This is a joint project by The Canadian Helpers Society and Vision of Hope Resource Centre; on the first step the program will be implemented in Brampton.
Vision of Hope Resource Centre is a Brampton-based charity committed to creating a healthy and empowered local community. We provide programs and services that help children, youth, seniors, and families thrive; we aim to promote wellbeing and reduce accessibility barriers that impact quality of life.
Since the pandemic, the pre-existing problem of financial and food insecurity in our neighbourhood has been gravely exacerbated. Research data shows that over 10% of households in Ontario face food insecurity, and 1 in 6 children are impacted by this shortage. The outbreak of COVID-19 has further led to economic shutdowns that continue to have adverse impacts on our daily lives; CBC reports that the province, on the whole, has lost over 355,000 jobs in the past year alone. These conditions disproportionately affect populations facing intersectional marginalization and vulnerabilities, including racialized groups, children and teens, and seniors.
Under these circumstances, VOHRC has worked tirelessly to mitigate the problem of food insecurity by helping individuals and families affected by COVID-19 access sufficient, nutritious food. Our Emergency Food Support Initiative delivers fresh food hampers and gift vouchers directly to these households. By addressing food shortage and nutritional imbalance, we also aim to reduce the prevalence of diet-related health conditions (such as Type 2 diabetes) and other negative physical, mental, and social outcomes.
Currently, VOHRC is in the process of expanding our Food Bank and food support program. The expanded Food Bank will increase our reach within (and beyond) the neighbourhood and the accessibility of our services. It is our sincerest hope to deliver timely and effective care to families affected by these difficult, uncertain times that continue to pose sizeable challenges in our everyday lives. We require your support in order to actualize our visions. We are currently raising funds and accepting monetary donations for our expansion. We are also seeking donations of refrigerators and freezers, shelves, storage equipment, and preservable food items.
Your donations are vital for our operation and will increase our capacity to contribute to the wellbeing of our local community. Despite our sustained efforts, we have identified salient needs that remain unresolved, and your contribution will be invaluable to bridging this gap within our neighbourhood.
For any inquiries and donations of equipment/ products, please feel welcome to contact Vision of Hope Resource Centre at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (905) 794-5955. Alternatively, you can make monetary donations to our initiative on this GoFundMe page.
We sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you for your donation, and for helping us make a difference to our community.
