What does it mean to be part of FoodShare? Reflections from our AGM

FoodShare’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a first for us: we held a hybrid event, where staff and board were invited to join us in person, with the rest of our community joining us virtually.

While we encountered some hiccups, the evening’s impact outshone any of the technical glitches that are bound to arise. Still, we look forward to the opportunity to bring everyone back together in person someday soon. 

Beyond the typical business portion of the AGM where a board of directors was elected and members reported back on the year past, the event brought us truly magical moments, including:

✨ A captivating conversation between Rania El Mugammar and FoodShare staff member Sheldomar Elliott on what really being in solidarity looks like. We recorded their in-depth chat and will be releasing it as an episode of our podcast, Dignity and Joy. (In the meantime, you can catch up on previous episodes with guests such as the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library founder Vivian Sansour and migrant worker turned justice activist Gabriel Allahdua).

✨ A thought-provoking activity, Letters to the Future, where we penned a letter (or an illustration) to our future self with hopes and dreams for what we might’ve achieved around food justice, guiding us in how we can act and advocate for justice in the coming years. (Feel free to share your own musings with us here).

✨ Of course, delicious food provided by local caterer Vert Casse-Croûte, who treated us to fresh spring rolls, empanadas, croissant sandwiches, and charcuterie skewers.

✨ Some beautiful and inspiring opening remarks from our Board Chair, chef and restaurateur Nader Qawasmi. Read his remarks in full below.

Today is an important day at FoodShare. It’s a chance to look back at the past year, thank everyone for their important contributions and reaffirm our collective commitment to the work we still have to do.

So… let’s look at the impact. Just last year FoodShare engaged over 180,000 people from across Toronto in programs and initiatives like markets, community kitchens, urban farming and more. The team offered 340 workshops, supported 179 community food initiatives, distributed just over 700,000 pounds of food and composted 60,000 pounds of food waste into 35,000 pounds of compost.

That’s really incredible and a lot of that is to do with many of you in this room. Let’s get a round of applause!

[Applause]

But the numbers only give us a sense of the scope of this work. I think it’s the stories of each of the folks who take part in FoodShare initiatives that really shine a lot on the incredible value the organization brings to our city.

Like the community kitchen participant who said: “To cook with community is a beautiful way to spend time, and everyone ends up happy and full.” Or a shopper who said that visiting one of FoodShare’s community market partners was “the reason why I get out of my house every single week.”

As was mentioned in my introduction, I do own a restaurant here in Toronto, it’s over in the west end so not far from here, and I’ve had a lifelong passion for food since I was a young kid. I grew up in the restaurant so I’ve been eating really good food since I was out of the womb!

Raised in a low-to-middle income household, we struggled, but we never struggled to appreciate the beauty of food and its ability to bring families, communities, and people together. Family dinner was the glue that held us together when all of us were off doing our own things, up until the last person moved out of the house. Food — I truly believe this, and that’s a testament to why I’m part of FoodShare — is that food builds connections beyond what most people comprehend.

In fact, the reason that I decided to volunteer on the FoodShare board was a single moment at a North Etobicoke school during a FoodShare Chefs in the Classroom workshop. A kid came up to me after teaching them how to make chicken cutlet and mashed potatoes, and asked if I could come back again. I didn’t do much to deserve that invitation — I just taught them how to make chicken cutlet. But it was what food does for us: it brings us warmth, it brings us community, it brings us all together. And it was in that moment that I knew that food makes a difference in our lives, and that’s why I wanted to be a part of this organization.

So I want to say thank you to FoodShare’s staff team and to all of our partners in community, including the members of our Supportive Partnerships Platform.

Thanks also to our donors, our funders and to my fellow board members: Wendy, Victoria, Germaine, Natalie, Hannah, Sameera, Michelle, Jessica, Bindra, Jackie, Russell, Jen, Julia, Erica.

Much appreciation to those who stepped up to head committees like Finance and Audit; your leadership has been really important.

I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize our departing board members Hannah and Russell, both of whom have a long history of supporting FoodShare, as staff and volunteers. Thanks so much to you both for your time and contributions.

Last but certainly not least: thank you to everyone with us tonight for your time and for your contributions to FoodShare. Without the committed community around it, FoodShare wouldn’t be what it is.

Echoing Nader, thanks to all who joined us virtually for our 2025 AGM.

If you missed out this time, be sure to subscribe to our e-newsletter to be notified of future events like our AGM.

We hope to see you at the next one!