About The Stop
The Stop is championing food security in Toronto. We believe good food is a human right.
Our Story
As more and more people arrived at the Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields rectory in Kensington Market seeking help in Toronto in the 1970s, the late Reverend Cam Russell and his wife Shirley started providing sandwiches and small amounts of cash. But they soon realized the people were coming back not just for the food but for connection and support. This led them to increase advocacy and support services and establish Stop 103 at 103 Bellevue Ave. in 1982.
Though The Stop has moved since then and expanded our programs and staff, our core mission remains the same:
To increase access to healthy food in ways that maintain dignity, build health and community, and champion equity.
We work alongside community members to reimagine a society rooted in food justice, equity, and shared opportunity.
The Stop’s Four Pillars
Our core values guide our work.
Our Mission
To increase access to healthy food in ways that maintain dignity, build health and community, and champion equity
Food Insecurity in Ontario
Every day, tens of thousands of people across Ontario have difficulty accessing enough nutritious food. Rising costs, systemic inequities, and gaps in support leave households struggling to meet basic needs. By understanding these challenges, we can work together to strengthen access to healthy, culturally meaningful food and support communities in building resilience and well-being.
25% of Canadians
experienced
food insecurity
– Who’s Hungry Report 2025,
Daily Bread Food Bank
Food insecurity in Toronto
became a crisis with
4.1 million food bank visits
– Who’s Hungry Report 2025,
Daily Bread Food Bank
2.4 million children
lived in food-insecure
households
– PROOF, University of Toronto, 2025
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Discover The Stop’s vital food programs, advocacy campaigns, and events in our monthly e-newsletter.
See Our Impact
Discover how The Stop’s programs, volunteers, and community partners improve food access, build connections, and strengthen communities across Toronto. Explore the stories, data, and milestones in our annual impact reports to see the achievements made possible by your support.
