OUR HISTORY

FoodShare was founded in 1985 by then Mayor of Toronto, Art Eggleton, and others concerned about the growth of hunger and food banks that had taken place in the wake of the recession of the early 1980’s. FoodShare’s original mandate was to co-ordinate emergency food services, and to collect and distribute food. The Hunger Hotline was established as a volunteer-run referral service for people seeking these services in their neighborhood. Another key part of FoodShare’s mandate was to advocate for policies that would ensure adequate employment, and the income necessary to enable all people to meet their basic needs.

In the late 1980’s, FoodShare staff began to share the frustration of many that the problem of hunger was not diminishing. Income inequality and unemployment were, if anything, increasing. Food banks – originally intended as a stop-gap solution – appeared to be here to stay. We heard from food bank users that the food they received was often limited in quantity and quality, and rarely included fresh produce. A strong tradition against resorting to charity means that many feel ashamed when they are forced to use a food bank – even to the point of going hungry rather than doing so. Food bank organizers have always stated that food banks are not a sustainable response to hunger, and that they want to "put themselves out of business."

So FoodShare began to explore self-help models like co-operative buying systems, collective kitchens and community gardens that would have the potential to address short-term issues of household hunger, while also providing longer-term benefits by building the capacity of individuals and communities.