PROJECT Good Karma is helping the less fortunate in our community.
Some South Etobicoke residents have banded together to provide 10,000 meals this year to those who are homeless and in dire need in our community.
Project Good Karma was founded in January 2021 and have so far provided about 7,000 meals to feed the hungry in Toronto shelters, St. Felix Centre, Horizons 4 Youth and Etobicoke’s Youth Without Shelter.
RICHARD (left) with girlfriend Dayna, founded the non-profit charity. Courtesy Photo.
“We are a grassroots volunteer run group and many of the meals are funded by ourselves or through donations from family and friends,” says Richard Ramsuchit, who with girlfriend, Dayna, founded the non-profit charity, which was supposed to run for a year and has been extended due to the demands for food.
“Project Good Karma is looking to help decrease the scarcity around food in this city,” Ramsuchit says. “The pandemic has dramatically increased the levels of food insecurity among our community members and have impacted the donations normally received by shelters.”
He said many shelters had to stop volunteer programs that would normally have people come in and help cook meals for clients at shelters.
“With our program we are hoping that we can help decrease this anxiety around food that shelters may experience by even a little,” he says.
GOOD FOOD for those in need.
Due to COVID-19, the amount of people relying on meal programs and services has increased due to job losses caused by the pandemic, according to Ramsuchit.
Group members say there seems to be more people homeless and in need of food in South Etobicoke than ever before. They plan to continue feeding the hungryr as long as there is a need.
“Many more people are now relying on meals provided by shelters to help them,” he explains.
They are seeking volunteers who can cook, or sponsor a meal. The group is also working with restaurants to obtain meals.
They have created a Go Fund Me page for those who want to donate to a worthy cause this Christmas.
So far more than $6,000 have been donated to help the group purchase food and other badly needed items.
According to City statistics from 850 to 2,000 youth are homeless on any given night in Toronto. Many more are experiencing hidden homelessness. Some 3,300 to 10,000 youth experience homelessness over the course of a year in Toronto, or about one in a 100 youth.
The statistics show that 20% of the Canadian homelessness population are youth between the ages of 13 and 24.
You can donate by going to their Go Fund Me page on social media.