At Cliniconex, we’re big on connection — not just the integrations we build across healthcare, but the human kind too, here in our own community.
That’s the heart of our Cliniconex Gives Back program. Once a quarter, our team steps away from the day-to-day to show up for a local cause we care about. For our latest volunteer day, we helped out at the Parkdale Food Centre. It was the kind of hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves work that reminds you why community programs matter — and why it feels so good to be part of them.
What Cliniconex Gives Back is all about
This program is our way of living our value of caring in a real, practical way. Whether we’re supporting youth programs, animal welfare, or food security — like we did with PFC — we’re there to contribute, learn, and be part of something bigger than our regular routines.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose: The Parkdale Food Centre
The Parkdale Food Centre (PFC) is more than a traditional food bank. It’s a welcoming community hub built around dignity, belonging, and long-term support — not just short-term fixes. At the heart of their approach is the idea of “neighbours helping neighbours,” creating a space where people can access good food and feel they have a safe, equitable seat at the community table.
PFC starts from a simple belief: access to healthy, culturally appropriate food is a human right. From there, they’ve built programs that focus not only on immediate needs, but also on connection, skills, and long-term resilience.
What PFC focuses on
Dignified food access
PFC’s Mino’Weesini Grocery Program offers catchment-based grocery support in a choice-based model, where households can book an appointment or attend drop-in times. It’s designed to better reflect the experience of regular grocery shopping, with more agency and flexibility for neighbours.
Community meals and connection
Food is also a way PFC brings people together. Their community meals and food programming create consistent opportunities for neighbours to eat, connect, and reduce isolation—building relationships alongside nourishment.
Empowerment and skills-building
Beyond groceries and meals, PFC runs food-based programming that builds practical skills and confidence, including things like cooking workshops (and related community programming). These programs support longer-term independence while keeping the focus on dignity and belonging.
Addressing root causes
PFC also works on the deeper drivers of food insecurity through community advocacy—supporting neighbours through connection, navigation, and action that recognizes food insecurity is tied to broader systems like poverty and inequality.
That’s what makes PFC so inspiring: they’re not only meeting immediate needs — they’re building healthier, more connected neighbourhoods, strengthening resilience, and helping people feel seen and supported along the way.
Our Day in the Kitchen: Preparing with Purpose
As the team arrived at the Parkdale Food Centre, we got settled in, put on our aprons, and jumped into a busy day of chopping and meal prep. The kitchen was already moving, with PFC staff and experienced volunteers keeping everything organized and on track.
We spent most of our time prepping ingredients and assembling a meal. There was a lot of chopping—lots of fresh vegetables and preparing ingredients for large-batch cooking. Together, we made vegetarian chilli, salsa, crema, our own tortilla chips, and a tres leches cake. Not only were we preparing lunch for that day, but we also helped chop and prep enough ingredients to support the next day’s meals as well.
Working side-by-side gave us a chance to connect outside the usual office environment, while contributing to an important community service.
The amazing staff also spent time with our group, talking about food insecurity, the role Parkdale Food Centre -and others like it- play within our community, and how funding and support come from a variety of sources.
Join the Movement: You Can Help Too!
Our day at the Parkdale Food Centre was a reminder that real change starts with small, hands-on acts. But the need for help is always there and keeps growing. Groups like the PFC really rely on community support to keep doing their vital work.
Here’s how you can help the Parkdale Food Centre right now:
Volunteer Your Time: They always need volunteers for food prep, kitchen work, and running programs. Your time is invaluable!
Make a Donation: Financial contributions allow the PFC to purchase the most needed items, especially fresh and culturally appropriate foods that are often hard to keep in stock. Otherwise, food donations are accepted too!
Spread the Word: Share the PFC’s mission with your friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness about food insecurity in our city.
We are proud to have worked with the Parkdale Food Centre. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, healthier, and more connected community where everyone has dignified access to the food they need.
If this mission inspires you, we hope you’ll get involved too! Every hour you volunteer, or every dollar you donate, makes a direct impact your community.
