Thrifty Foods Hillside is helping the Oaklands Community Association do what it does best: support neighbours of all ages through food programs, child care and local events that bring the community together.
The popular grocery store backs the association by donating snacks, stocking shelves for the Oaklands Pantry, and supporting volunteer-led neighbourhood gatherings.
“Thrifty’s has been such a huge support to us over the years,” says Nathalie Richardson, Food Security Coordinator at the Oaklands Community Association. “When I reach out to Gordon Simons, the store’s manager, they’re always receptive. Whether it’s for our queer and trans market, Women’s Day events or weekly food programs – they show up.”
Food insecurity in Oaklands has grown since the pandemic began, and the need continues to rise as grocery prices climb.“We see such a range of people – newcomers, students, seniors, families – and we work hard to make sure no one feels excluded. Everyone deserves good, healthy food,” Richardson says.
Among the association’s food initiatives is the Oaklands Pantry, a supplementary food program providing free groceries to residents in need. Held on the fourth Sunday of each month, the pantry redistributes local and rescued food – including fresh produce, dairy, eggs and shelf-stable items. In 2021 alone, it diverted approximately 25,000 pounds of food from the landfill and served more than 4,200 community members.
Thrifty Foods Hillside plays an essential role in supporting that work, contributing regular donations that bolster not only food security programs, but also child care and seniors’ services across the association.
“Community support is part of our DNA,” Simons says. “We’ve been supporting organizations like Oaklands since Thrifty’s first opened. It’s not something we do once a year, it’s all year long.”
This past winter, the store’s donations supported 45 families through the Oaklands Pantry. At seasonal markets and community events, Thrifty’s provides refreshments for volunteers and attendees.
“Our volunteers are incredible, they drive so many of our programs,” Richardson says. “But being able to offer them food and create a welcoming event space really enhances the experience. We couldn’t do it without support from Thrifty’s.”
For Simons, supporting Oaklands is a natural extension of the store’s role in the community.
“Our store is part of their neighbourhood – this is our immediate community,” he says.
“I’m proud to say that our neighbours are able to depend on our store for all of their grocery needs at competitive prices, in a clean, well stocked store and in turn, we want to give back. Supporting each other is just how it should work.”
That ongoing partnership helps the Oaklands Community Association continue offering a wide range of services – from youth groups and food programs to seniors’ activities, garage sales and block parties.
“I love making connections with people,” Richardson says. “Knowing our participants by name, seeing their joy when we can provide something helpful, it means so much. It’s a privilege to be part of that. Thrifty’s helps make it possible.”
“We like to support the people around us,” Simons says. “That’s who we are.”
For more information visit oaklands.life and thriftyfoods.com.