Help Us Grow Cherry Tomatoes for the Not Just A Food Program!

Are you passionate about helping others and improving access to fresh, nutritious food? Do you want to be part of a project that not only benefits individuals in need but also empowers them to take charge of their health and wellness? Then we need your help!

We're excited to announce the launch of a new initiative under the Not Just A Food Program — growing fresh cherry tomatoes! This is just the beginning of our journey towards providing more nutritious, year-round food options to those facing food insecurity. And we’d love for you to join us in making this goal a reality.

Why Cherry Tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes are not only a tasty addition to any meal, but they also come packed with numerous health benefits. These little tomatoes are full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential nutrients that can help improve overall health. Unfortunately, many people facing food insecurity struggle to get fresh produce, especially in the colder months. By growing cherry tomatoes, we aim to provide a sustainable, healthy food source throughout the year.

While we cannot offer fresh tomatoes to everyone right away, we’re taking the first step by growing them ourselves — one plant at a time, one person at a time. This initiative is about more than just giving out food; it’s about empowering individuals to participate in growing, learning, and taking control of their own health and wellness.

Our Plan: One Step at a Time

We’ve already started by growing four cherry tomato plants indoors, using sustainable, recycled materials. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing more details about how we plan to expand this project, and we need YOUR help!

We are looking for individuals in and around Oshawa to get involved in this exciting new venture. Whether you have experience growing plants or are new to gardening, this project is for anyone who is passionate about improving nutrition, supporting the community, and learning new skills. You don’t need to be an expert — we will be providing guidance, support, and hands-on learning every step of the way.

How You Can Help

If you're interested in joining us, here's how you can contribute:

• Help us grow and maintain cherry tomato plants.
• Educate others about the benefits of fresh produce and sustainable growing practices.
• Support the Not Just A Food Program by contributing your time, knowledge, or resources.
• Get involved in future projects aimed at growing other nutritious foods, such as herbal teas and spices.

This initiative is about more than just growing food — it’s about building a community of individuals who want to improve their health, support each other, and make a lasting impact.

The Bigger Picture

The Not Just A Food Program is dedicated to providing a hand up, not a handout. We believe in offering people the tools and knowledge they need to become active participants in their own wellness journey. The more involved individuals are, the more opportunities they will have to access other benefits through the program.

As we continue to grow this project, we will be adding more plants, herbs, and spices to the mix, offering even more health benefits for those in the program. The goal is to build a sustainable, year-round food source that not only nourishes the body but also fosters a deeper sense of community and personal growth.

Join Us!

If you’re in or around Oshawa and want to help grow cherry tomatoes (and eventually other plants) for those in need, we would love to hear from you! This is your chance to be part of something bigger — to make a difference in your community and beyond.

We have a plan, we have goals, and we’re working every day towards making them a reality. Let’s work together to bring more love, compassion, and health to those who need it most.

LIFE - Love Is For Everyone!

Stay tuned for more updates and visit FIFE - Food Is For Everyone, and if you're interested in joining the cause, reach out today! Together, we can grow a brighter future. 🌱

Not Just A Food Program Oshawa:

Current and Future Efforts to Support Our Community

The Not Just A Food Program has been a project of dedication and love, years in the making. Since its launch in November 2024, it began as a simple weekly free lunch offering. Over time, it has expanded significantly, now providing two free lunches each week, along with deliveries to those facing mobility challenges and other barriers to accessing support from traditional organizations.

Though we’ve made great strides, there is still much work ahead to ensure the program’s sustainability and growth. One of the next major steps in the program is to integrate LIFE Clothing and LIFE Necessities into our lunch deliveries. This expansion will allow us to provide not only food but also essential clothing and items to those in need. Additionally, I aim to increase the number of free lunches provided each week to three days. However, I can’t do this alone—it takes a community, and I am so grateful to see this community grow in support of this mission.

We are building a network of individuals united by a belief in love, compassion, and support for all, regardless of political or religious views. Our independence as a program comes from our commitment to universal acceptance and a belief that love and support should be available to everyone. As we continue to grow, I invite anyone who believes in this mission to join us in our efforts.

One of the biggest challenges we face is raising awareness. Many people are still unaware of the program, and awareness is crucial to expanding our reach. Every day, I work to see this program grow—to reach our goal of providing three free lunches a week and increasing support for those in need. I spend time connecting with local small businesses, the homeless, and others facing hardships in our community. Each day brings unique challenges, but every step brings us closer to fostering more love and compassion in Oshawa and beyond.

As the program grows, I’m excited to share that we’ve made significant progress on our website. It now includes volunteer forms and a place for those in need to register. However, due to increasing demand, I must pause new registrations for assistance until we can further build our capacity. Currently, our supply levels allow us to serve about 75 lunches per day, but in order to increase that number to 125 lunches per day on both days, we need more supplies.

We’re fortunate to have local businesses like YOLI Deli - European Market & Homemade Meals, which provides ham for our sandwiches, and COBS Bread (Oshawa North), which donates bread. I am always looking for more local businesses to partner with and am happy to discuss opportunities. I also want to thank Eat Savage for providing the licensed facility where we prepare our sandwiches. As part of our ongoing effort to ensure sustainability, I’m actively seeking additional licensed establishments to partner with. Having multiple locations ensures that we are resilient in the face of unexpected challenges and strengthens the foundation of the program. We could not easily provide a pick-up for those without an address for the free lunches and ongoing support without the amazing support of Front Porch Mentors providing a space to prepare the packes for delivery as well as a place for those struggling with housing to ensure they do not go without.

Building sustainability and resilience is key to the long-term success of this program. To that end, I’ve been assembling a team focused on sandwich-making, separate from the packaging and delivery teams. This approach allows us to better manage time and resources while ensuring that there are backup team members available when needed. Many community members are eager to volunteer, but they often find it difficult to commit to shifts longer than 1.5 to 2 hours. By breaking down the tasks into smaller chunks, we can offer more flexible volunteer opportunities and still meet our goals. This flexibility is crucial as we build a network of volunteers with varying availability.

Looking ahead, the Not Just A Food Program aims to create a sustainable, resilient, and compassionate network of support for those in need in our community. We are offering more than just food—we are offering dignity, compassion, and care to those who may not otherwise have access to these essential resources. With your continued support, we can grow our efforts and make a lasting difference. Together, we are creating change, and the future is bright for the Not Just A Food Program.

But the Not Just A Food Program is only the beginning. It’s part of a larger, long-term vision to provide holistic health and wellness options for individuals facing food insecurity and struggling to maintain a healthy diet or recover from ongoing health challenges. The reality is that many with food insecurity also lack the resources to eat a balanced, nutritious diet, which in turn impacts their overall wellness.

I believe that we all have a role to play in taking responsibility for our choices, and I’m committed to creating options through my FIFE - Food Is For Everyone initiative. FIFE is about taking small, responsible steps toward increasing health and wellness options for those who choose to participate. I am also growing plants to support my own health and wellness, sharing what I learn, and working on a plan to incorporate fresh greens year-round into the program.

Looking ahead, I have ideas for future initiatives, including a transitional housing program that offers not only housing but also education and training to help individuals who are homeless or marginalized find new opportunities. There is hope on the horizon, and I am committed to building a future filled with more love and compassion for everyone.

You might ask, Why? I ask, Why not?

Why not try? The worst I have to lose is offering more love and compassion. But by trying, there’s so much more to gain.

LIFE - Love Is For Everyone!