Thanks to the support of the Government of Canada’s Emergency Food Security Fund, Second Harvest launched $22.7 million in new funding for nonprofits and charities in communities across Canada to enable the purchase of food, grocery gift cards, and food vouchers, as well as provide support for food distribution. Youth Haven is grateful to have received $35,000 of this funding for the purchase of food.

Adolescence is a significant developmental time connected with a need for improved nutritional requirements to nurture development and growth. Poor nutrition during adolescence can have negative health impacts and can worsen conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

Youth experiencing homelessness and those at risk of experiencing homelessness within our community are susceptible to nutritional vulnerability. Failure to make more adequate food easily accessible for youth experiencing homelessness, will not only impact their health, but their social, psychological, and emotional well-being.

With the support from Second Harvest, we can continue to ensure that we provide healthy meals and snacks to the youth that we support, and offer ongoing support and mentorship with regard to choosing and maintaining a healthy and nutritious lifestyle.

This funding program was made possible by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Food Security Fund which was launched in April 2020 to support six national food organizations, including Second Harvest, to improve access to food for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.