The Stop Community Food Centre

About The Stop Community Food Centre:

Founded in 1982, The Stop Community Food Centre works to increase access to healthy food for marginalized people in Toronto. The charity aims to do this while promoting dignity, self-determination, and a sense of community. The Stop’s main location runs the food bank, meal programs, and advocacy programs. The Stop’s Green Barn features a greenhouse, sheltered garden, compost demonstration centre, and Farmer’s Market. 

The Stop’s community programs make up 51% of program expenditures. In F2018, the Drop-In program served 52,026 healthy breakfasts and lunches and featured social activities and housing, legal, and employment services. 1,551 visits to Community Kitchens taught healthy cooking skills in a social environment. Through education, the Community Action program advocates against food insecurity, marginalization, and poverty. In 2018, The Stop incorporated its anti-racist and anti-oppressive values across the charity including volunteer training programs. The charity's Community Advocates connect people with income, housing, and other resources. This year the program helped return $485,006 to 242 Tax Clinic participants. The Healthy Beginnings program supports pre- and post-natal nutrition through group workshops and health services. The Stop’s Green Barn produces food and sells affordable produce at its a farmer’s market. In F2018 the Youth Engagement program allowed 184 youth to grow and cook healthy food and learn about sustainable food systems from a social justice perspective.

The Stop Community Food Centre’s food bank made up 45% of program expenditures in F2018. This year, The Stop distributed 233,450 pounds of food valued at $579,320 to individuals and families. The Stop also runs its 10 Metre Greens program, a social enterprise that helps unemployed people obtain resources and part time employment at the Green Barn.

Results and Impact: The Stop Community Food Centre says that it uses food to build a sense of community and solidarity. In F2018, 82% of drop-in participants said they felt visible and included at The Stop. In addition, 100% of 10 Metre Greens participants said they felt better positioned to pursue education or jobs in the field. The unique model of The Stop has been adopted by other food charities across Canada. 

Financial Review:

The Stop Community Food Centre is a medium-sized charity with $2.8m in donations and special event fundraising in F2018. In addition, the charity received $579k worth of donated food. Administrative costs are 10% of revenue (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 25% of donations and special event fundraising. For every dollar donated, 65 cents go to the charity’s programs, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The Stop has $497k in funding reserves, which can cover program costs for 3 months.

This report is an update was sent to The Stop for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated May 27, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.