Please keep in mind that for every $8 of donated food, KT must spend $1 to transport, sort, store, determine who is in need and give to clients who qualify. Money is needed too. If you have the means, we ask you to donate and consider donating monthly to help us run smoothly and efficiently.

Give safely online by clicking here or mail a cheque to 116 Kennedy Road South, Unit #6, Brampton ON L6W 3E7 or drop-in any time. We are opened 7 days a week.

Thanks to all who donate. You make a positive difference in the lives of many in our community.

Financial Donations are always in need. Having money on hand gives us the flexibility to purchase urgently needed items. Here are a list of top food items always needed:

Please RSVP by November 24, to Andrea at 905-454-8725 or administrator@knightstable.org

Knights Table Annual General Meeting Invitation

The shelves at Knights Table are practically bare, and the need for food remains as urgent as ever, said Annie Bynoe, executive director, Knights Table.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, the non-profit agency, wants the community to pitch-in and help with donations of food and money.
In an effort to ease the tremendous strain on Knights Table this holiday season, a group of retirees from Canadian Auto Workers (CAW Local 584), have undertaken a Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Brampton residents can drop-off healthy and nutritious non-perishable food items at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch, located 1133 Queen St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We just came through a really difficult summer,” Bynoe said. “It’s typical that during the summer months there’s a decline in food, but the irony is, the kids are at home in the summer, so the load on the family to get food is that much greater. The sad reality is; hunger does not take a summer vacation…”
For families struggling with poverty and other issues, nutrition is doubly important, stressed Bynoe. However, many of the agency’s clients have to make do with food that has high calories and low nutritive value.
Items such as canned meat and vegetables, baby formula, hot/cold breakfast items and soups are needed.
This is the second year the CAW Local 584 will host the food drive. Last year, at their annual Thanksgiving lunch, members were each asked to bring a non-perishable item. That first year, some 150 retirees managed to collect enough food to cram in two vans, said Wilski.
Encouraged by the response, this year, organizers hope there will be enough food to feed 1,000 families.
“Help us make a statement that Brampton cares,” said Chris Wilski, chair CAW Local 584.
“With your help, we can build a mountain of food, to help those in our neighbourhoods who struggle to afford healthy and nutritious food.”
For more information about the food drive, contact Chris Wilski, 416-294-5629 or email Annette, (Knights Table volunteer) annettek@sympatico.ca.

Original Article: http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/1217912–knights-table-needs-help

Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School kicked-off the school year with a little fun and charity.
The Brampton high school’s student council organized a barbecue that included some carnival-like entertainment to greet students for the beginning of another school year and encourage donations for a local food bank.
Held during lunch periods, students were able to enjoy food from the grill for a toonie and the donation of two canned food items or $3.
The donation of one non-perishable food item also allowed students to treat their taste buds to some cotton candy or try their aim at a pie throwing booth.
Donations and money raised at the first annual Start of the Year Charity Barbecue are going to the Knights Table in Brampton. The local organization helps provide food and assistance to Peel region residents dealing with daily issues related to hunger, poverty and homelessness.
In addition to the money and food raised at the recent school event, student council is also donating money raised from student donations of $1 each for school “Dress Down Day,” said Student Council Member Samuel Battista. In total, the students will be donating $2,000 to the Knights Table, he announced.

Original Article: http://www.bramptonguardian.com/community/education/article/1110514–students-mix-fun-and-charity

Three provincial election candidates slept outside in the rain on Monday night to experience — albeit for only 10 hours — what it’s like to be homeless.
With only sleeping bags and the clothes on their back, Mississauga-Erindale NDP hopeful Michelle Bilek, Dalbir Kathuria (Brampton West NDP) and Patti Chmelyk (Brampton West Green Party) spent the night (from about 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) in Duggan Park in Brampton.
They were the only candidates in Peel’s nine ridings to accept the challenge from Peel Poverty Action Group (PPAG) to see what it’s like to be homeless for one night.
The trio was joined by Daniel Cullen, a volunteer with the Brampton Neighbourhood Resource Centre who guided them and talked to them about what it’s like to be on the streets. Cullen, who was homeless for 25 years, showed the candidates places frequented by the homeless, including the wooded area where they spent the night.
Bilek, who shared her experience via Twitter, told The News they met a few homeless people during the night. She said it reminded her of a period in her life when she lived in a car.
Bilek said it’s still difficult to talk about how, for several months while she was a university student, she slept in her car and relied on friends and family to help her while she tried to keep up with her studies.
Of Monday night’s experience, Bilek said: “It was cold and there was a little bit of fear of what was going to happen, if we were safe, but we felt the camaraderie of being together and we knew that by doing this it would bring awareness to the issue of poverty, and homelessness is at the core of it.”
She added that herself, the other two candidates and Cullen spent most of the night talking about ways to eradicate homelessness.
Although she woke up cold, sore and barely rested, Bilek said it was one of the greatest, and most eye-opening, experiences of her life.
Unfortunately, she noted, things haven’t gotten any better for people in recent years.
“Your pay cheque is not going very far and the cost of living is going up,” she said. “We’re at a critical time here in Ontario where we have to make a move to adjust and put people first and give them the support systems they need. When you’re worrying about your bills all the time, you really can’t live.”
PPAG officials say about 1,000 people a month use homeless shelters in Peel. Furthermore, some 15,500 families are on a waiting list for homes they can afford — and they’ll be waiting for as long as 20 years.

Original article: http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/1109191–candidates-go-homeless-for-a-night

It’s been more than 20 years for the Knights Table in Brampton. And, those involved work diligently to gather additional support in their mission to alleviate the poverty in Peel Region. Acknowledged as the team that provides services to individuals and families that are impacted by hunger, poverty and homelessness, the group has continued that tradition of helping those in need. On August 12th, they held their 4th Annual Fundraising BBQ & Car wash event. In helping those in need of life necessities, those who attended the event donated a minimum of $5 or 5 cans of non perishable food items to KT’s food bank in exchange for a great car wash and barbeque meal. Community volunteers and staff members did their part by rolling up their sleeves to either wash down the cars, prepare the food or give a little historical background on the group itself. Along with the fundraising car wash and BBQ, kids and family members were able to take part in some friendly activities, raffle draws and take home generous giveaways. To become a volunteer or to donate and help their cause you can visit the organization at: http://www.knightstable.org/

Original article: http://www.snapbram.com/?option=com_sngevents&id[0]=302027&utm_source=email&utm_medium=snapd

Watch our new video about how the Knights Table works, who we help and how you can get involved.

We are grateful to all of the people and families that opened up their personal lives to help us convey the story of hunger in Peel and the many different situations that may cause someone to seek the assistance of the Knights Table.

Special thanks to all our donors and volunteers!

Special thanks to TOT for producing the video.

We CHALLENGE YOU, your family & friends to become HUNGER HEROES! Participate in the Hunger Hero Challenge until December 31^st.

Be a Hunger Hero for Knights Table by spreading awareness of food insecurity in Peel.

Donate $20 and Challenge 9 others to do the same. Our Goal is to have 250 people take the “Hunger Hero Challenge!

Create your very own personalized Giving Page, by clicking here and registering with CanadaHelps. Once your page is created you can invite 9 of your family and friends to donate, raising the highest possible funds as a team!

You can also simply visit our “Giving Page” and click on “Donate Now” to participate in the challenge. Once you donate your $20 or more, get your colleagues, friends and family to do the same. Our quick and secure “Giving Page” will provide everyone the opportunity to help in the fight against hunger. To be a HUNGER HERO, please visit our “Giving Page” by clicking here.

Help Knights Table raise much needed funds to continue our work to help those facing difficulties in our community.

Knights Table provides food and other social supports to assist vulnerable individuals and families in Peel Region who deal with the daily issues of hunger, poverty and homelessness. We serve 3 nutritious meals a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Our food bank combined with our soup kitchen service helps thousands of individuals and families fulfill their daily fundamental need for food. Close to 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks each month and 38% of them are children.

With food bank usage increasing substantially each year, the Knights Table is helping to raise awareness on the problem of hunger in Canada with our HUNGER HERO CHALLENGE.

Your donation is critical in helping the fight against hunger in Peel where 15% or 167,000 people live in poverty.

An official tax receipt will be issued for all donations of $20 or more.

With your help we can make HUNGER disappear in Peel Region.

Together, let’s make a difference! Thank you to the Knights Table’s HUNGER HEROES!