Good Food Collective seeks sponsors for its community lunches

By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley

With each delicious meal served, The Good Food Collective continues to grow.

Last year, it served more than 7,000 affordable community lunches at the Link. That’s more than 130 per week—a far cry from the 35 meals it first served when the program began in 2021.

Each Wednesday, people “pay what you can” for a delicious, nutritious meal made from local ingredients. Often, various tasty foods from different cultures, like Ukranian Perogies (Varenyky) or Pad Thai, are on the menu.

But the Good Food Collective, a collaboration between the Georgina Community Food Pantry, Community Living Georgina and Routes Connecting Community, provides more than “low or no-cost” community lunches.

It brings neighbours together, provides training and education, and helps residents, including many seniors, discover the community services and supports available.

Lunch goers also get an opportunity to learn about local service clubs and non-profits and possibly decide to volunteer.

“We partner with local organizations that service Georgina and provide a no-cost community table for them to promote their programs, for example, Georgina Military Museum, Hospice Georgina, Health Georgina, Routes Georgina, and Food Pantry,” said Carolyn Grossi, the program’s outreach specialist.

However, as the program expanded, so did the need for financial support.

According to Grossi, meal payments don’t cover the costs, which have risen dramatically recently.

She says the program may have to be scaled back without additional support from local businesses and organizations.

“Depending on the menu, the cost to provide the meals varies from $300 to $600 weekly, not including bulk orders each month of takeaway containers, parchment paper, spices, specialty items from food wholesalers, etc. There is also kitchen and space rental to consider,” she said.

“Without sponsors, it would have to be scaled back at the very least. Sponsors help fill up our reserves and help us celebrate special cultural events like Christmas, Hanukkah, and so on. Some write a cheque, some provide food, some help cook, and some, like Sutton Home Hardware, donate everyday items, such as cutlery or mason jars.”

According to Grossi, there are three sponsorship levels: $200, $500 and $1000 plus, with each level receiving different levels of recognition, including a listing or logo on the monthly menu flyer and social media posts. In-kind donations are also accepted.

Last year, numerous local businesses enthusiastically joined in to provide support, including Messhall, McDonald’s Keswick, Kinette Club of Sutton, Cedarvale Lodge, and Clearwater Farm.

The Scotia McLeod Charitable Foundation also provided a generous donation spearheaded by Island Grove resident Colin Carter.

“There’s a great need for special community events up here. Wednesday lunches at the Link are not just about the food, but they’re also about socializing,” said Carter, a senior Wealth Advisor with Scotia Wealth Management.

“When I come here, the smiles I see melt me, and I’ll take a full Wednesday off to help set up for lunch at the Link.”

“It brings people together. It’s an outing for them. People line up half an hour before the doors open, which gives you an idea of how much this program is needed!”

As food insecurity grows in our community, providing affordable meals is paramount.

To help even more, the Good Food Collective collaborates with the York Region Food Network to offer a venue for their Fresh Affordable Market, ensuring access to fresh vegetables and fruits.

The lunches are cooked by Chef Cori Doern, dedicated volunteers, and a talented group from Community Living, who benefit from on-the-job training.

“My joy comes from being involved in a team committed to creating meals that are not only culturally diverse and deliciously healthy but also provide benefits for people from all walks of life,” Chef Cori said.

“This goes beyond just relishing a nutritious meal—it’s about the sense of fellowship and community that forms. For an hour and a half every Wednesday, there’s a shared experience: The love of Good Food, collectively.”

To find out how you can sponsor a community lunch, visit https://goodfoodcollective.ca/.