Hi Mosaic,
I haven’t posted for a long time. Remember what I shared on Sunday about the food shortage in the food banks (Daily Bread & Second Harvest) of Yonge Street Mission. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and His Word found in 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (New Living Translation), I have initiated a food drive and will welcome non-perishable items and financial donations towards supporting these food banks. It is also important to note that God expects us to give in proportion to what we have.
11Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. (2 Corinthians 8:11-14, NLT)
I will be collecting them this Sunday, July 5th, 2009 and will deliver them Sunday (I’m still waiting for them to call me back to see if that is feasible, if not I will deliver them on Monday). If you would like to help me deliver the food on Sunday, you are welcome to contact me before Sunday via email: dimshie@gmail.com
Here is some information about Yonge Street Mission:
Yonge Street Mission’s Community Services Branch serves the Regent Park, Moss Park and lower St. Jamestown communities. In the last year, about 15,000 people have participated in our programs with about 88,000 visits.
Community Services provides programs from daycare, after-school children’s homework and arts programs, breakfast clubs, youth leadership programs, drop-ins for socially isolated adults, ESL assistance, employment and housing support, women and family programs, computer education for children and adults, seniors programs and a food bank.
The demand on our Food Bank has increased significantly this year, at the same time that food prices have increased and donations to Daily Bread Food Bank have dwindled. As we approach the summer season, we invite you to conduct a food drive. Yonge Street Mission will arrange collection of the food.
The Regent Park/Moss Park community is one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in Canada. Here is a snapshot of the community:
High number of children and youth: There is a higher percentage of children and youth in the community than in the rest of Toronto (27.9.3% of the population is youth aged 14 and under. There are 1045 children between the ages of 5 and 9 and another 1020 between the ages of 10-14. 16.4% of the population is youth aged 15-24. There are 925 teens between the age of 15 to 19.) Almost 45% of the population is 24 years or under. In the City of Toronto, 16.4% of the population is under age 14.
Lowest income census tract in Ontario: 73.2% of residents in North Regent Park live below the low income cut-off before tax. In the City of Toronto, 18.4% of the population is considered low income before taxes
Regent Park North remains in the lowest-income census tract in Ontario. The second lowest-income census tract in Ontario contains Regent Park South. The median family income in Regent Park is $22,902.. The median individual income before tax for persons 15+ in North Regent Park is $12,078. The median individual income before tax for persons 15+ in South Regent Park is $14,696. For a family of one, the before tax low-income cut-off is $20,778; for a family of four, it is $38,610,
Working poor and Recipients of Social Assistance: Over 40% of households derive their income from employment. Around 40% of households receive social assistance. Thus, despite stereotypes, the same number of families receive income from working as receive social assistance.
Large Population of Newcomers: New residents are increasingly recent immigrants, with 25% of the population arriving in Canada during the past five years. More than half of the newest immigrants in the Regent Park area arrived from mainland China and Bangladesh. Immigrants from Vietnam, Somalia, Jamaica and Sri Lanka compose the majority of the remainder. Today, 63% of residents speak a language other than English as a first language. Almost 2000 new immigrants arrived in and around Regent Park in the last five years, with over 2000 arriving in the five years previous to that.
Hugely Diverse Population: Approximately 60% of Regent Park residents are immigrants. 78% of Regent Park residents are members of a visible minority. Over 70 languages are spoken in Regent Park. The region has twice the number of single-parent families as the rest of Toronto.
Here is what they need:
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Kraft Dinner
- Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
- Chunky stew
- Cereal
- Juice
- Pasta
- Kidney beans or red beans
- Dairy (milk and eggs) – cash donations or ability to deliver
Also very much appreciated would be financial donations for purchasing
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Fresh eggs
- Meat
See you Sunday everyone =)
