Since 1985, North York Harvest Food Bank has been northern Toronto’s primary food bank, supporting over 30,000 visits each month. We operate four community food spaces and deliver nutritious food to hundreds of programs across Ontario—helping individuals and families meet their food needs with dignity and care. But we nourish more than bodies—we nurture hope, belonging, and the power of community.

North York Harvest Food Bank is more than a Food Bank—it’s a community where dignity, support, and solutions come together.
Our programs go beyond emergency food relief to create real, lasting change. We meet immediate needs while building pathways to long-term stability.

Food Spaces: We operate four welcoming food spaces where community members can access free groceries, personal care items, and household essentials in a dignified environment. During the summer months, we also distribute After the Bell snack packs—ensuring that children continue to have access to healthy snacks even when school snack programs are paused.

Our Food Spaces:
Albion Library Community Food Space
Bathurst Finch Community Food Space
Lawrence Heights Community Food Space
Oriole Food Space

Community Navigator Program: Through one-on-one support, our Community Navigator helps individuals strengthen their Sustainable Livelihoods by providing referrals to essential services like the Furniture Bank, clothing programs, and more.

Leadership in Logistics: This paid, four-week workforce development program trains unemployed and underemployed individuals in warehousing and logistics. Participants earn their forklift license, gain hands-on experience, and receive full-time job offers—with benefits—at a Canadian Tire warehouse upon graduation.

FoodReach: Our social enterprise, FoodReach, helps nonprofits across Ontario access affordable, nutritious food. We supply non profits, schools, shelters, libraries, and community organizations—and every dollar earned is reinvested into North York Harvest to support our programs and expand our impact.

Direct Delivery Program: We deliver nutritious food directly from our central hub to hundreds of frontline agencies across Toronto—from food banks and shelters to youth programs and newcomer supports—ensuring food reaches those who need it most.

Food Rescue: We recover surplus food from hundreds of grocery stores, food manufacturers, and donors across Ontario, reducing food waste while increasing access to fresh, healthy options for our community.

Period Poverty: We distribute free menstrual products across our network, helping to reduce period poverty and promote dignity for all.

Community + Wellness Market: Our seasonal Community + Wellness Markets offer affordable produce sold at cost—ensuring everyone in our community can access fresh, nutritious food.

Advocacy & Policy: We amplify lived experiences and push for systemic change—because no one should have to rely on a food bank. As pioneers in advocacy and urban food policy, we are hungry for change — calling for affordable housing, accessible transit, better wages, and social support that doesn’t fall below the poverty line.

We are not simply here to hand out food. We are here to build power, restore dignity, and fuel change.

To meet rising demand and build toward long-term change, we’re opening a new 30,000+ square-foot Community Food Hub in Downsview. This vibrant space will triple our capacity and anchor us in one of the city’s most underserved areas.

Here, we will:

• Expand access to fresh food and essential programs
• Strengthen training and workforce initiatives
• Provide a welcoming space for partnerships and community-led solutions

Model what food equity can look like in action