Toronto Community Housing and ANIDA distribute hundreds of holiday meal kits to support five communities in Toronto’s north

TORONTO, December 17, 2020—Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) teamed with its community partner agency the ANIDA food bank this week to bring frozen turkeys and a little holiday warmth to hundreds of community members in northwestern Toronto.

On December 14, TCHC Community Safety Unit Special Constables visited five communities to deliver truckloads of frozen turkeys, books and more to tenants who'd been invited to pick up a holiday meal kit. Special Constables distributed the ANIDA food baskets, including cooking instructions, pans and vegetables, outdoors in the parking lots of five TCHC buildings.

"To be able to get out to five communities and have the opportunity to assist individuals and families was just an absolutely great day," TCHC's Community Safety Advisor Ken Tooby said. "The turkey drop-off was a timely way to bring food and warmth in communities where food security has often been a challenge, even before the pandemic."

ANIDA has also supported the community for several months, organizing biweekly home deliveries of essential grocery items to Shoreham Drive seniors. "The Senior Care program also ensures we meet the needs of the community without putting anyone at risk during the pandemic," said ANIDA Executive Director Samuel J. Donkor. "We made sure that the turkey delivery took place in parking lots and included masks and physical distancing."

The According to TCHC Community Services Coordinator Joseph Greer, the program also has a wellness component for people coping with social isolation during the pandemic. "Food delivery programs such as ANIDA's also support mental health and break social isolation, because there's a lot of care about community members' wellbeing that goes along with the meal."

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About ANIDA:

Founded in 1997, ANIDA is dedicated to strengthening people and communities through our food banks and education based empowerment programs in Canada, Ghana and Jamaica. ANIDA's food banks in Toronto and Ottawa are open year round, serving hundreds of families every week. This season ANIDA is also leading a book and turkey drive read and Feed Campaign) for underprivileged families in local communities for its programs internationally, and using donated funds to purchase turkeys and books that will be distributed during the holidays both locally and abroad.

Media Contact: Pras Lingam 647-347-9936 plingam@anida.org.  

About Toronto Community Housing:

Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider. We are owned by the City of Toronto and provide homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in more than 100 of the city's neighbourhoods. Our buildings represent a $10-billion public asset.

TCHC Media Line 416-737-1352 or media@torontohousing.ca