Toronto Downtown East Ministries Sees Overwhelming Support For its Food Bank
Once a week, Mary Lou Hukezalie visits the The Salvation Army Toronto Downtown East Ministries Food Bank to learn what extra items are needed to stock the shelves. Mary Lou who is now retired loves giving her time to bring hope to people during the pandemic.
Over the last few months, Mary Lou has been working closely with The Salvation Army Family Services Coordinator Wendy Bishop to assure those in need in the community have enough food for their families.
Access to food and basic necessities has become even more challenging during the pandemic. The Salvation Army has seen a 150 % increase in the number of people accessing the food bank during the pandemic.
“Clients have access to our food bank once a month, but we are serving every week in order to get to everyone at least once,” said Wendy. The food bank also offers ‘Second Harvest’ every Friday where the staff serve produce and dairy items to about 80-100 families.
“Mary Lou is so thoughtful she is always asking what the clients need and then does all the shopping, often to numerous grocery stores in order to get enough for all the clients.”
Scott Cameron and his wife Mary Fote are generously supporting The Salvation Army Toronto Downtown East Ministries Food Bank but as they live out of town they have asked their close friend Mary Lou to be the person to be on site every week. Here she learns what the needs are and continues to fill in all the gaps at the food bank.
Last December Scott and Mary donated $25,000 to the Toronto Downtown East Ministries to support their Christmas initiatives. During a tour of the food bank Mary Fote asked what they needed. Wendy explained they have been reliant on what they receive from The Salvation Army Ontario Distribution Centre in Toronto called Railside. The variety from Railside has become very limited during the pandemic and this year they didn’t get any turkeys for their clients for Christmas. Mary rushed out and purchased the needed turkeys and her granddaughters (Claire age 9 and Hannah age 4 ) with the help of their mother Laura White, made Christmas cards to be handed out with the turkeys.
Cards made Mary’s grandchildren – Claire age 9 and Hannah age 4
Mary Lou wanted to know what the food bank really needed on a regular basis. Wendy mentioned a list of things that were often missing from their food bank including meat, one litre bottles of oil, small bags of laundry soap, toilet paper packaged in two or four rolls and two-pound packages of brown rice.
With a weekly donation of $500 from Scott and Mary, Mary Lou got to work, making sure the food bank was well stocked.
“I learned that it makes such a difference to find items prepackaged in small quantities both for the clients and The Salvation Army staff who can now save time not having to repackage product,” said Mary Lou.
Salvation Army Captain Ian Scott explains that as Easter was approaching Mary Lou had the idea to offer something extra special as a treat for those individuals accessing the food bank. With Wendy’s direction and assistance Mary Lou decided to create 150 Easter gift bags for the individuals and families.
“Each individual regularly receives approximately 35 pounds of food but the extra special items for Easter are very appreciated,” said Cpt. Ian.
The beautifully decorated Easter gift bags included a ready-made turkey, potatoes, gravy, corn and other vegetables, cake for dessert and a celebratory fizzy non-alcoholic beverage. About 25 of the individuals who received the gift bags were homeless, so special care was given to these bags.
“Wendy really knows the clients, what they like and what they need. She has really educated me on what works,” said Mary Lou. “For example I learned those experiencing homelessness needed socks and some hygiene products, so we included nail clippers, a toothbrush, dental floss and shower wipes. I also suggested we add a $10 Tim Horton’s gift card.”
The Tim Horton’s gift cards were kindly funded by a group of Mary Lou’s girl friends including Lori Duffy.
Other items in the gift bags for homeless individuals included food like alphagettis, fruit or Jell-O cups, a few chocolates, gum and a metal spoon. Each package was bundled with ribbons and a handmade card made by Scott and Mary’s grandchildren again to help the recipients feel special.
Cards made Mary’s grandchildren – Claire age 9 and Hannah age 4
Cpt. Ian expressed how much the clients appreciated the Easter gifts.
“The gift bags were handed out during regular food bank appointments and all the clients I met were so happy to receive the extra treats,” said Cpt. Ian.
“Wendy and Mary Lou have bonded and work well together. We are so fortunate that this team of individuals have taken such an interest in The Salvation Army. We are blessed.”
Wendy Bishop (left) and Mary Lou Hukezalie (right)
Earlier this year, The Salvation Army received a donation of 150 bags of coffee beans however, most clients don’t have any way to grind them. Mary Lou says she approached her former colleague Lesya Balych-Cooper who is the CEO of the Coffee Association of Canada for help. Initially Lesya said that due to the pandemic it would be difficult to find anyone willing to take in product from an external source.
“But later she contacted me and said Kim Cunningham of Mother Parker’s was going to give The Salvation Army their own coffee grinder and that Kim’s teenage son would volunteer to grind the coffee. He worked a full day doing the coffee grinding for the clients at the Toronto Downtown East Ministries,” said Mary Lou.
Kim Cunningham and her son from Mother Parkers helping to grind coffee beans.
As for the future, Mary Lou says Scott and Mary are establishing a more formal sustaining gift. They are also looking to bring in other donors and partners to the table.
“If the food bank needs eggs we will find the right connections to make sure they have eggs, or oil or whatever it might be,” said Mary Fote. “We will find those connections with other companies and make it happen.”
Mary Lou says it’s been a pleasure working with The Salvation Army and everyone is clearly motivated by what they do.
“The Salvation Army is always there to support those in need and there are no conditions attached. It’s a very honourable charity,” said Mary Lou. “My family has always supported The Salvation Army because the organization is so straight forward; they don’t have an agenda. Giving also makes you feel good and you get so much more back than you give.”
By: Caroline Franks