BY CRYSTAL NWAKPADOLU
Health Promotion Specialist
​Interprofessional Primary Care Team

 Finally some good news!!!
 
“Stay Home” became the mantra since the COVID-19 pandemic and life as we knew it changed rapidly. To say things have been crazy would be an understatement. Through it all, you’ve demonstrated immeasurable strength, resilience, and a willingness to do what is necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19. As the saying goes, when life throws you limes, you rearrange the letters and throw back a smile. We are still not completely in the clear but we are getting there.
 
On April 30, 2020, we at Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) sent out a needs assessment survey. The aim was to help us identify some emerging needs in our Scarborough community as a result of the pandemic which will then inform strategies to help mitigate those needs. We called and you answered and for that, we are grateful. The responses were informative. The survey results can be found on our Facebook page.
 
As you may already know, the provincial government has moved to the second phase( phase 2 stage 2) of the reopening process. Many of our programs and services were able to continue even during the lockdown. With the second phase in effect, we have now opened in-person visits for most of our programs as per public health guidelines. Our doors are open!
 
Understandably, some of you may have some fears or concerns about accessing healthcare services amidst this pandemic. Some concerns were already expressed in the survey responses. It is okay to be anxious about this, and we completely understand your reservations. We continue to offer a multi-modal service delivery system (both virtual and in-person) to accommodate all your health needs.
 
However, studies have shown that delay in accessing healthcare could lead to poor health outcomes. According to Cleveland Clinic, virtual care might not be suitable for all cases especially around preventative screenings, comprehensive physical exams,  and hands-on care like physiotherapy and chiropody (foot care). Further research is required to help understand the long term health impacts of solely accessing care virtually.

According to Dr. James Benedict, Ph.D., "this pandemic is revealing to us that health is a common good. Your health matters to me and my health matters to you”. We heard your concerns and we are dedicated to keeping you healthy and safe. Therefore here are the measures we are taking to alleviate some of your fears and to keep you safe while accessing services at SCHC.
​ 
Infection Protection and Control (IPAC) Measures:

• Daily screening of staff before onsite shifts
• Deep cleaning every day
• Screening of all clients before appointments, session or program
• Cleaning high-touch areas every 2 hours
• Cleaning all equipment and exam/counseling rooms after each client visit
• Staff are wearing masks and face shields
• Hand sanitizing stations and facial tissues available in each program area
• Safety posters and health signages throughout buildings

 
Physical Distancing Measures:

• Spacing appointments to limit interaction between clients
• Spatial measures using signage and floor decals
• Spacing seating to allow for 2 meters between clients
• Removing unnecessary furniture for additional moving space

 
Our priority is to provide holistic client-centered care to the complex marginalized residents of our Scarborough community. We are working tirelessly to ensure that you are safe while accessing our services.
 
To ensure that we are serving you well, please feel free to leave us a quick google review or a comment on our website or other social media platforms to tell us about your appointment/ experience at SCHC.
 
Together we will get through this!
 
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”
- Christopher Robin

BY TAMARA ELLIOT,  MSW, RSW
Social Worker & Registered Therapist
SCHC

I came to the clinic by referral from my doctors, who advised me that I qualify for this program because I had been sexually assaulted. I had reservations because a few years ago I had been referred to a group program in downtown Toronto which turned out to be a really bad experience. The program was run very rigidly and I found myself extracted from participating because I couldn’t attend a specified time frame for an appointment due to a conflict with my work. In the end I was treated like a number to fill a seat without any human compassion for my individual needs and I was simply removed and told I could be placed on another waiting list.

When I came to this clinic last year I was intimidated by that bad experience. I told this to my counsellor, Tamara, who immediately put my mind at ease and reassured me that it would not happen to me with this program. We started the sessions, at first, I was so drained after each session that I simply ended up going to sleep for the remainder of those days. So, we adjusted the frequency of the sessions to give me time to recover my energies.
 
At first it felt like I was talking a lot and not really knowing where I was going with it all, but it just felt good to talk about things that were happening in real time. Tamara offered invaluable insights into my situations as they were fairly complex – from family issues like my brother who lived in his car, and another one who was homeless for a decade; personal issues with my difficult marriage and the terrible effects on my four now grownup children; professional issues with selfish co-workers at one job and a controlling sexual relationship at my other; and my kids’ friendship issues dealing with best friends committing suicide, being shot and killed and the list goes on. All these situations affected me greatly and I was overwhelmed and not able to function well within my various roles.

I remember hearing my counsellor say that it’s a good thing that I didn’t have any addictions because I would be very unwell given all this on top of my childhood trauma. This was very sobering.

At the end of my cycle through this program, I believe I have a deeper, clearer understanding of myself and why I freeze in certain situations and succumb to other peoples’ desires of me. This knowledge helps me lay down my fears and assert myself more directly in these difficult situations. While I have much more work to do in changing my life, I have hope for a better tomorrow. 

Thank you, Tamara, you are an angel walking amongst us with your healing touch!

- MG

​Our Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre offers free one-to-one counselling to people who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence or childhood sexual abuse. Our all-female team of counsellors have several years of skilled experience working with trauma survivors. Clients see the same counsellor for all their sessions so that a trusting relationship can be built over the 18 therapy sessions. Our skilled and reputed counsellors provide confidential and compassionate care to help individuals heal.
 
We serve:

• All genders and sexual orientations
• Ages 12 and older
• With or without OHIP coverage
• With or without immigration status

​TO KNOW MORE: https://www.schcontario.ca/schc-sexual-assault-and-domestic-violence-care-centre.html

BY RENEE ALLEN
Child and Youth Health Program Facilitator
Health Promotion

The deaths of George Floyd and Regis Korchinski-Paquet left people questioning how they can support the fight against police brutality and anti-Black racism in Canada. Though your feelings are valid, emotions are fleeting. Let your pain, anger and frustration fuel actionable steps towards change.

Allyship is not a performative action restricted to the moments after the Black community has been harmed by systemic racism. “This is a movement, not a moment” has been shared widely throughout social media. This sentiment is true. Long after the news cycle stops covering Black Lives Matter protests, the Black community still has to deal with systemic racism’s daily effects. This includes higher rates of police brutality, high school suspension and poverty.

Black Lives Matter is not a political statement. It is the acknowledgement of a fact not reflected in cases of police brutality. Allyship and advocacy are not buzzwords. They are the everyday actions people take to stand in solidarity with the Black community.
​
1. “Ally” is an action word
​
An ally is someone who takes actionable steps towards addressing anti-Black racism. Allyship involves doing the work that makes you worthy of the title. It is an internal reckoning - an opportunity to self-reflect and examine how your actions have harmed the Black community. This may be through macro-aggressions, stereotyping etc. Being an ally is essential to dismantling systemic racism.
​
2. Learning and unlearning are an ongoing process

It’s important to understand that learning isn’t a destination – it’s a lifelong process. After self-reflection, it’s essential to recognize the gaps in your understanding of anti-Black racism and systemic inequalities. If you are uncomfortable, that is a sign of growth. Sit with your discomfort and question where that feeling stems from. Ask what ideologies and worldviews inform your beliefs about the Black community as well as what it means to get rid of them. Who are you without internalized anti-Black racism?  For every harmful idea about race you leave behind, fill that space with books, articles, videos and other resources that help question your prejudices.

3. Speak out against anti-Black racism
​
Anti-Black racism lives in our bodies (as internalized racism – e.g. thoughts), institutions, workplaces, places of worship and every other public space we occupy. Nowhere is exempt from the effects of racism. When you see instances of anti-Black racism, you should call them out. Your voice may shake or you may not use the perfect words but silence is not an option. Speak up and out.

4. Find your stride as an advocate 

Be mindful of the space you take up as an ally. Your main focus should be to amplify the voices of Black people instead of centering yourself in conversations about race. Whether you participate in protests, sign petitions or financially support Black community groups – small, intentional actions accumulate towards the larger goal of long-lasting change.

5. Advocacy starts at home and spreads outward, to the larger community

It’s important to have those difficult conversations about racism because the stakes are too high not to. I am Black every day. I don’t have the option of opting out of how anti-Black racism affects my everyday life. Allies should prioritize Black lives over their discomfort by engaging in conversations with family members, friends, colleagues about systemic racism. Start a book club or share articles that spark discussions on your WhatsApp groups.
​
Tackling systemic racism and anti-Black racism seems like a big task. Let the hope of what we can do together silence the parts of you that think you can’t make a difference. You can make a difference. You are the difference – be an ally today, tomorrow and every day after that. Black lives depend on it. Black Lives Matter.

#BlackLivesMatter #SCHC #SCHCIsStillHere

BY ARIFAH YUSUF
Child/Youth Health Program Coordinator
​Health Promotion

After the tragic killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, people from across the world expressed their outrage and acted to challenge systemic racism that has impacted mostly the black and indigenous community for many years.
​
Systemic Racism is real and exists at every level of society. It is a form of racism which is embedded as regular practice within society or an organization, creating disadvantage and exclusion. It can lead to such issues such as discrimination in criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other issues. Many black, indigenous and people of colour encounter systemic racism daily, whether it be policies in institutions that create barriers to success or limited access to equitable support systems. 

The most recent census data from 2016 shows that Black Canadians face far steeper economic challenges than white Canadians and other racial groups. For example, Black Canadians make significantly less money than non-racialized Canadians regardless of how long their families have lived in Canada. In 2018, Black Canadians were more likely than any other racial group in Canada to be the victims of a hate crime, according to data reported by police. (Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.) Black Canadians are nearly twice as likely as non-racialized Canadians to be considered low-income. (Source: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population).

According to Statistics Canada, 52.2 percent of children in the foster care system are Indigenous, despite only accounting for 7.7 percent of the population. Black and Indigenous peoples in Canada are disproportionately over-represented in prisons and jails across the country. As students, they face harsher discipline in schools and are suspended at a higher rate than white students. In Toronto, the country’s largest city, black residents are 20 times more likely to be shot by police. (The Guardian, June 14, 2020).

BY RHEA TONY
Communications Intern

​At Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC), we believe that not all heroes wear capes, instead they put on masks and gloves for the safety of everyone in the community.
​
In a proud accomplishment, a joint partnership between Scarborough Retirement Residence (SRR), Kohn Management Group and SCHC’s Assisted Living program over 100 goodie boxes have been delivered to SCHC Assisted Living Program clients at 4175 and 4205 Lawrence Ave E. This initiative is titled ‘Love-in-a-Box’ and focuses on caring for the isolated seniors and elderly who live away from their loved ones and have been impacted even more by the quarantine measures of the pandemic.  SRR residents initiated this project and the faces on our seniors is evidence of how touched they were by the caring put into the gifts.  The homemade quilts were especially a great hit!

BY RUCHIKA WADHWA, RD, CDE
Diabetes Dietitian Educator
Diabetes Program​

​These are strange times indeed. Amidst the global pandemic many are housebound. While putting home-cooked meals on the table could be challenging, these unprecedented times also act as a good opportunity to improve your diet, expand your cooking skills, or even lose a few pounds. Infact, this is an excellent time to start.  
 
Regardless of where you are on the healthy eating journey, consider working toward a positive dietary goal while social distancing. Doing so can help improve your nutrient intake, your energy level and your mood and strengthen immunity.  
 
Where To Start?
 
By stocking up properly, you can eat healthy even when indoors. Being well stocked on healthy foods is just the first step. Take an inventory of what’s there in your pantry, fridge and freezer with their best before date. Make a shopping list to fill in the gaps. Get value for your $$$ by buying healthy foods and not filling up on empty calories and processed foods.

• Stock up on non-perishables like dry beans, lentils and their flours, quinoa, farro, cracked wheat, nut butters, unsalted nuts, hummus, whole grain crackers, roasted chickpeas and edamame.
• When buying produce, buy fruits and vegetables with varying ripening time to prolong the shelf life and reduce visits to the grocery store. You could even wash, clean, dry and freeze these in small portions or buy frozen fruits and veggies and keep those handy.
• Fresh cuts of lean or extra lean meats, fish and tuna are a better option than the processed versions which are loaded with sodium and fat.

Make sure, when you go grocery shopping, it is after a meal else you may accidentally find yourself a proud owner of the snack and pop aisle. 
 
What's Next? 

Whether you are working from home or are on a break, ensure you start your day with a wholesome, nutritious breakfast. If you start the day with nutrition in mind, you are likely to plan the rest of your meals and snacks with the same intent. This shall give structure to the diet for the rest of the day. “Structure?” Yes, you read right. Eating a well-balanced breakfast including whole grains, fruit and/or veggies, milk/alternative and a protein of choice helps keeps us away from unnecessary grazing through the day.

• Eggs and egg whites along with veggies of your choice can be tossed into an omelette or into waffles and combined with fruit, milk and whole grain bread.
• You could make a spread with avocado, herbs and spices and serve it on whole grain bread along with some Greek yogurt topped with fruits.
• You could also soak groundnuts/peanuts in some water and blend with a banana and eat it for those rushed mornings when the conference calls/ huddles are start soon

​Make Plant-Based Proteins A Staple 

Including plant-based proteins in your diet is an environment friendly, pocket friendly, sustainable food choice. Plant proteins are loaded with fibre important for gut health, heart, diabetes and weight. Additionally, they provide antioxidants and protective phytochemicals.

• Excellent sources of plant proteins include beans and lentils and their flours, tofu, tempeh, edadame beans.
• Beans such as kidney beans, black beans could be used to make vegetarian chilli, veggie meatballs and burgers.
• Simply, toss some in a green salad or blend chickpeas and lentils to make hummus, falafels. 
• Pancakes, who doesn’t like them…try bean and lentil flours stuffed with finely chopped or shredded veggies to make savoury pancakes minus the sugary syrups that shall add inches on the waist.
• Use tofu to make a scrambler, kebabs or add to stir fries; roast chickpeas to make a heathy, crunchy snack. There is so much you can do with beans to make fun, exciting, meals and snacks.

Visit www.lentils.org or www.pulsepledge.com to find mouth-watering recipes using beans and lentils. If feeling bloated after eating beans and lentils is your concern, ensure soaking beans and lentils, draining the water and using fresh water while cooking and yes, also maintaining adequate hydration since plant proteins are rich in fibre. 
 
Watch Your Portions: 
 
Making healthy food choices doesn’t give us the permit to eat unlimited quantities. Portion control is very important. If weight loss is your goal, use this time to get a handle on your portion sizes. 

Use measuring cups to portion out cooked grains, pasta, noodles and teaspoons and tablespoons for cooking oil and seeds. If you prefer using an eye-ball estimation, keep cooked grains, potatoes to your fist size; cooked meat, chicken and fish to the size of your palm and veggies filling 1/2 your plate. Consider serving your meal on a luncheon-sized plate (7 to 9 inches in diameter). 
 
Practice Mindful Eating: 

While you are at home, you may find yourself frequenting the fridge and cabinets more often - this may be out of sheer boredom or just trying to seek comfort in food. Take time to eat and enjoy your meals. Put down your cutlery between mouthfuls and chew thoroughly. Pay attention to the color, aroma, taste and texture of your food. Avoid distractions such as television, talking on the phone. Eat until you feel satisfied, not full. 
 
Remember, food is meant to be used as fuel for our bodies. If you’re using it for any other reasons, take a step back and ask yourself, “What’s up?” 
 
This is an excellent time to build a new routine for yourself and family around a healthy diet, that you can feel confident about maintaining when we emerge from this.           ​

The Occupational and Physiotherapy team at IPPC often ask their clients about what activities they enjoy most. Chronic pain and many other life situations can cause people to stop doing the things that they enjoy the most. This in turn drastically reduces their quality of life.
​
The best thing that one can do to manage their chronic pain condition is to return to these activities or do an easy version of them as quickly and as safely as possible. Not only are these activities motivating and help ensure that you continue moving, they also often help your body release endorphins which are also called the “happy” hormones and make you feel happier and act as natural painkillers in your body. Taking up new interests and hobbies is also a wonderful way to bring joy and movement into your life.

Of course, with chronic pain there is often a hesitation about engaging in activities out of fear of re-injury or making the pain worse. This is where a therapist comes in. You can work with your OT and PT team to figure out how to adapt these activities and ensure a safe and more comfortable transition.  Here are some ideas of gentle activities to help get you inspired: 

• Tai Chi
• Gentle Yoga
• Gentle Dance or Aerobics
• Walking
• Playing Music
• Playing with Kids
• Chair Exercises
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Aqua Fitness
• Gentle Pilates
• Gardening
• Creating Indoor and Outdoor Art and Craft Projects
• Knitting or Sewing

TAKE THE QUIZ BELOW TO FIND OUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN:

​I've worked in the field of community-based healthcare, death, dying and bereavement for almost 30 years. I learned a lot about grief & resiliency; from the death of my mom when I was a young adult to numerous friends, colleagues, volunteers and clients who died of HIV in the 90s. When COVID-19 hit, many of us who lived and worked through the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis felt an uneasy familiarity with the world as we know it turning upside down. 
 
Many of you are now collectively experiencing a global disruption of norms the likes of which you’ve never before experienced. In grief theory, it’s called the shattering of the assumptive world. Even if it hasn’t been a loss due to death, we have all been experiencing different kinds of losses. The world as we know it has been irrevocably changed. 

​It’s traumatic and disruptive; you may have heard people lately talking about the collective trauma responses we are having – the flight, flight or freeze phenomenon. The constant living with uncertainty and stress in our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits is wreaking havoc on our systems. This is also true about the experience of grief. And just like we all grieve uniquely, we will all have our individual responses to this shattering experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Bereaved people, isolated seniors, folks who are marginalized and those used to being “helpers” may be feeling an additional layer of stress, anxiety and grief at this time. Usual outlets which give so many a sense of meaning and purpose have been curtailed: your volunteer and community work suspended, not being able to gather with friends/family in the same way and even connecting with colleagues at work or school will have changed dramatically. So I invite you to:

• Be gentle with yourself: this is a strange and confusing time for all of us and we are doing our best to figure out how to live into this new normal 
• Slow down and take lots of deep breaths: being grounded is so important in the midst of constant change and uncertainty
• Let yourself feel/be: it’s okay to have a wide range of thoughts and emotions, try to embrace them with the same compassion you would extend to others who are struggling
• Practice mindfulness: present moment awareness is needed now more than ever when none of us knows from each day to the next what the future will bring.

 
Finally, seek beauty every day. Focusing on gratitude is a great counter-balance to the challenges we are now all facing. Stay safe. Take care of yourselves and each other.

To hear more from Betty Ann, go to her webinar: 
When Helpers Feel Helpless youtu.be/T1iupEmkN6U        

The webinar was originally geared towards frontline workers and volunteers in both the Hospice and HIV/AIDS sectors, but would be relevant for anyone who sees themselves in a “helping” role. The webinar offers:
• Some context for why people may be feeling helpless
• A reframe of how to think about roles
​• 3 concrete tips for learning to live into the new normal

BY AMY AU,
Registered Social Worker
SCHC

While millions of Canadians stay home to keep safe and help flatten the curve of pandemic, many victims of domestic violence found their home to be more dangerous than ever.  Many experience a greater threat as they are confined to their homes with their abusers.  In an interview with CBC News1, Maryam Monsef, Canada's Minister for Women and Gender Equality, says that the COVID-19 crisis has empowered perpetrators of domestic violence as consultations reveal that abuse rates are rising in parts of the country (CBC news, April 27, 2020).  According to a survey about COVID 19 impacts done by Statistics Canada in March and April 20202. One in 10 women say that they are “very or extremely concerned” about the possibility of violence in their home.
 
S. is living with her partner and children.  She is scare whenever her partner is around.  He criticizes everything she does, the way she cooks, the way she cleans, the ways she walks…  He blames her for everything that goes wrong.  He tells everyone that she is a bad mom.  He criticizes all her family and friends, saying that they are no good to her.  There were a few times when he was drunk, he hit her hard.  S.gets a breakwhen he is out to work or when she takes her children to the community centre.  The “Stay at Home” order brings a heavy storm to her life.  There is no place for S.  to hang out. He was laid off.  Now he stays home all the time.  He brings home more liquor….
​

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.  Behaviors can include the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation.
 
According to Canada Department of Justice3, there are many forms of violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, financial abuse and neglect.

1. Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a person without that person's consent. It can cause physical pain or injury that may last a long time. 
2. All sexual contact with anyone without consent is a crime. This includes sexual touching or forcing sexual activity on a spouse, a common law partner or a dating partner. Even when married, a spouse cannot be forced to have sexual contact. 
3. Emotional abuse happens when a person uses words or actions to control, frightens or isolates someone or takes away their self-respect.    
4. Financial abuse happens when someone uses money or property to control or exploit someone else. 
5. Neglect happens when a family member, who has a duty to care for you, fails to provide you with your basic needs.

 
It is not always easy to tell at the beginning of a relationship.  Some of the signs of an abusive relationship include a partner who might:

• tells you that you can never do anything right
• controls every penny spent in the household
• discourages you from seeing friends or family members
• threaten to hurt you or your children
• threaten to have you deported from Canada
• threaten to take your children away from you
• force you to do things you do not want to do sexually

 
Suddenly, you find it hard to make decision.  You start to doubt your own ability.  You find yourself penniless.  You do not want to meet people.  You are isolated.  You feel depressed and trapped.   You feel helpless and hopeless!  

It is very common for people who experienced domestic violence to have mixed emotions, including fear, confusion, anger, or even being numb and not feeling much of anything7. You may feel guilty or shameful.  You may try to minimize the abuse or hide it by covering bruises and making excuses for the abuser. 
 
There are long term mental health effects on people who experienced domestic violence4, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.  If you are easily startled, feel tense or on edge, have difficulty sleeping, or have angry outbursts; if you have trouble remembering things or have negative thoughts about yourself or others; if you are feeling depressed; if you are anxious about everything which interferes your daily life, you can get help from a mental health professional.
 
Please remember that you are not alone. 
 
If you are in immediate DANGER or fear for your safety, please CALL 911.  Police are still responding to domestic violence calls.  Police stations are still open for walk-ins for domestic violence victims.
 
Many services are available to you, including counseling, shelters, financial help, legal assistance, etc.  If you don’t know where to start, you can call the Assaulted Women’s Helpline (416-863-0511) which offers a 24-hour crisis line for emotional support, information and referrals, etc.; or you can call the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, at 647-479-9611.
 
You can also find many helpful resources online.  Remember that your computer can be monitored by your abuser and is impossible to clear your tracks completely5.  However, you can erase two things on your computer browser to reduce the chances that someone can find out what you have been reading online:

1. Cache: this is where the computer stores copies of files you recently looked at with your browser.
2. History List: this is a single file containing the addresses of the places you recently visited.

 
Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities is also here for you, right in your community.  Our experienced counselors in the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre, Inter-professional Primary Care Team and Community Health Centre are able to provide support and counseling, offer options and help you navigate through the services.  Call us at 416-642-9445.  Our friendly staff will direct you to the right program for help.  We keep your information confidential.
 
 
References

1. CBC News, April 27, 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/domestic-violence-rates-rising-due-to-covid19-1.5545851
2. Statistics Canada, Concerns expressed by Canadians about COVID-19 impacts, March and April 2020, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200408/t001c-eng.htm
3. Canada Department of Justice, Family Violence, https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/fv-vf/about-apropos.html
4. US Department of Health and Human Services, Effects of violence against women, https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/effects-violence-against-women
5. Assaulted Women’s Helpline, Web Security- Erasing Your Tracks, http://www.awhl.org/social-media-web-security

 
 

By Ruchika Wadhwa, Diabetes Dietitian

During these unprecedented times of the pandemic, it makes sense to stock up on budget-friendly, non-perishable food items so that you don’t need to go shopping if you are unwell and minimize the risk of exposure to infection.

Firstly, take an inventory of what’s in your cabinets, fridge and freezer. This will help you plan your shopping list. It is easier on the supply chain and your available finances to gradually build up on your household stores instead of making large-scale purchases all at once. To do this, you can add a few extra items to the grocery cart every time you shop. 

Some tips and advice to follow when doing groceries:
1. Shop the perimeter, the healthiest options are all around the perimeter.
2. Got a few minutes? Browse the produce section more than you normally would, spend time looking at produce and buy the unbruised ones. Look for washed and bagged salads, baby carrots, cabbage in your grocery store.
3. Buy fresh produce in varying degrees of ripeness to allow for some ripening towards the end of the week.
4. Don’t shop when you’re hungry and always carry a list when you shop. You’ll be more likely to stick to your budget and nutritious food choices.
5. If you’re cooking that day, try buying manager’s special items or “unattractive” produce. They may be reduced for quick sale but still make a great addition to soups and stews.
6. Use store flyers to help you find specials.

If resources to buy food are a challenge, there are community supports available.  Please phone them and check your eligibility.
Scarborough Food Access
SCHC Food Bank
4100 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, M1E 2R9, 416-847-4147
 Christ Church 155 Markham Road, 416-261-4169 office@christchurchscarborough.com
Scarborough Food Security Initiative: Response To COVID-19
647-846-0300, scarbcares@gmail.com, Scarboroughfoodsecurityinitiative.com
Community Hamper Support (East, Central and West GTA)
416-969-8510, covid19hamperrequest@nativechild.org
Canadian Muslim Response Network
Sadaf Jafri, 416-867-7535, covid19relief.ca
Good Neighbour Project GTA
647-873-2230
5N2 Kitchens-Food for All
2050 Ellesmere Rd Unit 7b, Scarborough, M1H 3A9 416-551-0910 5n2kitchens.com
GTA Food Access
UHN Friendly Neighbour hotline - For seniors living in TCHC:
http://uhnopenlab.ca/project/hotline/
Online Help and Community Supports: Facebook Groups
The following is a list of Facebook groups where you can post to connect with others in the community to receive help.There are a lot of people offering to bring food to folks who can’t leave their house or who are having financial difficulty food and supplies at this time.
• CareMongering-TO: TO Community Response to COVID19
 • PALZ Trading Zone
• PALZ Helping Zone
• Homes for Queers
• Queer Exchange Toronto

Chalmers Bot 24/7 https://chalmers.app/
A web/phone app that uses your current location to find the closest free meal/drop-in/clothing resource/etc

Good nutrition and hydration are vital even more so now during the times of the pandemic. A well-balanced diet helps to strengthen immunity and lower risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases. So one should eat a variety of fresh and unprocessed foods and drink enough water daily.

​It is important to receive information from credible, trustworthy sources during this time. Dietitians are a regulated health profession committed to providing evidence-based advice and information that is tailored to your personal needs and challenges. Call SCHC at 416-642-9445 to book an appointment with a dietitian.