About

Reviving "Need It Or Leave It":

A Compassionate Partnership to Nourish Oshawa Through the Not Just A Food Program

The spirit of community support and the desire to help those in need have always been driving forces in Oshawa. Many will recall the early days of the pandemic, a time of unprecedented uncertainty that began on March 17th, 2020. For me, that date marked the abrupt halt of a nascent "Pay It Forward" restaurant program, a concept designed to allow patrons to pre-purchase meals for individuals who couldn't afford them. As restaurants across the city shuttered their doors that very day, the initiative, poised for launch, was put on hold.

However, the sudden closure of vital support services that same day ignited a different kind of action. The LIFE Community Program, a Monday-to-Friday outreach effort complementing our Sunday LIFE Rally Oshawa events at Memorial Park, was ready to respond to a growing awareness of the needs within our community. On March 17th, 2020, armed with 50 free lunches, I headed to Memorial Park. What I encountered was a void – essential meal programs and support services had ceased operations, leaving the homeless and marginalized without food or guidance, often with nothing more than website links for information.

For over a week, the LIFE Community Program stood as the sole provider of free meals in Oshawa. The initial 50 lunches were quickly exhausted, leading to the creation of a list of those still in need. Within seven days, the efforts expanded as compassionate community members joined in, and we were distributing over 250 free lunches daily, eventually stabilizing at around 150. This tireless dedication continued until my stroke (July 25, 2021), at which point providing this essential support became my sole focus. 

Following a period of recovery, I embarked on a journey to rebuild and reimagine my programs, driven by the enduring goal of establishing a self-funded transitional housing program. This led to the creation of the Not Just A Food Program, a cornerstone designed to be the starting point for increased support for Oshawa's most vulnerable. This program operates on a principle of empowerment: individuals who actively participate in taking responsibility for their health and well-being are offered increasing levels of support. Through the dedication of our volunteers and a growing network of LIFE Community Partners, resources are carefully managed and directed to those demonstrating a genuine commitment to positive change.

The structure of the Not Just A Food Program is intentional, and designed to create a sustainable ecosystem of care. By offering a variety of options and encouraging active participation, we aim to build greater resources within the program, enabling more individuals to receive loving and compassionate support while also becoming active contributors to helping others.

Now, we are excited to announce a new initiative that builds upon past experiences and directly benefits the Not Just A Food Program: a reimagined "Pay It Forward" food program, drawing inspiration from a pre-pandemic partnership. Years ago, a local restaurant collaborated with us on a "Need It Or Leave It" sandwich board. Customers could purchase an extra sandwich, symbolized by a cardboard cutout placed on the board. Anyone in need could take a cutout to redeem for a free meal, with the cutout being held until another act of generosity replenished the board. While this initiative fostered goodwill, its limitations became apparent, and it ultimately ended with the restaurant's closure when the restaurant owner retired.

However, the core concept of allowing community members to directly support those facing food insecurity remained compelling. My years of working directly with both small businesses and individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty have provided invaluable insights into the nuances and challenges of such programs. This unique perspective has allowed us to develop a refined approach that addresses some of the common pitfalls associated with "Pay It Forward" initiatives.

One significant challenge often encountered is ensuring that free meals reach those who genuinely need them, rather than individuals who may feel entitled simply because the offer exists. Additionally, concerns about hygiene and the potential for the same individuals to repeatedly access the program, potentially overwhelming staff and limiting opportunities for others, are valid considerations for businesses.

The "Pay It Forward" component integrated into the Not Just A Food Program offers a solution to these challenges. We provide restaurants with the opportunity to offer a promotional space where their customers can purchase a meal specifically to be donated through our program. This purchased meal then becomes part of our existing efforts to provide free food for those most in need, often delivered through our network to individuals facing mobility issues or distributed fairly within the Not Just A Food Program.

This model offers several key benefits:

• Reduced In-Restaurant Issues: By having the Not Just A Food Program facilitate the distribution, restaurants can minimize potential concerns related to hygiene or individuals repeatedly seeking free meals on-site.
• Ensured Need-Based Distribution: Our established network and engagement with individuals in the Not Just A Food Program ensure that donated meals reach those who are truly in need and actively participate in efforts to improve their well-being.
• Fair and Equitable Access: We manage the distribution of meals to ensure fairness and prevent any single individual from monopolizing the program.
• Community Connection: The program still allows restaurant customers to directly contribute to helping their neighbors facing hardship, fostering a sense of community and compassion.

As part of our commitment to our LIFE Community Partners, restaurants participating in this revitalized "Pay It Forward" program will benefit from increased visibility. Through our growing Just Oshawa social media platform, which shares content across nine+ different networks, we will actively promote participating businesses. We also create promotional materials such as posters and flyers, which will be provided free of charge to our partner restaurants to further highlight their involvement and encourage customer participation.

We are now excited to publicly announce this initiative and are actively seeking restaurants in Oshawa who are interested in learning more. We invite interested owners and managers to book an appointment with us to discuss the program in detail and explore how this partnership can mutually benefit their business and our community's most vulnerable members.

This year has been marked by significant growth and the launch of new initiatives within the ILFJL Collective. The reimagined "Pay It Forward" program is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to build an ever-expanding network of resources and support for those most in need in Oshawa. We invite you to be a part of this exciting time as we continue to build a more loving and compassionate community, one meal and one act of kindness at a time.