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March Is Nutrition Month

Nutrition is foremost in the mind of Seema David, founder and Executive Director of 5n2 when it comes to the preparation of the meals we serve to our clients. Her vision to provide fresh and hot food to those in need in the community has expanded to include Meals2U and 5n2 Food Pantry in its offerings.

There is enough food in Canada to feed its population however, not everyone has easy access to nutritious food nor can they afford to purchase it. The pandemic has exacerbated a problem that already existed which has been compounded by rising food prices, and for some, loss of income. We don’t all have a SUV to get into to drive to our favourite grocery or big box stores, to buy the freshest produce, protein etc., and to also have the means to afford it all! HFI (Household Food Insecurity) is an acronym to remember as we think of neighbours and strangers less fortunate than us who must make those hard decisions due to financial constraints when they go shopping for food. There are complex systemic issues related to poverty impacting nutrition from the very young to the elderly which need to be addressed at a national level.

For guidance on nutrition, you can check out Canada’s food guide which focuses on eating habits and provides recommendations on food choices. The Guide encourages Canadians to eat a variety of healthy foods each day, be mindful of their eating habits, cook more often, enjoy their food, and eat meals with others. In order to reflect Canada’s diversity, the Food Guide Snapshot is available in 31 languages, including nine Indigenous languages. Did you know the most popular recipe in 2019 was the Guide’s version of mac and cheese?

We may not be able to solve Canada’s poverty problem but we can make a small change by providing nutritious meals for our clients.

“There ain’t no point in making soup unless others eat it. Soup needs another mouth to taste it, another heart to be warmed by it.”
― Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux

5n2 During Covid Times

It is almost unbelievable to think that a year has gone by since the Province of Ontario implemented safety protocols to manage the spread of the virus to protect its citizens.

We felt the impact immediately at 5n2 in the way we prepare meals for our clients going from large trays feeding 35 people down to individual portions in recyclable single use containers. This increased our costs and preparation time. As many of our volunteers are seniors, we were faced with a reduced number of volunteers to get the meals ready and to assist in other work at the kitchen. We also had less food rescue donations due to retail food establishment and restaurant closures. Yes, we did indeed face some challenges.

The pandemic has exposed food insecurity as an issue that is faced by many people living in Toronto, and statistics bear witness to an increase in number of visits to food banks and soup kitchens in 2020. By the end of 2020, we had doubled the number of meals we serve on a weekly basis and had added new locations for those in need in our community. We have adapted to the single use containers however there is still significant effort required in planning and scheduling deliveries to the various locations. We have grown, and we are introducing new programs this year. We are always looking for volunteers, food donations/ food rescue and monthly donors to keep us going one meal at a time.

We would not have been able to get through the past year without the support of our volunteers, partners, donors and grant makers. Onward with 2021!

“All sorrows are less with bread. “ –  Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Food Insecurity Is Not Just About Food

We all agree access to food is a basic need and should be treated as a human right for the most vulnerable in our society. If we can’t meet this need, then we are not meeting our social obligation to look after each other.
 
Food insecurity goes beyond than being just about putting food on the table. It is about the quality and quantity of the food, how it impacts the health of its consumers and its long-term effects. There is quite often poor access to fresh produce and there is also the constant stress of dealing with the rising cost of food. Food insecurity is a symptom of the disease of poverty. 
 
According to Homeless Hub, 1 in 7 (or 4.9 million) people in Canada live in poverty. Low-income families are more vulnerable to poor health than those earning a living wage and they use more healthcare resources because illness can make it harder to get out of poverty. Poverty can lead to sickness because of inadequate housing, poor nutrition, and less access to preventative health care.
 
Here at 5n2, we are providing more than a free meal. We are meeting our obligations, one meal at a time and will continue to do so as long as there is a need here in Scarborough.
 
“When a man’s stomach is full, it makes no difference if he is rich or poor.” Euripides

Covid-19

This year we have kept our doors open 7 days/week especially through COVID-19, as the need for our services has increased much.Even with our volunteer pool down by over 40%, we have had to adapt and keep going as many in our communities are in isolation, vulnerable and at risk and need our help.

Visit our website at 5n2.ca to consider how you could join hands with us to serve your neighbors.