More than 30 per cent of Toronto families live on less than $20,000 a year. Many of these are those earning minimum hourly-wage or in precarious jobs that have lost employment over the past weeks due to COVID-19 emergency measures and closures.
With TCDSB schools also closed, children and youth are not getting nourished through any one of the 184 Student Nutrition Programs (SNPs). Angel Foundation-funded SNPs support 60,000 students daily in 167 TCDSB schools and serve over 1.2 million meals per month.
Working closely with our partners at the Toronto Foundation for Students Success (TFSS), the City of Toronto/Toronto Public Health and the Ontario Ministry of Child and Social Services, we are continuing to re-allocate funds to the student home nutrition program initiative called FOOD FOR KIDS! The goal of this unique initiative is to distribute grocery food cards ($50* per student per family per month) to the neediest families using a TCDSB community-based, priority process. *$50 is equivalent to 30 breakfasts per child based on Canadian shopping and preparation guidelines.
To further meet the COVID-19 emergency challenge, I have also authorized the continued use of the Foundation’s AFL Social Work Emergency Fund (SWEF) to fill any gaps identified by the TCDSB social work team during the extended school closures. However, the unprecedented impact of this global pandemic means these two measures will be far from adequate to support the needs of students and their families.
We need your help now! Millions of dollars have been distributed to support healthy meals and snacks, and assistance with everything from school apparel to accommodation, and from hearing aids to eyeglasses and Epi-pens. The Foundation has never experienced widespread need like this in its 33-year history. Please help us to ensure we have the funding for families in our community during this very difficult time. DONATE TO OUR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND TODAY!
An electronic charitable tax receipt will be provided.
These are extraordinary times requiring extraordinary measures and forward-thinking.
Thank you for your generosity.
John W. Yan
Executive Director
The Angel Foundation for Learning
