Nutrition - March 2024 Newsletter
Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? (Among many other worthwhile days of remembrance!)
The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month is Beyond the Table – thinking about health and nutrition from a wholistic perspective.
As a charity that does a lot of work in food rescue (over $8m in food and household goods recovered in 2023!) nutrition matters a lot to us. For instance, when we sent out our Student Food Boxes in Kingston, we aim to provide healthy foods and quality recipes as best we can based on what is donated. When we’re making meals as part of our Community Nutrition program, we strive to ensure the dishes are as healthy as they are filling. Even the Fresh Food Market Pop-Ups we’re running in Kingston only sell produce and lightly prepared goods like soups.
But we know ‘nourishment’ goes beyond food. Feeding your belly is one thing, but for many of our clients their minds are being fed bad food by their circumstances. Whether their struggle is with a health issue, with poverty, or with an addiction, and whether their struggle is unexpected and new or it’s a long-time one, the message they receive too often can be that their problems are their own to face. That it’s ‘their fault’. That they should feel shame for their situation.
It’s why we work daily to not only feed, and sometimes house, these real people who live in our communities, but to encourage them. To give them hope and restore dignity. To remind them that they are more than their circumstances.
It may not meet the legal definition of nutrition, but one of the first programs we launched was The Embassy Live Music Café in Kingston. Music can be so therapeutic to people, and it’s a privilege to provide live music to those who may feel unwelcome in a traditional concert environment or who cannot afford professional concerts. Seeing people come back to life as our professional musicians play each Saturday is a treat to behold – and the free food helps too!
Stay tuned to our social channels soon for a video from me about The Embassy, with some help from Liam Thomas, our Embassy Manager; some Embassy patrons; and a few of our talented artists. I hope it is nourishing to your soul to know you are supporting this work.
Travis Blackmore
Founder and CEO
Lionhearts Inc.
Coldest Night of the Year
Thanks to everyone who came out to our Coldest Night of the Year 2024 walks! In Kingston, we had over 140 walkers and, with a few donations still to record online, we exceeded $75,000 raised. In Ottawa, we raised over $33,000 with the help of dozens of walkers. Thanks to everyone for supporting our programming supporting our vulnerable neighbours experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness!
Donations to our CNOY campaign will be accepted until end of March, and donations over $20 will earn a tax receipt.
Make it monthly
We so appreciate our monthly donors who, through their consistent giving, help establish a pulse so we know what support we can count on for the months ahead.
If you’re not currently a monthly donor, March is a great time to consider becoming one! For every new monthly gift of $20 or more, CanadaHelps will donate an extra $20 to us!
Head to CanadaHelps, select Lionhearts, and commit to a monthly donation beginning in March to take advantage of this generous campaign.