The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many in the Markham community increasing the number of people experiencing food insecurity. Cornerstone Pantry has continued operating to provide non-perishable foods during these difficult times. Through God’s grace and provision as well as the help of our volunteer drivers and sorters, we have been able to continue to pack food boxes and deliver them to Cornerstone Pantry clients in need.

Fresh foods are often more expensive, and it has been our goal to figure out a way to offer this to our clients. The Cornerstone Church congregation has contributed to the Pantry ministry immensely through monetary donations and through all your efforts. Thank you, Cornerstone!

YRFN works with local suppliers and farmers to purchase good quality fresh produce at a wholesale price. Thanks to your donations, we were able to buy food boxes that contain 7 to 8 types of fruits and vegetables at wholesale cost and offer them to our clients, free of charge. Since starting this partnership in May, we have had 12 to 15 families sign up each month to pick up these boxes.

Thanks to Blessed Frederic Ozanam church, we were able to partner with them to plant a garden on their land until their new building project begins in the future.

Many Cornerstone volunteers have helped to start garden seedlings at home in egg cartons, transfer them into the garden, and tending the garden. The number of hands who have participated in this project will enable us to provide fresh vegetables to our clients at no cost on a weekly basis over the summer. We have been blessed to partner with them this year to help cultivate the produce for the garden.

The Blessed Frederic Ozanam Community Garden is located on the southwest corner of Bur Oak Ave. and White’s Hill Rd.