Thornhill students experience social justice during retreat
Helped out at Georgina food pantry, youth shelter

YorkRegion.com
March 3, 2014
By Simone Joseph

Thornhill resident Ariella Daniels visited a food pantry, a women’s shelter and a youth shelter during a social justice retreat in Georgina for university students during February’s reading week.

“It was eye-opening to see another community,” Ms Daniels said. “Because it is rural, there is more need. I am used to being in the city, surrounded by the same people.”

Ms Daniels, 20, is in second year at York University.

She and 16 other students from across the Greater Toronto Area visited the Georgina Community Food Pantry, Sandgate Women’s Shelter, and the Salvation Army Sutton Youth Shelter Feb. 20 and 21.

“We thought if we take them out of the city to another environment, they will be immersed in the experience and it will be more engaging,” said Elise Loterman, director of Hillel at Ryerson and the York Region Initiative.

Hillel of Greater Toronto is an organization for Jewish students in Toronto. It provides programming and events for students at universities and colleges across the GTA.

Hillel received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand programming into York Region to meet the needs of students who live off campus. Through programs and events, Hillel promotes Jewish identity, student leadership and religious and political diversity.

Students stayed overnight at the Georgina Resort and Conference Center.

The retreat included community building activities such as packing boxes at the food pantry and interacting with youth staying at the Salvation Army Sutton Youth Shelter. The event was meant to create greater awareness about social issues and to encourage community engagement.

It was a very meaningful trip, according to Ms Daniels.

“It really hit me. You can see a lot of people don’t have jobs, can’t afford a living space or food.”

At the youth shelter, she spoke to people aged 16 to 26 staying there and found she was able to relate to the youth she met.

“Some are going to school next year. All have ambitions and interests similar to ours,” she said.

She and the other students bonded, Ms Daniels said.

“We took it to heart. We learned about ourselves.”

Hillel hopes to run a similar event in future and is organizing a post-trip event.