Team Development Activities in Toronto: Volunteering With The Daily Food Bank

Daily Bread Food Bank

Team development is a great way to strength your team, build stronger bonds, as well as improve company and employee morale. So getting your team out for an afternoon outside of the office can actually be great for productivity! At VA Partners we know how important it is to have a strong team so we searched for team development activities in Toronto. We decided to do this by volunteering and came across The Daily Bread Food Bank.

Yesterday, Mark, Steve, Shelley and myself all spent the afternoon helping out at DBFB, it is Canada’s largest food bank, providing food to those who are hungry in the community. Although we went as a company (minimum fourx people required), individual volunteer spots are also available. Every team member at VA Partners is given a certain amount of days per year to volunteer, putting volunteer efforts at the top of our list.

After volunteering together as a team, we highly recommend that any company gets their employees together to help out a cause within or outside of their community. Although many companies love the idea, the main concern comes down to time; they just cannot find an afternoon to dedicate to non-work related tasks. Volunteering, although it may not be considered company time, is time when a team can work together and get to know each other beyond the office. It allows for team building while at the same time, helping a good cause. Just like employers look for well rounded employees, customers look for well rounded companies. A company with involvement outside of their own expertise – such as volunteering at a food bank – is much more attractive than those with no experience within the community.

Along with our team’s work at the DFBD, one of our co-founders, Mark Elliott, hosts an annual curling tournament to raise money for a charity called Farm Radio International. Mark’s grandfather started the fundraiser in 1970s and Mark continues it to this day. Farm Radio International is a Canadian-based, not-for-profit working with approximately 330 radio broadcasters in 39 African countries working to fight poverty and food insecurity. The fundraiser not only brought in $3,500 during the last event in April, but also brings in old classmates, friends, family and colleagues. Although the tournament is focused on raising money for African countries in need, it is another great way to get to know people and to make connections.

If you’re looking for a place to have your team volunteer all together, or looking for a few individual spots in the morning, afternoon or a full day, get in contact with the Chum City Christmas Wish during November and December. I volunteered time last November for a day and it was amazing to see how many people dedicated their time to helping put presents under the tree for kids across Toronto and the GTA.

Dedicating one afternoon of volunteering every quarter is a small price to pay. For more information on The Daily Food Bank visit their website, or get in touch with our team.

If you’re an avid curler, or have an interest in participating in the next curling tournament benefitting the Farm Radio International, get in touch with Mark Elliott for more information.

Team Development Activities in Toronto: Volunteering With The Daily Food Bank