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Feed 247 families each week at the Second Helping in Toronto

Help keep a free food pantry open for neighbors in need in Toronto.

🇨🇦 M1H 3N6, Toronto, Ontario, Canada2,821 views
Silas B. Pena
Email verified
Toronto
Since 2022, our volunteer team has run the Second Helping every Saturday from the back of the mosque courtyard. We started with 30 families, and now we feed 247 each week. Donations have dropped by about 33% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 15 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Toronto market and keep every receipt. Each $55 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,750 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $930 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $1,450 • Refrigeration and electricity: $370 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to. - Silas

Updates from Silas

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  • Neema Atieno Mugisha 🇰🇪 · $72
  • Hoa Linh Truong 🇻🇳 · $30

    “Be well. Gave what I could this week. - Hồ Chí Minh City”

  • Brandon L. Tate 🇺🇸 · $38.50
  • Mateus Diego Alves 🇧🇷 · $60.50

    “Only $61 but hope it helps. - Niterói”

  • Hazel G. Callahan 🇺🇸 · $10

    “Keep your head up. Hope the October deadline works out. - Grand Rapids”

  • Salim Sami Farouk 🇪🇬 · $10
  • Lorenzo H. Orozco 🇲🇽 · $20

    “Thought of Silas all day after reading this. - Puebla”

  • Lanre Godwin Ekwueme 🇳🇬 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇦🇷 · $5

    “Take care of yourselves. Small amount but sent with love. - Córdoba”

  • Rajesh Kamal Maharjan 🇳🇵 · $8
  • Georgiana Ramona Popa 🇷🇴 · $20
  • Halima Atieno Rashidi 🇰🇪 · $75
  • Anonymous 🇬🇭 · $20
  • Eugene D. Ayala 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Chhaya Patel 🇮🇳 · $72.50
  • Adrián G. Villalobos 🇲🇽 · $25

    “Thought of Silas all day after reading this.”

  • Hassan Kamran Abbasi 🇵🇰 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇳🇱 · $78.50
  • Mitu Sharmin Sen 🇧🇩 · $10

    “Take care of yourselves. Please keep us posted. - Gazipur”

  • Recep Mert Kaya 🇹🇷 · $50

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  • Keep going, Silas. I hope things turn around soon. Greetings from Newcastle upon Tyne.

    • Shared this with my family. After 26 years in retail I know how hard it's to ask for anything

      • Is there anything that isn't money that would help Silas?

        • Silas B. PenaOwnerAnswer

          Thank you. If you're in Toronto I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Thanks for asking.

      • Take care. Shared this with my family.

        • Any update on how things are going in Toronto?

          • Thanks for sharing this, Silas. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Love from Narayanganj.

            • Sending strength. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money.

              • Wishing you the best, Silas. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend

                • Take care. Hope this works out for you. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Take care.

                  $3,305.50 raised of $2,750

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