#FeedURMind
From July 18th-29th, we invite you to #FeedURMind.
#FeedURMind brings together charities who care about the wellbeing of our community and all of its people. Together, we hope to take a bite out of food scarcity in our communities, while filling up our mental health cup.
Collectively, this group of charities believes that we are better when we take care of ourselves and each other. #FeedURMind is an opportunity to do just that.
Where do you come in?
There are two ways to participate.
Fill your mental health cup
Each day, we will share a challenge or tip that you can participate in. Each tip and challenge will focus on mental health and self-care, with the goal of promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Take a bite out of food scarcity
Each charity involved offers support related to food insecurity in our communities. You can help them in this mission by making a donation. Things you could donate:
- Non-perishable food items (like pasta, sauce, beans, rice, canned vegetables, peanut butter, cereal and more)
- Cleaning supplies
- Kitchen supplies
- Toiletries
- Gift cards to be spent at grocery stores for perishable food items
- Monetary donations
Pick a charity, and make a donation that suits you and your family.
Donate during regular business hours. #FeedURMind charities may also have a donation bin outside of their location to accept your gift.
Filling your Mental Health Cup
Full Calendar
Click on the image to view the full calendar!
Charities involved
Community Living Guelph Wellington
Food and monetary donations support CLGW's Grocery Assistance Program.
Donate: https://clgw.ca/donate/
Family and Children's Services of Guelph and Wellington County
Together with children, youth, families, and communities we work respectfully and inclusively for the safety and well-being of children and youth.
Shelldale Family Gateway
To welcome and support children, youth and their families living in the Shelldale Family Gateway Community by providing programs, services and leadership opportunities.
Wyndham House
Working to prevent, reduce and end youth homelessness.
Centre Wellington Foodbank
Dedicated to easing hunger in Centre Wellington's Community in a compassionate and supportive environment.
Hope House
We believe the opposite of poverty is community.
On top of these great charities, you can also go one step further. Free Little Pantries are available in many neighbourhoods locally. You can support people living right where you are, by making sure these pantries are stocked and ready for anyone who needs them. Locations of Free Little Pantries are:
We hope that through #FeedURMind, we will raise awareness of the struggles of fixed budgets and growing inflation in the community, as well as the negative impact this has on our abilities to provide reasonable amounts of food to the people we support.
Use the hashtag #FeedURMind on any social media posts to help encourage others to join our self-care challenge!
Why donate to these great charities?
CLGW supports more than 400 people living with a disability in Guelph and Wellington County. Nearly 25% of the people we support are living independently in our communities.
People living independently are working hard to make ends meet. Most experience market rent (the same costs you and I would experience) while receiving a fixed income that comes no where near the cost of living.
Add on the cost of utilities, transportation and groceries and their budgets often require compromise and sacrifice.
With the average meal cost nearly doubling in the last year, nutrition and good food is one of those sacrifices.
Your support will go directly to our Grocery Assistance Program – CLGW’s food hamper.
For many families, lack of access to basic needs can be a source of significant stress, which can contribute to family crises. We know that families who lack access to the things they need to be safe and healthy experience worse health outcomes, including higher mortality rates and increased risk of mental health conditions. Lack of access to basic needs can contribute to significant stress for families, which coupled with other challenges, can make parenting even more challenging.
For young people leaving care, food insecurity can also be a huge challenge. Young people leaving care may not have relationships with family, and in these circumstances, often have no one to turn to for assistance when they can’t meet their basic needs. This can create a lot of added stress, and exacerbate other challenges that they may be struggling with. When you can’t afford to eat, it is much more difficult to find or keep a job, go to school, or deal with the challenges of everyday life.
We are Shelldale Family Gateway located out of the Shelldale Centre and we support the immediate community who struggle with food security, employment, mental health and language barriers. Many of our families are of low income and pay high rent. Food is an essential part of our families' lives and unfortunately, they cannot afford produce, dairy products and meat or meat alternatives.
Wyndham House works to prevent, reduce and end youth homelessness through the provision of innovative prevention and diversion programs along with critical supportive housing options with wrap around, intensive case management supports. We also provide barrier-free access to wellness supports aimed at youth who are highly complex and street-engaged, 16-25 years for nearly 50 years.
Due to rising costs and increased demand, our food costs are significantly over budget, but the need to feed youth who seek our services daily continues to grow. With your support, we can ensure that our healthy eating programs and access to emergency food hampers continue with proper access to nutritional good food daily.