2,000 meals for the poor cancelled due to G20

Osgoode Hall program shuts down for the week, citing security concerns


Denise Balkissoon
Staff Reporter
For 12 years, Toronto’s poor have eaten in the tony recesses of Osgoode Hall.

The Lawyers Feed the Hungry program dishes out more than 2,000 meals every week — dinner on Wednesday and Friday, and breakfast on Thursday and Sunday. Diners also get a bagged meal to take with them.

Except this week, when the needs of international dignitaries trump the needs of the city’s hungry.

Although the corner of University Ave. and Queen St. is north of the official G20 security perimeter, the potential for traffic snarls and general upheaval has prompted Osgoode Hall to discourage non-essential visits to the building.

Which means its dining room wasn’t open Sunday for the 350 people that eat a breakfast, and will be shut Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

“The G20 is affecting more than our entertainment options and traffic patterns,” said David Bronskill, a partner at Goodmans who has volunteered with the program for a decade.

“This means that people who have to budget very carefully are not going to have a much-needed source of food and nutrition for almost 10 days.”

A spokesperson for the Law Society of Upper Canada said patrons of Lawyers Feed the Hungry were given $10 vouchers last week to cover food costs during the shutdown.


Response

I chose this article because it is really sad. All I see is more and more negative outcomes because of the G20.
Many people are suffering because of the G20 and its location. 2000 people are straving and possibly will be for 10 days. It is truely sad. I am in digust with what is happening. I am in disgust with the actions being taken. It has not only impacted the hungry it has an impact on entertainment and traffic. I have yet to see any positives of this event. I am sticking to the anti-G20 right about now.







http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/826618--2-000-meals-for-the-poor-cancelled-due-to-g20