After two decades of hosting various events, 5 Brock Ave. in Toronto's Parkdale neighborhood has closed its doors. The space has now been transformed into a permanent home for the Parkdale Food Bank, which has long sought a stable location for its operations.
A longtime community gathering space in Toronto 's Parkdale neighborhood has closed its doors after two decades. 5 Brock Ave. , named after its address, hosted a variety of events over the years, including weddings, art exhibits, brand launches, birthdays, and more. However, the venue's closure paves the way for a new chapter: a permanent home for a local food bank .
The Parkdale Food Bank, which has been searching for a stable location for several years, is now settling into the former 5 Brock Ave. space. Executive Director Kitty Raman Costa says the move will provide much-needed stability for the organization, which has been forced to relocate at least three times due to rising rents and lack of protections for commercial tenants. 'Our community is really excited that we finally have so much more stability as an organization,' Costa explained. 'The precarity of operating out of commercial market rented spaces means that the food bank did have to relocate often, and that was a real source of anxiety for our service users, volunteers, and community members.'The new location at 5 Brock Ave. is ideal for the food bank's operations, featuring a loading dock and ample space for programming, food storage, and community engagement. Costa highlighted the significance of having a permanent home, stating, 'It's provided a significant sense of security for all of our community. It's really exciting knowing that the food bank is going to have a home forever in this space.' To celebrate its new home, the Parkdale Food Bank will be hosting an opening event on February 23rd from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature community-themed crafts and activities, and the food bank encourages donations of nonperishable food items and personal care products. Most needed items include diapers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shelf-stable vegetarian proteins, pet food, diabetic-friendly food items, gluten-free food items, shampoo and conditioner, spices, sauces, and condiments. Donations can be made on-site during the food bank's operating hours, or online through their website
Parkdale Food Bank 5 Brock Ave. Toronto Community Space Food Bank Food Donations Event Venue
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