YORK REGION FOOD NETWORK

YORK REGION FOOD NETWORK (YRFN) HAS BEEN ACTIVELY EXPANDING THE REACH OF OUR PROGRAMS IN 2024. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: EXPANDING AFFORDABLE FRESH FOOD MARKETS: WE EXPANDED OUR MARKETS TO SIX MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS YORK REGION SERVING 3 570 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. REBRANDING AND GROWING SUNRISE SOCIAL: OUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEAL WAS REBRANDED AS SUNRISE SOCIAL TO BETTER REFLECT ITS WELCOMING INCLUSIVE SPIRIT. IN 2024 WE SERVED 5 175 MEALS. DELIVERING HANDS-ON KITCHEN WORKSHOPS: WE FACILITATED 80 WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE REGION WITH A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY CONTENT AND EXPAND ACCESS. LEADIN COMMUNITY GARDEN INITIATIVES: ACROSS THE REGION WE DELIVERED 72 STAFF-LED SESSIONS AND FOOD-GROWING WORKSHOPS SUPPORTING HANDS-ON LEARNING AND COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION. SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLDS WITH GOOD FOOD BOXES: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS YORK REGION WE PACKED AND DISTRIBUTED 2 711 GOOD FOOD BOXES. PUBLISHING THE 2024 YORK REGION FOOD CHARTER: FOLLOWING TEN MONTHS OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION - REACHING NEARLY 300 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH FIVE ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS - WE FINALIZED AND RELEASED THE UPDATED YORK REGION FOOD CHARTER. STRENGTHENING FOOD SYSTEM NETWORKS: WE CONTINUE TO FOSTER COLLABORATION THROUGH ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE YORK REGION FOOD COUNCIL YOUTH FOOD COMMITTEE COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK AND EMERGENCY FOOD ACCESS CLUSTER ENSURING INTERESTED PARTIES IN THE FOOD SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS ARE CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED IN THIS WORK.

EXPANDING GARDEN INITIATIVES: YRFN LED A NEW GARDEN PROJECT AT ASSEMBLY PARK IN VAUGHAN. ESTABLISHED THE FOOD SYSTEM REPORT CARD ADVISORY GROUP: THIS GROUP IN HELPING TO SHAPE THE DEVELOPMENT OF YORK REGION'S FIRST FOOD SYSTEM REPORT CARD - A FOUNDATIONAL TOOL TO TRACK PROGRESS AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYSTEMIC FOOD-RELATED WORK MOVING FORWARD. LAUNCHED THE YORK REGION FOOD ASSET MAP: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENTS FROM SENECA COLLEGE WE RELEASED THIS INTERACTIVE TOOL TO HELP COMMUNITIES LOCATE AND CONNECT WITH FOOD RESOURCES. WE HOSTED A PUBLIC LAUNCH EVENT AND DELIVERED FIVE FORMAL TRAINING SESSION TO RAISE AWARENESS AND BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE USE OF THIS TOOL. YORK REGION SOCIAL PROCUREMENT COLLABORATIVE: THIS NEW INITIATIVE IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING COMMUNITY WEALTH BY PROMOTING PROCUREMENT PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES EQUITY AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION ACROSS THE REGION. WE ALSO BEGAN EXPLORING INCOME-BASED SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY BY BECOMING THE ORGANIZATIONAL MENTOR FOR CAPITALHER A YOUTH-LED FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE.