Expanding Our Reach: The "Not Just A Food Program" Goes Mobile

The Not Just A Food Program is taking a major step forward with the addition of a dedicated delivery vehicle. In the past, we relied on volunteers with cars, but their availability often created scheduling challenges, limiting when and how many people we could serve.

This new vehicle changes that. We can now run a consistent Monday-to-Friday delivery schedule without depending on sporadic access to cars. With a carrying capacity of up to 250 lbs, we can transport more supplies in fewer trips, making our work more efficient and cost-effective.

But this expansion is about much more than food. It’s about creating a stronger, more responsive support system for our community. The added mobility will allow us to:

• Serve More People: We can reach more individuals who have mobility challenges or cannot travel to our support locations, delivering essential supplies directly to them.

• Enhance Our Program: Instead of delivering sandwiches twice a week, we’ll provide weekly deliveries of a variety of supplies—including enough bread and other items for five or more lunches. This approach offers more comprehensive support while encouraging individuals to take an active role in their own nutrition.

• Support Other Initiatives: With more mobility, we can visit more locations for our Pics in Oshawa and our fundraising efforts, strengthen connections with local businesses through Just Oshawa activities. These efforts will help generate resources for our programs and bring us closer to launching the LIFE Transitional Housing Program.

For those wondering—yes, the Tuesday and Friday free lunches at Front Porch Mentorswill continue, and we will keep serving those without an address for delivery.

We know there will be challenges as we roll out this new system, but we believe it will lead to more consistent, reliable, and meaningful support for the community. This is an exciting new chapter, and we look forward to growing together.