We believe everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. No one should go hungry. That’s why we’re using every tool in our toolbox to transform our communities into places where everyone has access to culturally relevant and healthy food. Any way we can.
THE CHALLENGE
Living costs are soaring. Far too many people in our region are struggling to afford the basics. Some families have to make impossible choices between groceries, rent, transportation and childcare — choices that often mean skipping meals to get by. Poverty is the main cause of food insecurity, and it impacts some groups more than others — women, Indigenous peoples and racialized communities, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants. These challenges keep us awake at night. And drive our determination. It’s time to build a stronger GTA, where no one has to choose between dinner and rent.
51%
Food bank visits in the GTA rose by 51% in 2023
60%
of Ontario renters cut back on food so they could pay their rent
$800
A family of four could pay about $800 more for food in 2025 — roughly $66 extra each month
WE WON’T BE SATISFIED UNTIL EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH TO EAT
By investing in our network of community agencies, we support programs that address immediate food access and long-term food security. We’re working day in and day out to ensure no one goes hungry, committing our support to food banks, community gardens and program initiatives like workshops that build skills in preparing healthy, culturally appropriate meals. We’re also safeguarding essential spaces like our Community Hubs — one-stop shops for social services that anchor community grocery stores and food pantries close to home. And together with our partners, we’re driving innovative solutions, such as mobile markets that bring fresh food to underserved areas. But meeting urgent needs isn’t enough. That’s why we’ll keep advancing research, advocacy and policy efforts, working tirelessly to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure equitable access to food — not just for today, but for generations to come.
Britt, Executive Director, Ecosource (a United Way-funded organization)Residents can come together to grow the food that they want and need, rather than being reliant on what’s on the shelves in the food bank or what’s being served by a meal program. They have that agency over what’s grown and also how it’s used and shared, which we think is really, really important to people’s food security.
BUILDING A GTA FOR ALL
Building community takes community. Together, we have helped:
149,314
people access culturally relevant, local food
77,497
community members play an active role in shaping stronger local food solutions
Food banks are seeing record visits, and we can’t stand by as those numbers keep rising. With your support, we’re providing urgent relief while driving lasting solutions that help ensure everyone can put enough food on the table. Any way we can.
Learn more
April 21, 2025
What food banks really need — and what they don’t
Food banks are grateful for any help, but here’s how to make the most effective donations.
April 11, 2025
The rising hunger crisis — and what we’re doing about it
Fighting hunger takes more than food. Here’s how we’re tackling the root causes of food insecurity across the GTA with a community-first approach.
July 18, 2024
How two sisters navigated their settlement journey
With hard work and a helping hand from a United Way-funded agency, Muffad and Shenawar built new lives in Canada