Superstar chef Vikram Vij is partnering with a Toronto firm to assist increase funds for cash-strapped meals banks.
Vij partnered with Cooks Who Feed to create purple cotton aprons with the phrases “eat together with your fingers” written on them.
“I’ve all the time been a fan of giving again to the neighborhood,” stated Vij, whose aprons can be bought with proceeds from every apron getting used to supply 100 meals to these in want.
The aprons are handmade by marginalized ladies in India in an effort to assist them financially, in response to Seema Sanghavi, CEO of Cooks Who Feed.
Vij, who’s Indian, says that was a part of the attraction for him to affix the trigger.
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“I simply love the truth that we’re in a position to give again to these households and people ladies who want essentially the most quantity of emotional and monetary well being,” Vij stated. “You are giving them hope, you are giving them a lifestyle.”
He says the wording on the aprons can be reflective of his tradition and upbringing.
“I like consuming meals with my fingers,” he stated. “I’ve all the time believed that Indian meals particularly ought to be eaten together with your fingers, and so we created this.”
Sanghavi says all the kitchen textiles are made by marginalized ladies in India. The proceeds are additionally used to assist them financially. (Submitted by Cooks Who Feed)
Vij stated he hopes supporters will hearken to the phrases written on the apron, and contribute to the struggle to finish meals insecurity in Canada.
“It by no means was like this,” stated Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Every day Bread Meals Financial institution.
At his meals financial institution, he says, they’re serving greater than 330,000 folks a month in comparison with pre-pandemic once they served 60,000.
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Meals banks in Toronto are seeing 1,000,000 extra visits this yr than within the final, bringing the overall quantity to three.49 million from April 2023 to April 2024, in response to a brand new report. Neil Hetherington, CEO of Every day Bread Meals Financial institution, says it is a part of a broader cost-of-living disaster.
The proceeds from Vij’s apron gross sales will go to Second Harvest, a charity that distributes meals to varied meals banks throughout the nation.
“We’re seeing wait lists like we have by no means seen earlier than,” stated Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
The group has needed to cease accepting purposes whereas they work to acquire extra meals to produce, Nikkel stated.
Hetherington says he blames systemic points resembling unaffordable housing, excessive value of dwelling and glued incomes resembling incapacity assist for rising numbers of individuals counting on meals banks. He says coverage modifications are wanted to convey down meals insecurity.
