F.A.S.T. Food
[Food. that is Accessible. Shelf-Stable. And Transportable.]
As hunger soars across the GTA, people experiencing homelessness face extraordinary barriers to accessing healthy nutrition including no means of food storage, preparation or sanitation. Even drinking water is scarce for those without shelter. Project FoodChain is breaking down these barriers with its F.A.S.T. Food Initiatives.
The F.A.S.T. Food Portable Snack Program:
The F.A.S.T. Food Portable Snack Program works with leading brand partners to provide instantly accessible nutrition that can be stored in a knapsack and eaten on the go. Through our extensive network of transportation and warehousing partners, Project FoodChain delivers to 60 front line agencies across the GTA who redistribute to their unhoused guests. Snacks are delivered on a need-only basis so they go when and where they are needed most.
To date, the F.A.S.T. Food Portable Snack Program has filled the city-wide hunger gap by delivering more than 800,000 organic granola bars, 500,000 bottles of water, 375,000 sachets of instant coffee and hot chocolate, and thousands of nutritional drinks, applesauce, toddler snacks and much more filling the hunger-gap city-wide.
The F.A.S.T. Market Program:
Coming in Summer, 2024
Market offerings of unwashed, uncut and uncooked fruits and vegetables are of limited use to unhoused people without income, cutlery, kitchens or storage. This first-of-its-kind initiative will break down these barriers by offering prepared snacks and meals at no cost for unhoused guests at community markets. No cooking, washing or storing needed.
The F.A.S.T. Market Program is a community collaboration, presented in partnership with Parkdale Community Food Bank, with early participation of Afri-Can FoodBasket, Building Roots, The Moss Park Market, Ashbridge Estate Urban Farm, Scadding Court Community Centre and Urban Market and the Thorncliffe Park Market and Cafe.
S.O.S. [Sustainable. Outdoor. Supplies.] Initiative
Imagine spending your nights in a shelter, forced to face the elements outside through the long daytime hours. Now imagine having limited or no access to showers or even running water.
Working with leading brand donors, the S.O.S Initiative helps unhoused GTA residents survive all four seasons with essential clothing, accessories and hygiene products that help restore dignity and health. All supplies are distributed via our network of generous transportation partners to 60 agencies across the GTA on a needs-only basis who then re-distribute to their guests. This way supplies go where and when they are needed the most.
Project FoodChain has secured and delivered millions of S.O.S. supplies including 1,400,000 PPE items, 44,000 pairs of socks, 75,000 pairs of underwear and essential undergarments, 25,000 personal hygiene kits, sleeping bags, boots, shoes and much more.
