Fête Pulse with Hand Up Toronto: Doing Good
Interviewed and Written by Jennifer J. Lau
Photography by Hand Up Toronto
Founder of Hand Up Toronto, Jefferson Huang.
Time for unity
On a warm summer day, Fête Chinoise had the opportunity to speak with Hand Up Toronto Founder and entrepreneur, Jefferson Huang, about his charity initiative. As a Chinese Canadian, he has always felt called to help the world and his upbringing has taught him to take action.
He easily identifies himself as a Chinese Canadian having been born in Toronto and having very Canadian values and lifestyle paired with Chinese ethnic roots and love for heritage. Jefferson loves Chinese history, likely due to his family of origin. His grandparents have links to Guangzhou and Hong Kong and his dad spent time in Xi’an as well. His parents immigrated to Canada at a young age (18 and 21); they both worked very hard sometimes working more than one job to provide opportunities for their two children. At a young age they focused a lot on his academic performance.
On the current racist hate crimes against anyone who looks Chinese, Jefferson feels a mix of tangled emotions. He has had friends who were wearing masks being attached on the road with racial slurs, but they choose to ignore it. “There will come a time in history when people will reflect on this 2020 pandemic, like they did about the 2003 SARS epidemic,” Jefferson believes. But for now, it is time for unity. It’s more than being the model minority. And he continues to put his best foot forward and through his charity, Hand Up Toronto.
Where did Hand Up Toronto begin?
Recalling how it all began, Jefferson candidly shares: “Hand Up Toronto started one day with just an idea when I woke up in the morning in 2014 thinking why my friends and I were not using everything we have learned in school and applying it to solve issues in our own backyard. I hosted a wine and cheese event the same week inviting my friends and former classmates at my tiny shared one-bedroom condo in Toronto and the idea of Hand Up Toronto was born. We officially received Canadian Charity Status within 2 months of becoming a non-profit — unprecedented approval time by any charity.”
Helping others has always been something Jefferson believes in. He shares with us how his time at church and Sunday School each week until high school helped him to build a sense of faith and community — which his father desired for him to cultivate as well. Eventually Jefferson earned his CPA designation while articling at PwC (2018) and obtained his Master in Management Analytics from the Smith School of Business - Queen's University in 2016. He also served on student council during his undergraduate career at the University of Western Ontario (2012). He always found a way to give back to his community.
Through Hand Up Toronto, Jefferson’s short term goal is to feed 18,000 families. In the long term, he hopes the charity will be a fixture in Toronto by building out a community centre providing services to anyone who needs a “Hand Up.”
“Hand Up Toronto started one day with just an idea when I woke up in the morning in 2014 thinking why my friends and I were not using everything we have learned in school and applying it to solve issues in our own backyard. ”
How does it work?
Hand Up Toronto uses technology and data mapping to find the neighbourhoods with the most sign-ups and head to a site nearby to deliver. Because of COVID-19, more precautionary measures are being taken. They use a set of analytics to create the greatest impact on a single run. About 18,000 families sign up and the organization generates a heat map in relation to poverty. After finding these clusters, the organization sets up a window for these families to come and pick up groceries.
How can you help?
Volunteer
They are always looking for volunteers to help, whether it’s from home or on site! There are ways to assist in the the organization through a computer or packing boxes and delivering them to the families directly. Please contact them here to learn more.Donate Food
Please contact the organization directly about arranging any food drop-offs!Donate Money
The organization would appreciate monetary donations because they are able to purchase large volumes of food from wholesalers and supermarkets with these resources. Donate here.
Don’t wait to act!
