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Food security has been a growing issue in the city for more than a decade. Last year, a high number of residents were accessing food banks, that number has increased during COVID-19. Originally the city did not allow community gardens to open due to social distancing rules, as gardens were not seen as a necessity the same way grocery stores were. A petition to reopen community gardens was created and signed by other community gardens and community members that deemed gardens essential. The city soon realized that food is a necessity whether from a grocery store or a community garden and that communities need food security during this time.

Historically, the community of Malvern has experienced an oversaturation of processed foods and limited access to affordable healthy food options. In 2009 a Malvern resident - with support from the community - started a garden in the back of their apartment building that sparked a local movement of residents preserving local green spaces to grow healthy, culturally appropriate food.

Now, Malvern has three community gardens supported by the Malvern Family Resource Center, and coordinated by members of the resident-led Malvern Food Security Work Group. The first is The Malvern Children Garden created for youth and children to grow and learn. The second is Little Roads Community Garden for hobbyists where a portion of their harvest is donated back, and the third is the communal Nelson Park Garden where 100% of the harvest is donated back to the community.

It is estimated that food insecurity affects almost 1 in 5 Toronto households. In the past few months, food pantries have been showing up in various communities throughout the GTA under the communal project Toronto Little Free Pantries. The pantries are made available for anyone in need of food supplies, and have provided an opportunity for community members to give back through labour and/or donated goods.