, emailed, or wrote to us over the past few months. Your kind words mean a lot to our small team and we truly appreciate them. Here are a couple of the messages we’ve received:
Thank you very much for your kind support. It is really amazing your kindness. More power to your organization.
We are truly grateful for your generosity, for the knock at our door to bring the box of vegetables and fruits, and for kind gesture to send us PC cards. How kind of you! May you be recompensed a double fold for your great deed. Thanks too much.
April 24, 2020
We have closed the sign-up form for the Emergency COVID-19 Food Relief. We will continue to hand out 800 Good Food Boxes monthly. However, we have unfortunately reached our capacity for being able to purchase and distribute the Good Food Boxes for the time being. If you previously signed up and reside in the Parkdale community, you will continue to receive a Good Food Box every two weeks going forward.