The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement

Saul, an enthusiastic advocate for food policy reform, along with his wife, writer and editor Curtis (Into the Blue: Family Secrets and the Search for a Great Lakes Shipwreck), tells the story of how the Stop, a small food bank where Saul served as executive director, was transformed into a vibrant community food center, breathing new life and energy into a downtrodden Toronto neighborhood. (The Stop has since been become Community Food Centres Canada, serving people across the country, with Saul as CEO and president.) Here, Saul argues that traditional ways of providing for low-income communities through food banks aren't sufficient, supporting his argument through his experiences with the Stop, which didn't just simply offer food to its members but rather gave them opportunities to become advocates for themselves and provided a welcoming place for everyone in the community. He shows the difference that a more holistic approach, one that engages those it serves, can make, and his story is infused with his strong belief that it's our moral responsibility to address poverty and hunger. While the tone can be a bit preachy at times, overall, this is an uplifting and exciting book about a community that has undergone real change.