Dear friends and neighbours,
Finally, it’s spring, and there is a little more hope and joy.
At this bright time of year – perhaps like you – West Neighbourhood House is embarking on new adventures and possibilities.
As an organization working primarily in Downtown West Toronto, we are taking action on what the past two years has revealed about inequities, social connections, and well-being. We need your help.
West Neighbourhood House is asking you to support our newest program, the Greenest City Program, (formerly an independent climate action non-profit that started in 2006) so that we can maintain and expand its fine work that focuses on diverse people living on a low-income.
The Greenest City Program builds social connectedness, capacity/skills, and reduces the impact of poverty through an environmental sustainability lens. Much of the program takes place in and around our fifteen Community Gardens – one of which is an Indigenous Healing Garden where food and medicines are grown. Another program activity, the weekly Good Food Market, sells high quality reasonably priced fresh food produced by local farmers.
The Program also addresses social policy issues at the local level such as emissions, food security and access, land stewardship, and Reconciliation.
The Greenest City Program operates mainly in our Parkdale community where most residents live in apartment buildings with no access to green space. Working outdoors, the program brings together neighbours: relationships flourish, skills are learned, knowledge is exchanged, social isolation is reduced. Neighbours learn sustainable growing practices and how to take care of the earth.
When asked why the gardens are important, one community member responded:
“It feels really good to grow your own veggies. We seniors sometimes feel lonely so in the garden we can get to meet new friends. It is good for our health. We get fresh air and sunshine there. We share what we know with younger people, this is good for all of our futures.”
At West Neighbourhood House, we provide staff, know-how, seeds, soil, tools and the land. Your support will provide essential help to grow the impacts of this program. Please give as generously as you can.
Thank you for your ongoing interest and commitment,
West Neighbourhood House
Food grown in the Greenest City garden.