About Us
Providing access to good food is just the beginning of our work.
Connecting people to nourishing food and supportive resources.
The Nourish and Develop Foundation (TNDF) opened its doors in Cannington, Ontario in 2008. Upon opening, our work was focused on community food systems and food security in Brock Township and surrounding communities.
Over the years, we’ve deepened our understanding and impact, acknowledging that food insecurity is a complex issue requiring complex solutions. Therefore, in 2023, we formally established two branches of service: Food Services and Social Services. Across these two branches, in deep collaboration, we provide low-barrier supports to those in need.
Food Services
Our Food Services branch is dedicated to not only alleviating hunger in a dignified and low-barrier way, but also advancing household and community food security.
Social Services
Our Social Services branch goes beyond addressing immediate needs, offering programs and services to support and sustain growth for individuals, families, and the community as a whole.
Our Mission
To connect people to nourishing food and supportive resources, empowering the community to come together to develop lasting change.
Our Vision
A thriving community in which everyone is food secure, safely housed, and well supported.
Our Values
Curiosity
Our team is geared towards learning and non-judgement; we ask questions and listen to the answers, recognizing that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the work we do.
Connection
Building reciprocal relationships with and between community members and partners to facilitate inclusion and belonging.
Advocacy
We influence change at a local level by amplifying the lived and living experience of community members and pushing for systemic solutions to poverty, injustice, and social isolation.
Responsiveness
In conversation with our community, we identify and address service gaps in innovative and collaborative ways.
Equity
We meet people where they are at, emphasizing the right for community members to determine and meet their own needs in a dignified way.
Annual Reports
Rooting for Change
2024 was a year of focus, intention, and meaningful growth at TNDF. We made important shifts to strengthen our foundation—refining our programs and investing in the areas where we create the greatest impact. We leaned into our strengths, and made real progress toward our strategic priorities: becoming a more proactive and sustainable organization, fostering a thriving and resilient team, and deepening our connections across the community.
A New Leaf
As we look back on 2023, the journey at The Nourish and Develop Foundation (TNDF) has been one of renewal and transformation. With our refreshed mission, vision, and values, and the completion of our strategic planning process with Laridae, we turned over “A New Leaf.”
This year, our commitment to connecting people with nourishing food and supportive resources has only deepened. We expanded our services, embraced innovative solutions, and strengthened our community connections. From new initiatives in our Food Services branch to the development of our Social Services branch, each step has been guided by our belief that everyone deserves access to nourishing food and safe housing.
Cultivating Change
There’s one thing we are certain of after over 10 years in the community; change is a constant at the Nourish and Develop Foundation (TNDF). 2022 was no exception.
The past year brought many unexpected challenges for our community and our team, which required us to take time to reflect and re-strategize.
Amid these challenges, 2022 also brought us joy, friendship, growth, and hope. We enjoyed many moments of play, found friendship in new staff and community members, grew individually and collectively from the challenges we faced, and we are hopeful about what the future holds. We invite you to share in these moments and victories with us throughout this report.
Branching Out
Welcoming Change
The only constant in life is change, and like the rest of the world, we went through a lot of it in 2020. For The Nourish and Develop Foundation (TNDF), change began at the beginning of the year when our director of 10 years, Cesar Caneo, moved on to climb new mountains.
TNDF faced an immediate need to adapt operations and programs in order to meet evolving needs for support within our community while prioritizing the safety of our staff and participants.
Growing Forward
Together…It is Possible!
