Food funding for Markham-Thornhill residents negatively impacted by COVID-19

$31,600 for Parya Trillium Foundation and 105 Gibson Centre

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 13, 2020
Simone Joseph

Markham-Thornhill MP Mary Ng announced $31,600 in funding Thursday (Nov. 12) to improve food access for residents facing social, economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding is distributed between the Parya Trillium Foundation (a multicultural Markham community centre) and 105 Gibson Centre (a Christian faith-based community centre) to provide the most vulnerable people access to meals and food packages. The funding is expected to feed more than 1,000 people in need with a total of 1,135 meals.

“This fund not only gives immediate food support to families in need, but also strengthens our bond as a community during the pandemic,” said Chris Cheung, business development manager of 105 Gibson Centre.

The funding is part of the $100-million emergency fund for food security announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in April. The fund helps food banks and local food organizations respond to increased community needs during the pandemic.

National organizations have distributed the funding, including Community Food Centres Canada, Breakfast Club of Canada and Second Harvest.  

Food banks and other local food organizations face increased demand for services as well as the added pressure of shortages of donations and volunteers.

The funds from the prime minister’s announcement have helped more than 1,800 food banks and local food organizations across Canada, which have helped more than two million Canadians access six million meals.

Demand for help has been greater during COVID-19, Ng said. One in seven Canadians have said they live in a house where there has been food insecurity over a one-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.

Ng thanked the Parya Trillium Foundation for hiring temporary help and ensuring there are people to serve the public.

“Your government will support you,” Ng said. “Our fight is continuous to fight this pandemic. Today’s announcement will go a long way to helping the most vulnerable people in our community, and ensuring Canadians have what they need to stay safe and healthy throughout this pandemic.”

Quick Facts

The $100-million emergency fund for food security investment was divided as follows:

• $50 million Food Banks Canada.

• $45 million divided evenly between Community Food Centres Canada, Second Harvest, Salvation Army, and Breakfast Club of Canada.
• Up to $5 million for local-level organizations who serve people experiencing food insecurity, including $800,000 for La Tablée des Chefs to help prepare and distribute meals mainly across Quebec to vulnerable populations through food banks.