Food For Thought

Daily Bread Food Bank truck

By Hannah Korbee

There’s a flurry of activity and an air of anticipation when you walk into Birchcliff Bluffs United Church on a Wednesday.

Every week, the church is full of scores of volunteers helping to run our local food bank.

While awaiting the delivery of food and household items by the Daily Bread food truck, the volunteers prepare the space, pull out produce bags, count inventory, and stand by on the lawn with carts waiting to unload.

It’s truly amazing what 100 volunteers can accomplish in just a day.

Volunteers organize food donations

Supports 200 local families

Daily Bread Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that feeds the hungry.

They provide food to approximately 170 member agencies across the GTA, including the Churches by the Bluffs Food Bank in Birch Cliff, which is also an agency of  Second Harvest.

Our food bank was established by several local churches in September 2003.  It helps support 200 families from Victoria Park to Midland and St. Clair stretching down to the lake.

Volunteer Gail Barkic says not only does the food bank offer groceries but it also provides a meal program for registered clients, personal meetings regarding income tax and referral to other agencies.

Waiting for the Daily Bread truck

The food bank is supported by the following churches:

• Birchcliff Bluffs United
• Fallingbrook Presbyterian 
• Fallingbrook Heights Baptist
• Scarborough Baptist 
• St. Nicholas Anglican 

Open on Thursdays

Our local food bank is open every Thursday, but the volunteers meet on Wednesday as well to get set up.

The people work like a well-oiled machine, all completely focused on their specific jobs, and once finished, they eagerly move on to the next one.

Church basement is full

There is not a space in the church basement which is empty.  Volunteers fill up the main room, the storage room, the kitchen, and even the entrance has people waiting for the truck’s arrival.

The atmosphere is filled with purpose and friendliness – everywhere you turn there is always someone willing to have a chat.

The food bank’s Carole Torrance, says volunteering is an eye-opening experience:

“ I hope for the majority of people who come here it helps give them some relief from their dire conditions, because unfortunately our client base is not getting any smaller,” says Torrance as she sorts potatoes into produce bags.

She says it really opens your eyes and see “just how lucky we are”, and gives you some perspective of what is happening in your very own community.

Click here for more information about the local food bank.