Tamogo Supports Thousands with Food and Community in North York

“It’s nice being at Tamogo, because it feels like home,” Sharifa, lead volunteer at Tamogo, shared. “It’s only here that I feel like I belong somewhere. We’re giving back to the community, but still it’s like we’re giving ourselves back to us.” 

That feeling of home is something many people describe when they walk through Tamogo’s doors. Located in North York, the organization now serves more than 5,000 clients with wraparound support including legal and settlement services, employment services, housing support and access to food. 

Founder Alicia Nyamde estimated that Tamogo’s partnership with Second Harvest helps bring more than $20,000 worth of rescued food to the community every month. 

“We get a lot of produce,” Alicia explained. “Fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, snacks for kids, meat. It’s always a mix, there’s always a surprise and we’re always looking forward to it. We just can’t wait for the truck to get here.” 

Alicia started Tamogo in 2019 to support newcomers to Canada. As a social worker and settlement worker, she saw firsthand how vulnerable many people were when they first arrived. 

“I noticed that a lot of newcomers coming into Canada were being taken advantage of,” Alicia shared. “I felt as a social worker and a settlement worker, I needed to do my part to help.” 

She explained that immigration status can increase people’s vulnerability, leaving them more susceptible to scams and exploitation. 

As Alicia and her team began their work in North York, they quickly realized that the need for food support was just as urgent, affecting not only newcomers but also low-income individuals and families across the broader community. 

“With our food bank, it’s very diverse,” Alicia shared. “People come from all walks of life.” 

At first, the organization used its own resources to purchase food and often faced the heartbreaking reality of having to turn people away. The financial strain soon became overwhelming. 

Determined to find a sustainable solution, Alicia began researching options for food support.  She found and joined the Second Harvest Food Rescue App and soon after, the direct delivery program. The impact was immediate. 

“Now with the food that we get, we’re not just able to help the people who are coming into the Tamogo Foundation, we also support a school nearby and a local group home with the food we get from Second Harvest,” Alicia shared.