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

by Nick Saul, Andrea Curtis

The #1 national bestseller and inspiring story of how one young man took the reins of a dilapidated inner-city food bank and opened up the good-food revolution to everyone.
     In 1998, when community worker Nick Saul became executive director of The Stop, it was like thousands of other food banks, offering canned handouts in a cramped, dreary, makeshift space. Today, it is a thriving, internationally respected "community food centre" with gardens, kitchens, a greenhouse, farmers' markets, and a mission to revolutionize our food system.
     In telling the remarkable story of The Stop's transformation, Saul argues that we need a new politics of food, in which everyone has a dignified, healthy place at the table. The Stop is a fresh and timely story about overcoming obstacles, challenging sacred cows and creating lasting change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Social Justice, Canada, Food and Drink, Social Commentary, Environment

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

NICK SAUL was executive director of The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto from 1998 to 2012 and is a recipient of the prestigious Jane Jacobs Prize and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. He is now president and CEO of Community Food Centres Canada, an organization that will bring the innovations of The Stop to communities across Canada. www.cfccanada.ca

NICK SAUL and ANDREA CURTIS (an award-winning writer and editor) live with their two boys in Toronto.

Reviews

[Deidre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy insane in love. rocking my paradigm. changing how I conceptualize my work in a food pantry & on an organic farm. my worlds are colliding & I'm inspired.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in years. I actually cried at multiple points (non-fiction! about a food-bank-turned-community-food centre!)and was cheered and inspired by the time I got to the last page. Really well written, engaging and compassionate without pulling any punches when it comes to the kind of changes we need to make to our policies and communities to make sure everyone has access to sustainable, nutritious food, no matter their level of income.
Read it.

[LibraryReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nick Saul chronicles his years spent as director of The Stop, a community food center in Toronto, Ontario that reinvented itself by starting several innovative programs to combat poverty and hunger while building community in the process. Read this book and be inspired to create change in your own neighborhood!”

Melissa DeWild, Kent District Library, Comstock Park, MI

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stop Many of us at seeing pictures of the elderly, adults out of work or poor people and starving children  say we wish we could help, that there was more we could do.. Nick Saul did more than just talk he acted. This is his story, the story of a successful movement to bring good food and nutrition to everyone. His first entry init this was a building in the projects of Toronto. He believes that everyone should have access to fresh food regardless of status in life and where one lives.
 
From there he acquired more spaces, room for gardens, classes, bringing people together over food and so much more.  I love Jamie Oliver and his attempts to make school lunches more nutritious, bringing the public's awareness to just how bad those lunches were in regards to the childhood obesity statistics. He has a small part in this book, which I loved.
 
I would have rated this higher, but the last part of the book just took on a preachy and smug quality that did not for me go over well. Yes, Saul did something great, but I am old school and still believe in a bit of humility. 
 
 
A very interesting book, it is well worth the read just to see how something like this gets started, what all is involved and how happy it makes so many people.

[Mara Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storytelling and visionary action are Nick's strengths and he makes things happen -- both at The Stop and now at the Community Food Centres Canada.

Looking at a food bank model of "Beggars can't be choosers", the Stop (a wonderful food centre in Toronto) revolutionized the way they served those who were in need. Food needs to be GOOD, it needs to be provided in ways that empower and respect those who need it, and community needs to be built around the food. So there are no beggars, just neighbours who need food. The paradigm is shifted to "Everyone needs good food" and good food is consistently provided.

A role model for the work that Loving Spoonful does in Kingston, this is inspiring and setting the agenda for revolutionizing the way Canadians increase food access, work with those who are currently in need of food, and build community. Well worth reading! And when you're done -- come work with us to increase access to healthy food and community around food! www.lovingspoonful.org

[Suzanne F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: 4.5 stars.

My colleagues at work were discussing Nick Saul in relation to one of the projects that we were currently working on and the work of Community Food Centres Canada. I had never heard of Nick Saul prior to this and I gobbled this book up in a day and a half. It is a compelling read for anyone working, or hoping to work within the anti-poverty movement.

This book deals with food and hunger, but Saul's real interest is not solving hunger. Hunger is a symptom of the larger problem that is poverty. Food, is one medium by which communities can engage and stand in solidarity with those trying to survive within the poverty imposed up them. As Saul notes, solidarity and inclusion, not charity via a top-down engagement model, are the real methods by which we could end poverty.

I plan on buying this book soon, I recommend you do too.

[Natashya KitchenPuppies · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is intimate and encouraging, at times heart-breaking but ultimately you will be cheering for The Stop. Not only that, but I bet you will be thinking of ways that you can get involved in your local community.

See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring and very readable book about food, health, poverty, urban planning and development. The authors (Nick Saul and his wife Andrea Curtis) introduce us to unforgettable characters who come together in Toronto and transform one of the city's neighborhood food banks into a community centre where the whole community is included and can be themselves, and eventually evolve into a movement of awareness of how access to healthy, fresh, local food promotes health, better lifestyles, and social networks.

Their insights into sustainable social activism, social work and organizations that are aiming to help less privileged people have relevance for those working with youth, displaced immigrants, those involved in the justice system, victims of domestic violence and other trauma. Highly recommend

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stop is the story of a food bank in a low-income area of Toronto that became more than just a food bank. but the start of a movement to bring good quality food to all communities. One of the big concerns with the modern food industry is that low-income people don't have access or the income in order to eat healthily which leads to health issues as well as other issues (the chapter where the authors describe living off a food bank hamper for a week is very telling), meanwhle so much food goes to waste. Food banks have been a band aid since they were introduced in the 1980s - they were only supposed to be temporary. This was a very eye-opening read and good reading for anyone that cares about social justice.

I won a copy of this book on Twitter.

[Donna Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stop is a highly detailed account of the development of the Toronto Community Food Centre. This work integrates three weighty issues: the lack of healthy food for low income families, the need to elevate food as a social justice imperative, and the failure to recognize the dignity and worth of all humankind, regardless of societal status. Author and The Stop executive director Nick Saul urges faith and secular institutions to move beyond the food bank philosophy to a consideration of initiating changes at the root level of poverty and hunger. The Stop has inspired me to implement some changes in my church's effort to care for the food and financial insecure residing in our church neighborhood.

[Toby Mustill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book laying out a road map for a different way to look at food security. The idea of Foodshare and community food initiatives is championed by Nick in this book and it is laid out exactly why this is the best approach to dealing with food insecurity in western communities. Although Nick acknowledges that concepts like “The Stop” are not the be all and end all, they are a massive step forward to creating independence and skills that will allow people to succeed moving forward.

[Jessie Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read. I originally borrowed it from a friend but had to buy my own copy so I could highlight and mark up all the important parts. I can tell this will be a book I come back to many times in my life when I need motivation and encouragement to make sure that what I’m doing in my life is meaningful.

[Karl Dockstader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really moving reminder that the mission and the journey need to be connected. I think this is an important read for anybody working in a helping field. Great perspective on food security from one of the leaders of this movement.

[Cassandra Trach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read to understand food security and poverty close to home (Toronto, Ontario). Food banks were always meant to be temporary. Yet we are okay to let people starve and let our government off the hook instead of making real social policy changes.

[Ling Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring read if you're into healthy food and social justice.

[Rachel Lovins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ignited a passion in me for food justice for ALL PEOPLE. That everyone deserves the right to nutritious food, healthcare, housing, and a living wage, as well as dignity.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world needs more Nick Saul's. Someone with different ideas and the guts & doggedness to see them to fruition. Providing dignity to those who so often get ignored let alone disrespected.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but I eventually got tired of the author’s self righteous tone.

[Deena · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One person's weed, it seems, is another's delicacy. In fact, as I'm beginning to realize, food is never just food."

[Emily Onufer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stop is told from the perspective of Nick, the executive director of a Toronto food bank with a bleak future. This non-fiction account of Nick’s experience and the Stop’s subsequent transformation into a thriving community center brings an interesting perspective to the modern food discussion. Nick covers important topics related to food, hunger, and poverty, including social change, the shame of accepting a food handout, the growth of big agriculture, and the need for a total revitalization of the food system. The main theme that ties this book together is the idea that “food banks” will never be a solution to the problems of hunger and poverty, and we instead need to look towards “community food centers” as a potential long-term fix.

“….large-scale conventional farms are heavily subsidized by governments, and the real costs – to the environment and to our health – are paid by the public later on down the road.” 201

“What about the problems, the costs, the consequences – environmentally, health-wise and socially – of industrial food and agriculture? What about the worldwide obesity crisis, an issue intimately connected to the growth of the fast-food and processed food market and the powerful effect of junk food marketing? Or food safety scares like mad cow disease and listeriosis, E. coli in hamburger meat and bean sprouts that are forcing people everywhere to question industrialization, centralization and the speed and efficiencies demanded by a system that is focused on profit alone? What about arable land all over the earth being destroyed by monoculture and poisoned by chemicals, forcing farmers and their families into poverty and debt? Or environmentally vital rainforests being razed to make way for pasture land for cattle? What about the way that cheap processed food is making people everywhere sick? What about the one billion people in the world who are hungry?” 262

[Karleigh Kimble · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stop, written by Nick Saul with assistance from Andrea Curtis, is an intriguing story about how a community in Canada came together to help out those in need by providing healthy food, slightly used clothing, a place to talk, a year-round garden, and several other life changing opportunities. Since the book takes place over 13 years, Saul and Curtis express several themes including the importance determination, volunteering, and strength as well as the notion that hard work really does pay off. Personally, I felt as though the authors genuinely captured the essence of what a food bank is by providing personal stories about those less fortunate in The Stop’s location. This made the book enjoyable however, after 320 pages of similar stories; it became immensely repetitive near the ending. Saul and Curtis’s writing style is laid back and straight to the point, making the overall message easy to understand. However, in order to enjoy this book you must be interested in healthy eating or community involvement due to the fact that the majority of the story is related to those topics. Not interested in topics relevant to that? This book probably isn't best suited for you. After reading this for a school project, I would not recommend this title for school curriculum because there are better, more influential options for teaching the impacts of community support and volunteering. Although, if it was made into a movie, a stronger sense of emotion would be brought out in the audience which could make the stories described in the book more memorable on screen. With that being said, I would give The Stop 3 out of 5 stars.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and inspiring book. Nick Saul takes over as the director of a food bank in a rough area of Canada. He knows that the people they serve need more than a food basket once a month - especially when a lot of that food is high-calorie/low-nutrition processed food. Over fifteen years he takes The Stop from a small food bank to a model organization for a better way to help get better foods into the hands of the people who need it the most. The Stop begins growing a garden to introduce more fresh foods into the hands of the people they serve. They also start offering nutrition classes for pregnant women, cooking classes and demonstrations, and so much more. It's really amazing what they are able to accomplish in a relatively short amount of time. Saul is honest too about the problems and set backs - the realities of doing the work that they do. There are lots of success stories, but there are also the people they try to help who go back to their old ways. I think the idea of food banks incorporating gardens is a great idea and helping the people who use them learn more about how to grow and cook healthy food is vital. Overall, this was an inspiring book about how food banks and how they can be transformed in the future.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up in the Greenbelt of Southern Ontario, where fresh, tree/vine-ripened produce was the norm, it wasn't until I was in university that I ever considered the problems associated with food deserts, a phenomenon that occurs more frequently in poor, urban neighbourhoods. Even though I started being interested in sustainable agriculture, organic food, and ethical food choices before university, I found myself becoming more aware of these issues and some problems associated with migrant workers and their poor-working conditions in Canada because of the info I was exposed to during my undergrad and even more so during my time as a grad student. Now, working at a vegan, organic food company, even more awareness of food politics has become ingrained in me.

Despite how concerned I am with food, this book - The Stop - has made a big impact on me. This story of the new director of The Stop and his 15 year tenure, and how his own concerns and that of the community inspired big change not only in the organization, but also in the lives of community members, volunteers, and resto diners. Some parts are a little dry, but overall, it's a very compelling argument and highly recommended to anyone concerned with food / food politics.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you work in an area as agriculturally rich as the area where I live, you become a little spoiled. You have access to wonderful fresh produce on a regular basis, and you get to know the farmers and their families. You know what's in season, and if it's been a good or bad one, and you probably have a dozen recipies for fabulous food from great sources. However, it also means that reading a book like The Stop makes the lack of availability of fresh produce to many lower-income families hit you that much harder. The Stop is an absorbing read by Nick Saul and Andrea Curtis that brings to light the need for healthier options and programs to provide those in need with skills and support to feed their families in the best possible ways. Saul's experiences with The Stop and the couple's joint belief in building a better community food system is inspiring and absorbing.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains about the paradox of how the people living in poverty need food pantries, but how food pantries are not the answer to the lack of food for the poor.

Nick Saul does a good job of cutting the fat, salt, and sugar in the diets of those in needs. In contrast, I found the book in need of trimming some fat--no pun in tended. To be honest, I only wanted to learn about The Stop, the people who work there, the people who are helped there, and a little bit of background. Instead, I found the amount of research material to be a little overwhelming. While I do appreciate the amount of time and effort it took to compile this information, I believe the book would have been more enjoyable to read with a lot less data, and more stories about the real people who benefit from the program.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gets an A for effort. The Author is an amazing, visionary guy. This is a story of how a young, inexperienced man with a background in non-profit turns a foodbank into an amazing organization. In fact, he redefines the foodbank into a whole new creature. Lots of acronyms, a whole boatload of do-gooders and wonderful people coming together to create something special in Toronto (to start) and then in Canada as a whole. As typical with this sort of story, we have to go through a fair amount of boring administrative details, but the real people that are touched and the winning philosophy makes it an interesting read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stop is a fascinating story of the evolution of a community food bank in Toronto. Fulfilling a need in low income communities, food banks typically distribute non perishable canned goods...which in itself are high in sodium and not necessarily a healthy option. Through a fluke opportunity a community garden was started by a group of volunteers in a neighborhood park. This one little garden caused a positive change to the way In the community. From schoolchildren started the seedlings in their classrooms...neighbors volunteered their time...classes on food preparation were offered to the community...just an amazing story.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

" ... big food companies are privatizing profit and socializing cost - reaping the monetary rewards of cheap, processed, fuel-intensive food and passing the cost of the health and environment fallout on to the public purse."

An inspiring book with several important messages. Including also that voting with our wallet is not enough since the poor then have no voice.

My one complaint is its generally a slog to read as the writing is quite flat. (goes against me calling it inspiring I guess, yet I still found it so.)

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent book on how we might improve the plight of the poor. However he seemed to have lost sight about the fact that some cannot be helped. For example the woman who came with children from S. America to escape an abusive relationship. She had no money so I must supposed she walked here? She had nothing to offer Canada so is she here legally? Anyway she managed even with all the help and support she was given to find herself, and unfortunately her poor children another abusive relationship. This book is worth a read.

[Susan Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortlisted for the Evergreen 2014 award, this is an important book for people to read. For those who are interested in community, and issues relating to food, health and social justice, this is a book that one should take the time to read. It is a book to make us think, to give us some perspective, to encourage and to motivate. If you think that food is "just lunch", you especially need to read this book!