For residents at YWCA Toronto’s Elm Centre, the opening of a new on-site food bank meant more than access to groceries. It meant relief. It meant feeling seen. And for many, it was an emotional reminder that they were not facing these challenges alone.
Over time, staff had been hearing the same reality again and again: food was becoming harder to afford. Through daily community programming, the team saw how often residents were stretching too little to cover too much — relying on small snacks and coffee while trying to make impossible choices between rent, bills, and groceries. For many seniors, disabled residents, and others facing barriers to mobility, travelling to outside food programs was not always realistic, especially during the winter months.
Katie, a Community Engagement Worker at Elm Centre, knew the need was urgent. Not long after joining the team, she began looking into ways to bring more food support directly to residents. When she connected with Daily Bread Food Bank, that possibility began to grow into something real.
For Katie, the project quickly became deeply personal. “Since the beginning, I’ve kind of taken it as my baby,” she said. “I’ve worked very, very hard on it because I saw how much people were really struggling.”
What followed was months of persistence, planning, and advocacy — but Katie is clear that this was never something she did alone. “Without my team, I could not have done it,” she said. “I work with just the most amazing people.” From reorganizing rooms and assembling shelving to adjusting schedules and stepping in wherever needed, Elm Centre staff came together to make the food bank possible. Katie also shared that the Daily Bread team was “so supportive and so wonderful,” helping Elm Centre feel confident and cared for throughout the process.
When the food bank opened, the response from residents made every effort worthwhile. “We literally had people coming in and crying,” Katie said. “I’ve had people hugging me… everyone is so happy to have this food bank so close to home.”
At its heart, this story is a powerful reminder of what your support makes possible. Combined with the dedication of Katie and her team, and the generosity of donors and volunteers, your support is helping ensure residents at YWCA Elm Centre have access to food where they live — and the dignity, care, and sense of community that comes with it.
By donating today, you can help establish programs like the YWCA Elm Centre and ensure everyone has access the food they need.
