Two years ago, Joan arrived in Toronto with her young family. She and her husband had fled increasing political persecution in Uganda, where simply sending their children—just 9, 6, and 4 years old—to school, put their safety at risk.
Joan’s desire to protect and care for her family continued in Toronto, but her new challenges were to provide a roof over their heads and ensure her children had food to eat. Their family moved multiple times, learned to navigate the city, looked for work, and sorted school registrations—without any friends or family to turn to.
The one thing they still struggled with was food instability. Even though Joan’s husband secured work as a delivery truck driver, working extra-long days travelling around Ontario, much of their income was going to rent—leaving very little for groceries.
“I realized we needed help,” says Joan. “We were struggling to give our children enough nutritious food.”
Her family is not alone. Right now, more than 1 in 10 people in Toronto are relying on food banks to make ends meet. More neighbours are being pushed into poverty due to insufficient wages, unaffordable housing and the rising cost of living.
When Joan found the support of the food bank, it meant her children never had to go to sleep hungry. They had access to healthy staples like milk, chicken, and fruit when they needed it. But there are still more of our neighbours who are struggling to put enough food on the table.
“Food is so vital in someone’s life. Without food in your stomach, your brain can hardly think,” said Joan, who keeps a busy schedule of job hunting, caring for her young family, and volunteering at Daily Bread multiple times a week. “The food has helped sustain us.”
These days, Joan’s family continues to rely on the food bank to provide stability when they need it. You can help provide Joan’s family, and thousands more like hers, with peace of mind knowing there will be wholesome meals this Thanksgiving. Last Thanksgiving, one of the items that Joan’s family valued most was a turkey. “It was such a memorable gift,” says Joan. “Thanksgiving in Canada has become a special holiday for us. Daily Bread donors have made it special.”
Access to nutritious and healthy meals is a right that everyone should be afforded.
If you would like to support the growing number of families who are facing hunger this Thanksgiving, please click here to donate today.
