Today, and always, ShareLife matters

Responsiveness is not the most stirring word to explain why ShareLife remains as vibrant and vital today as it was during its formative years. Nevertheless, it’s an essential part of the answer.

The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, could have significantly degraded its efforts to raise critical funds for the vulnerable and in need, as traditional in-person parish engagement was off the table for months. Instead, the ShareLife team nimbly adapted to an online outreach strategy with E-blasts, written testimonials, video profiles and social media messaging.

A remarkable $11.68 million was collected amid the wholesale disruption of society in 2020. The pandemic-altered approach was then strengthened for the 2021 campaign, and a then-record $13.9 million was accumulated.

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A more recent illustration of ShareLife’s adroitness at responding to difficult societal conditions is the pervasive food insecurity crisis. For context, the Who’s Hungry 2025 report from Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank found there were 4.1 million visits to Toronto food banks in 2024, and that one-in-10 Torontonians rely on food banks for sustenance.

In 2023, ShareLife committed $620,000 toward helping parish-based food banks and agency-run food programs combat hunger. In partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto and generous, anonymous donors, the allocation grew to $750,000 in 2024, $800,000 for 2025, and a record $850,000 this year in homage to its half-century of mission-driven existence.

“As ShareLife marks its 50th anniversary, this program reflects what has always been at the heart of our mission: living the Gospel by caring for our brothers and sisters in need,” said Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife. “The food security grants are one way that mission responds to the needs we see in our communities today. Thanks to the faithful generosity of our donors, parish and agency partners can continue providing practical support, dignity and hope to those experiencing food insecurity.”

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto (CCAT) is responsible for distributing $425,000 to the agency and community-based food banks. Executive director Agnes Thomas endorsed the food grant program’s ethos of empowering “agencies that already know the unique needs of their communities,” and therefore the grants “provide immediate relief while affirming the dignity of every person who comes through our doors.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Toronto Central Council disburses the other $425,000. Executive director Louise Coutu also lauded ShareLife’s cooperative spirit.

“The very fact that they sought to collaborate with an agency that’s kind of boots on the ground as far as responding to need in communities is an impressive description or display of who they are as a team,” said Coutu. “Sometimes agencies want to do things themselves, and they may not have the experience or outreach. And when that happens, they aren’t always as effective.”

Vincentian volunteers do call on approximately 35,000 homes in the Greater Toronto Area each year, and they can offer food vouchers to Torontonians in need during these visits to tide them over. However, Coutu said the council cannot be a “sustaining food supplier,” so individual parishes are counted upon to lend crucial supplemental support, especially in areas where need is greater.

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Eighteen parish food banks were bequeathed grants in 2025, and this timely money helped these programs weather the pressures of the food crisis.

“Having a food program where the funding is certain helps the planning work better,” said Coutu. “It helps with obtaining donated products and bulk purchasing — all the things that make the dollars stretch more. That happens when groups know they’ll be getting this grant. It does impact the community so greatly because without it, people would really be in dire straits.”

One of the 15 agencies that received a food grant in 2025 was the Georgian Bay Food Network (GBFN) in Midland, Ont., founded nearly five years ago in December 2021.

Alexandria Hamelin, who founded this non-profit food bank at the age of 22, said the food grant program was her first exposure to ShareLife and the work it does on behalf of over 40 social service agencies.

“What stood out to me was the fact that ShareLife is able to support organizations doing very practical hands-on work in the community,” said Hamelin. “For us, that translated directly into food reaching our clients through our food-to-door program.”

Hamelin explained how seniors especially benefit from the food-to-door program.

“As much as our clients tell us they enjoy the grocery store model and being able to come in and see us, during the wintertime seniors have mobility restrictions,” said Hamelin. “It’s really difficult for them to get here. So definitely a great program and we’re super, super enthused and pleased that ShareLife has continued to support us.”

The heightened need for food support is statistically articulated in a snapshot from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, which found one-third of local households struggled with food insecurity in late 2025, a dramatic jump from one in eight households when the GBFN arrived on the scene.

Peters has toured the GBFN, Blessing Home to Alleviate Poverty and a host of other agency and food bank grant beneficiaries over the four-year life of this program. Coutu shared how much SSVP appreciates the enthusiasm Peters and his staff bring to their roles as allies in the fight against food insecurity.

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“Working with the ShareLife team is easy,” said Coutu. “They’re very excited about this program. You can hear it in their voice. You can read it in their material. They see it as one of the greatest gifts they — like the Society — get to experience on a regular basis: making an immediate impact on somebody and really making their day, week or month.”

Applications for the 2026 food security grants remain open until Sept. 30. Visit sharelife.org to learn more.

(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Today, and always, ShareLife matters".