What's Happening @ FYFB

FYFB Celebrates Decade One of Building Community

Founded in 1998, FYFB is celebrating Decade One in 2008. While poverty is not yet history, FYFB has played a significant role in reconnecting people with our community through our Food Program, Community Kitchen and Advocacy and Counselling programs. For the remainder of the year Connects will be taking a look at 'then & now'. If you have a story about FYFB's first decade, we'd love to hear it. E-mail us at mailbag@fyfb.com. Watch for a full timeline next month.

Decade One: Did You Know?

• FYFB opened at 60 Bathurst Street in 1998, moved to 510 King West in 1999, to 780 Dundas West in 2000 and to 797 Dundas West in 2005.
• September 1999 - FYFB introduces Internet access for clients
• June 2006 - FYFB assists 10,000th client with Advocacy & Counselling services.
• August 2007 - FYFB's volunteers have provided more than 100,000 hours of voluntary service.
• September 2007- FYFB has distributed more than three million dollars worth of food.
• November 2007 - FYFB serves 100,000th meal from the Community Kitchen.
• May 2008 - FYFB assists 150,000th client through the Food Program.

Board Member Profile: William Shane

William Shane joined the Board of Directors as the Steering Committee Representative.

William Shane represents the interests of clients and day-to-day volunteers as the Steering Committee representative on the Board of Directors.

The Steering Committee is a forum for the dedicated volunteers who run FYFB that allows them to participate in the organization and governance of the food bank.

William got involved with FYFB to give back to the community that has given him help over the years. When nominated by his peers on the Steering Committee, his past board experience (four of them!) made him more than happy to accept the nomination.

When not volunteering at FYFB, William tutors newcomers and enjoys wood working.

Summer Home Improvement

Once again FYFB's dedicated volunteers took advantage of the two-week summer closure to make FYFB a more welcoming place for our clients. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped during our shutdown but a very special thank you goes out to the following very dedicated volunteers:

• Margaret Cantwell
• William Shane
• Ken Lem
• Gorman Wu
• Sonny

The summer closure is as much a chance to give a break to many of the dedicated, hard-working volunteers as well as an opportunity to give the facility a good clean-up.

We painted about eight thousand square feet of surface area - ceilings, walls and even part of the floor. With lots of nooks and crannies, it's a big job. Rotblott's Discount Warehouse donated paint, brushes and rollers etc. again this year. They have been fantastic over the years!

We have a dependable core of volunteers who worked really hard and it all paid off. Clients' reactions were positive when we re-opened. They appreciated the time we took to refresh the entire agency and there were no complaints from clients about the closure.

Coming Events

August 12

Akademix is hosting the "Break the Bank" Fundraiser in support of FYFB on August 12.

The Sussex Centre
50 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.
Mississauga, ON. L5B 3C2
west50

September 12

The Queen West Art Crawl is September 12-14, 2008 and FYFB will be there spreading the word about the good work it does in the community. Come by and visit or click here to contact us to volunteer.

September 28

There's still time to sign join FYFB's marathon team. If you sign up to run for FYFB at the Scotibank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 28 and raise $200.00 for us, we'll waive your registration fee.

Click here to learn more about joining the FYFB Runners team or pledging an FYFB runner.

Ways to Get Involved at FYFB

Do you know someone who'd be interested in the great work FYFB does?

» » Tell them about us by clicking here.