On Christmas Eve 2020, the George Brown Sustainability Squad handed out hot meals and packages of winter gear to the community in Allan Gardens. They say it will not be the only big project they’re taking on this year.
The Sustainability Squad is a student network at GBC that utilizes a grassroots approach to create projects that connect students to environmental movements and help reach GBC’s sustainability goals.
On December 24, three members from the Sustainability Squad along with some members of Toronto non-profit Food Not Bombs handed out 50 hot meals and 50 care packages in Allan Gardens. These meals included turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, gravy, soup, and dessert, plus alternative vegetarian options. Meals were paired with a care package that included a hat, a scarf, and a pair of gloves.
“Organizing an event like this and being on the front end of handing out the meals and care packages really opened my eyes as to just how many people have had a rough year,” says Kiki MacKay, a community outreach and communications liaison in the Sustainability Squad. “Some of the recipients may not have been homeless, but there are still many individuals and families in Toronto that need our help for more food security.”
A collection of the food distributed by the GBC Sustainability Squad on Christmas Eve, 2020.
To make this project a reality they started a GoFundMe page on November 29, 2020 with the goal of raising $1000. They ended up raising over $2500, allowing them to distribute winter gear.
The project was inspired by the way COVID-19 has impacted income and food security and caused increased rates of homelessness and poverty. The Sustainability Squad also felt compelled to take a more intersectional approach to sustainability which includes these issues.
“I realized that I was very lucky, and I should feel grateful,” says Isabella Levi who is the director of finance and operations for the Squad and was one of the main cooks for the Christmas Eve event. “I was healthy, had a warm place to sleep, and never had a lack of food on my table. I believe the best way of showing gratitude is by helping other people who may be struggling to feel the same as you.”
Any donation money leftover from the hot meal preparation and service is being donated to Food Not Bombs, a local grassroots organization which has been working to address food insecurity since 2016.
“One of the biggest takeaways that I found through my time participating in the Christmas Eve Meal Service and through volunteering with organizations like Toronto Food Not Bombs is that food security is a very real and important issue in our community,” says community outreach and communications liaison Erik Corneau.
This project does not symbolize the end of their work. This semester they will be partnering with CPA Ontario to host a student case competition geared to all experience levels and backgrounds. They also hope to host a virtual workshop series that will help students obtain the WWF Living Planet Leader Certificate, and potentially offer virtual movie screenings.
