St. James Town Co-op

Help St. James Town Co-op secure designated space

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Help St. James Town Community Co-op secure designated space to continue their community food security programming.

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Dear [recipient position will go here] [recipient name will go here],

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I am a concerned friend of St. James Town. I am writing to demand that the City act urgently to supply the St James Town Community Co-op with adequate and secured indoor space to operate their food security work. 
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity and exposed the need for long-term, community-based, food security work in our city. This very diverse crowded community (25000 residents in 19 hi-rise towers in one city block) has long struggled to feed itself due to income inequality, health inequalities, lack of space and chronic underfunding of social supports. Since the pandemic, already high rates of unemployment and health issues (mental & physical) have only increased. The community needs access to healthy, affordable food in order to improve health and mitigate financial stress. St. James Town Community Co-op needs dedicated space to build on its current relationships with partner organizations and farmers, and to operate sustainable food security projects such as their Good Food Buying Club.
 
Long before and especially during this time, the St. James Town Community Co-op and their partners (Foodshare, African Food Basket, Global Medic, Muslim Welfare etc) have been trying to help to fill the huge food security gap in St. James Town. Through their Emergency Food Program, the Co-op delivered boxes of healthy, fresh produce, organic eggs and dry goods to over 430 households per month and 100 hot meals to homebound residents every two weeks since December of 2020. All the while, the neighbourhood’s need for healthy food has continued to grow. 
 
Since being displaced from a temporary operating space in June, this program was managed entirely outdoors- in the rain, during heat waves. This is unsustainable— with colder weather approaching and no hope of appropriate space, the Co-op had to end its Emergency Food Program. To be clear, the program is ending despite having secured funding and having a long waiting list. Ending solely due to lack of space is incomprehensible in a city like Toronto, which is rich with resources, and where the right to food has been unanimously recognized by Council. Programs like this need to be prioritized and provided necessary space (whether on/in public or private land or buildings) in order to improve food security in this underserved, majority newcomer community. The Co-op is (again) seeking permission to use shipping containers, which could be ready to go in six weeks, if allowed by the City. But no progress has been made. 
 
Surely the City and TCHC can find ways to allow access to safe and secure spaces for this innovative and essential food relief work. The St. James Town Community Co-op is ready and able to rise to this challenge. They want to continue working towards sustainable food security in the neighbourhood, but they need the City's support. What are you waiting for?
 
I look forward to hearing what steps you will be taking to assist St James Town Community Co-op to access suitable space.

Sincerely,
[your name will go here]
[your email address will go here] [your location will go here]

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The St. James Town Community Co-op and their partners (Foodshare, African Food Basket, Global Medic, Muslim Welfare etc) have been trying to help to fill the huge food security gap in St. James Town. Through their Emergency Food Program, the Co-op delivered boxes of healthy, fresh produce, organic eggs and dry goods to over 430 households per month and 100 hot meals to homebound residents every two weeks since December of 2020.

Since being displaced from a temporary operating space in June, this program was managed entirely outdoors- in the rain, during heat waves. This is unsustainable— with colder weather approaching and no hope of a permanent space, the Co-op had to end its Emergency Food Program.

Help St. James Town Community Co-op secure designated, permanent space to continue their community food security programming.