This summer, the Feeding Our Future program delivered 36,263 healthy lunches and provided the critical nourishment to 1,450 children and youth in summer camps across Toronto. To get a closer look at the program’s impact, let’s follow Fasika Adane, a driver ambassador at Second Harvest, as he makes his daily deliveries on the downtown route.
Fasika usually begins his day at 7 a.m., loading up his van with trays of fresh sandwiches and snacks. At every stop he reaches, he’s warmly welcomed by camp staff, often accompanied by children who know him by name and eagerly await his arrival.
One of the highlights of his day is his stop at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. Here, two kids wait for Fasika at the same spot every time, running up to greet him with excitement and gratitude. They thank him, cheer him on as he unloads his van and even ask if they can help him carry small items. Their joy and appreciation make his job more fulfilling and motivates him to do even better, Fasika shares.
At each camp, Fasika’s deliveries mean much more than just a meal. For many children, the lunch they receive might be the most nutritious meal they have all day. Partner organizations, like Taking Kids Out of Poverty (TKOP) and the 519, emphasize how these meals bring stability, comfort, and nourishment to their young participants.
TKOP provides education, mentorship and soccer programming for children living in St. James Town and Cabbagetown in Toronto’s downtown east, all free of charge.
“Food insecurity is very significant in various communities in Toronto,” Mikael Khalam, TKOP’s Founder, says. “What the kids could count on when they come to our program is that they’ll get a drink, a fruit, a snack and just be in a safe space to eat with their friends and have fun.”
TKOP can also cater to a larger demographic this year, thanks to the Halal sandwich option, a new addition to Feeding Our Future’s menu.
To Sharn Peters, manager, Child and Family Programs at the 519, the sandwiches and snacks received from Second Harvest allow the children and their families to bond over trying new foods for the first time at their summer camp.
“Our families will get a sense of community and build those connections,” she adds. “Because sitting together and eating, which we call ‘breaking bread’ in my culture, is so important.”
This experience also opens up conversation about nutrition and brings inspiration to many families’ lunch menu during the school year.
For camps like Art City, the availability of lunches provided through Feeding Our Future enables the small team to focus on their mission: helping kids gain confidence through arts. Before partnering with Second Harvest, the organization could only offer a light snack. Now the complete meal — including sandwiches, snack and juice — keeps their campers fed and energized throughout the day.
By the end of his route, Fasika returns to Second Harvest’s headquarters, his van filled with empty crates but his heart full of joy.
“I don’t think there’s anybody who gets to be thanked by others as much as me,” he says. “That’s a blessing.”
A huge thank-you to our donors, summer assistants and 269 volunteers who spent over 1,100 hours making sandwiches this summer. Without your support and generosity, this program wouldn’t be a success.
