Food Access Programs

Our Food Access programs offer year-round programming to help increase access to culturally relevant, affordable, and healthy food.

We run two community gardens, providing allotments for 50 families in the North Scarborough area. We facilitate regular staff and peer-led cooking classes and provide educational resources for nutrition and food preparation. We also maintain a Food Asset Map that helps community members locate food resources within Scarborough, including food banks, low-cost meals, food delivery services, and supermarkets. Our Food Centre serves as a food bank but uses a grocery store model, helping families from all backgrounds to select their food items. 

Our Food Centre

Our food bank serves individuals from all backgrounds - families, employed individuals, those on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income.

Our food bank is a lifeline for many in our community, especially during difficult times Our overarching goal at our food bank is to refine our services to better meet the nutritional needs of our clients. To this end, we revolutionized our approach in 2022 by setting up our Food Centre in the style of a grocery store. This innovative shift was met with great success as it empowers our clients to choose their own food based on their specific needs, offering them a dignified shopping experience, rather than handing them a pre-selected basket. 

In recent times, due to factors such as inflation and escalating food prices, we have witnessed a significant surge in the number of families we serve, extending beyond Scarborough to encompass all of Ontario. Our service goes beyond just food provision; we act as a bridge to other necessary services for our clients. We regularly refer clients to other in-house programs such as our Newcomers Centre, English Circle, and Child & Family programs. Additionally, we connect clients with external resources including clothing banks and food delivery programs. 

Our food bank is generously supported by Rama Toronto East, who raises funds for our programming.

“I was a single mom and I was dealing with the loss of my mom. Left an abusive relationship and had a lot of health issues because of that, and then had to leave work due to those health issues. You were always good and provided food for my daughter and family...I told my friend that there is no reason to be shy or embarrassed to ask for help and that they will always be welcomed at ACSA”
— M, Program Participant

7,000 sq ft

 Our food centre is the largest food bank in the city, serving those who are food insecure in our community.

74,666

Number of households served in 2023 at our Community Food Centre

Over 234,000

Individuals were served at our Community Food Centre in 2023

Drop-in Meals

Food is more than just nourishment; it's a fundamental aspect of community and connection.

Recognizing this, ACSA has been actively working to combat food insecurity in Scarborough through our Drop-In Meal Program, hosted across two key locations. 

In 2022, we took a significant step forward by merging our North and South Drop-In programs into one unified project. This consolidation has allowed us to streamline our resources and extend our reach, ensuring we can deliver nutritious meals to more people across our community. 

Annually, our Drop-In Meal Program serves over 40,000 meals, reaching a diverse group of over 35,000 participants. These numbers highlight the critical role our program plays in providing much-needed meals to those in need, and are a testament to our unwavering dedication to supporting our community. 

Each meal served is not just a plate of food—it's a step towards food security, an invitation to community engagement, and a confirmation of our commitment to addressing the needs of the Scarborough community. At ACSA, our aim is to ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals, and our Drop-In Meal Program is a key part of that mission. 

“If you need help this place will set you on your path”
— L.J., Program Participant

6,298

Meals were served in 2023 from our Food Security Programs

314

participants attended various Food Security programs/workshops

77

Community Residents participated in our Community Backyard Gardening Programs

Cooking and Nutrition

At ACSA, we organize regular cooking classes led by our staff and peers. These sessions provide a platform for parents and caregivers to exchange cooking tips and acquire new culinary skills.

The goal of these initiatives is to empower community members to make informed, healthy food choices, and to cultivate a network of support within our community. 

Our Cooking Healthy Together program has a significant reach, positively impacting over 100 community members each year, including young people and mothers with young children. Our Nutrition Programs extend beyond the realm of just daily calorie and nutrient intake. We believe that the foundation of health-conscious living is a supportive environment that encourages active lifestyles. 

By facilitating these staff and peer-led cooking classes, we're enabling parents and caregivers to become more health-conscious and to establish vital community support networks. In addition to these classes, we also offer educational resources and organize pop-up events throughout the year, providing a holistic approach to healthy living. 

36

Workshops offered in 2022

112 people

Participated in our Cooking Healthy Together Program

On and offline

Since 2019, our cooking programming has also been offered online

Community Gardens

ACSA operates two community gardens in North Scarborough, providing allotments for 50 families to grow their own vegetables.

Participants can take their harvest home, and we encourage them to donate a portion of their produce to our local food bank. Our experienced gardener has been with us for over 20 years and guides our gardeners with her rich knowledge in sustainable gardening methods. We have over 50 active gardeners who not only grew their own food but also contributed significantly to the local food bank. 

160 participants

We reached a total of 160 participants through our community gardens program

80 volunteers

Helped us run out workshops. Topics covered during 2022 included organic composting, sustainable growing, growing mushrooms, and introduction to herbs.

20

There were 20 backyard or balcony gardeners/gardens in 2022.

Food Asset Map

The Food Asset Map is a valuable resource for the community to locate food resources within Scarborough.

We created this map in response to the rising need for accessible information about food resources within Scarborough. The map includes information on food banks, free/low-cost meals, food delivery services, Chinese & Middle Eastern supermarkets, community gardens, greenhouses, farmer's markets, and chain supermarkets. The map is continuously updated to ensure the community has access to the most current resources. 

Click here for Food Asset Map