Toronto, ON – On May 30, Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) staff gathered at Amesbury Middle School to recognize and celebrate the impact of a $182,000 grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant, awarded in 2024, was used to purchase two refrigerated cargo vans helping TFSS deliver more fresh, healthy food to children in underserved Toronto communities.
“The Toronto Foundation for Student Success works diligently each and every day to ensure that each child they serve is well nourished and eager to learn,” said Mohamed Firin, MPP for York South-Weston. “Their staff demonstrate the patience and expertise to support children in need by providing them with food, eye and ear care, emergency funds and after school programs for children in need, helping them to succeed in school. We are profoundly excited for them to have received this grant as we continue to watch them increase their capacity so they can serve an even greater number of people, and grow on their already phenomenal service,” added Firin.
The grant supports TFSS’ Bridging the Nutrition Gap program, which delivers healthy food daily to schools across the city by stretching every dollar—purchasing nutritious foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, in bulk from the Ontario Food Terminal and other discount sources, then delivering them directly to programs in greatest need. The program currently reaches over 56,000 students in 158 schools, with plans to expand in the coming year.
“When kids are hungry, they can’t focus, and if they can’t focus, they can’t learn. That’s why we’re so grateful for this generous $180,000 grant from the Ontario government which helps us bridge the gap between fresh, nutritious food and the kids who need it most,” said Catherine Parsonage, CEO of TFSS. “Thanks to OTF, our new cargo vans help us deliver healthy foods, like apples, clementines, cucumbers, and yogurt, straight to Student Nutrition Programs so more kids can start their day nourished, focused, and ready to learn.”
TFSS helps students in need. We address issues of poverty, hunger and poor nutrition, and their effects on education. We are an independent, registered charitable organization dedicated to supporting children across Toronto, and helping remove barriers to their education. Learn more at tfss.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Contact for Inquiries: Axile Gerona, TFSS Communications Manager, axile.gerona@tfss.ca, 437-249-5756
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