Giving is in her blood
Brian Baker (Town Crier December Riverdale-East York)
You could say giving to those less fortunate is in Linda Sargeant's blood.
During the Great Depression, her grandfather lost his job as a stockbroker and resorted to driving a bread wagon, feeding many of the destitute in East York during tough times.
"He was like Santa because he used to bring home stale and dry bread and feed people," she said. "It's amazing. Back then, when you think of the generations and generations (that have passed), and here we are still helping people."
His granddaughter, with the help of business partner Bruce Murray and staff at Sutton Partners Realty, converts her Danforth Ave. office into a temporary food bank during the holiday season.
"It literally fills up all our backrooms and hallway up until Dec. 19, and that's when we distribute it," Sargeant said.
Starting in 2005, the food drive has grown to include help from six TD Bank branches, the CIBC branch at Broadview and Danforth Aves., Carrot Common, Danforth IGA, and Jackman, Withrow and Pape Avenue public schools.
"Everybody really digs in by word-of-mouth and it’s really snowballed into a huge food drive," she said. "If you were to come around and see how much food and how many people get caught up in the spirit of giving and their commitment to help people, it’s just absolutely overwhelming."
Last year, the Riverdale Food Drive collected and distributed over 275 boxes of food to local shelters, seniors centres and community organizations. The organizers look to improve on those numbers this year by setting a goal of 350 boxes.
Touchstone Youth Centre on Pape Ave. is one such group receiving the fruits of Sutton Partners' labour.
An emergency centre with 32 beds, Touchstone makes about 25,000 meals a year for homeless youth age 16–24. Their food stores are often low.
Susette Clunis, executive director for the centre, says staff sorts through the food and gives the excess to youth who move out of the shelter.
"It goes very quickly because the amount of need that they have is just enormous," she said.
And, Clunis adds, the donations are a huge investment.
"Our young people need to feel cared for and invested in because 10-15 years from now, they are our leaders," she said. "So if we’re not taking care of them now, what’s going to happen?"
Other organizations receiving contributions from the food drive include women's shelter Nellie’s, the Woodgreen Red Door Family Shelter, St. Ann’s Parish, Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Shelter, Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, Hope Seniors Centre and Blair Court Seniors Building.
To Clunis, it's a sign that there is still a sense of charity in the community.
"Sometimes I feel like a thank you is not enough but yet I have nothing else to offer," she said. "It’s always very surprising that people continue to give to the disadvantaged because you sometimes feel like the world is getting colder and colder."