Twice a month Jhenna G., Area Manager in Toronto, laces up her sneakers and hits the pavement.
Jhenna isn’t venturing out on a typical run, but rather what’s locally known as a sandwich run– a charitable event that delivers meals, nutritional supplements and hygiene necessities to low-income neighborhoods through Hand Up Toronto.
Jhenna discovered Hand Up Toronto four years ago when a group of friends identified a need for meals and resources locally in low-income areas.
Hand Up Toronto strategically travel directly to areas where individuals lack the capability to acquire proper nutrition and other support. Their ultimate goal is to create a society without hunger.
“The idea that a few individuals could come together and create a mobile service delivering resources to poverty-stricken areas is what inspired me to get involved,” explains Jhenna. “Furthermore, there aren’t any foodbanks nearby, which is incredibly difficult on those who have an immediate need.”
At each sandwich run, volunteers deliver meals and clothing on-foot to 150 low-income individuals. The organization has served more than 5,700 meals to date and continues to experience increased demand for their services.
Helping hand for Hand Up
Over the past four years Jhenna has enjoyed serving with Hand Up Toronto. Most of her volunteer peers are her age: young professionals who feel fortunate in their careers and daily life and are looking to give to others.
Jhenna has fully embraced the opportunity to give her time to Hand Up Toronto and recently had the opportunity to provide financial assistance through an Enterprise Holdings Foundation grant.
“The organization has more people needing services than they have funding to support,” explains Jhenna, who was overwhelmed with gratitude upon learning her grant request had been accepted.
“I’m so appreciative my company supports my local community on top of all the other philanthropic endeavors it champions,” says Jhenna. “This is what’s so great about Enterprise — there’s always involvement from the bottom up.”