A bit about us
We'd like to tell you a bit about ourselves, and what we're doing to uplift those in need in Toronto.
A simple beginning
The People’s Pantry was founded by predominately WQTBPOC folx, graduate students at UofT and YorkU, and community organizers. We started as a series of Facebook posts offering to provide free homecooked meals to people in need in CareMongeringTO and other CareMongering groups across the GTA.
From a small beginning of 6 people, we've grown to a team of hundreds of volunteers. Together with our Sister Initiative we have collectively delivered tens of thousands of meals and grocery care packages to food-insecure families in Toronto, the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area, and beyond.
Our mission
We believe that food justice is social justice.
We provide food free of charge, no questions asked, no fixed address required, because everyone deserves access to high quality, culturally appropriate, and nutritional food.
We focus on particularly hard-hit communities, including QTBIPOC, single parents, sex workers, precariously housed persons, those with medical conditions or disabilities, newly-arrived immigrants, and the elderly.
Someone asks for support
Every week we open our website form where those in need can request meals for themselves and their families.
Home chefs prepare meals
Our team of volunteer chefs prepare home cooked meals to feed those in need and meet their dietary requirements.
Meals are delivered
Finally, our team of volunteer deliverers bring these meals directly to those in need and drop them off in a safe and secure manner.
“If someone asks for food, it’s because they need it.”