Meet Lauren Isaacs
“I realized that God gave me another chance at life. I really believe that. It was up to me to choose what to do with it. Would I live selfishly again or give others who need help another chance?”
When Lauren Isaacs was 17 years old, she was in an accident that resulted in a major brain injury. After four years in recovery, Lauren made it her mission in life to give help to those in need.
“I realized that God gave me another chance at life. I really believe that. It was up to me to choose what to do with it. Would I live selfishly again or give others who need help another chance?” For Lauren, the choice was obvious.
With the help of her mother and brother, Lauren started OneMeal Inc. Based out of her home, Lauren, alongside her family and dedicated team of volunteers, prepares and gives out food packages to homeless people in Toronto every week. “We walk until we hand out every bag.”
“I get a lot out of it every week. I’m really blessed to be able to be a part of it. I feel as though I’m the one who receives the gift.”
Lauren understands that everyone needs help sometimes, and the people on the streets are no less deserving of our assistance. “It pulls at my heart strings to see regular people, just like you and me, who are down on their luck and having a hard time. We would hope, if it were us, that someone would be offering us help.”
The communities created amongst homeless people is part of what inspires Lauren’s work. “They’re so generous between themselves. It just shows that if, even when you have so little and still manage to share, all of us, who have more than we need, can do our part in sharing what we have.”
Homelessness is a major issue in Toronto. Over 300 thousand people use food banks every month. “People are really going hungry. It really gets to you. I see people on the street who aren’t eating, and I get to go home to a warm meal. It’s hard to avoid that.”
Hungry stomachs aren’t the only thing OneMeal Inc. fills. The volunteers leave satiated by the act of doing good. “It’s an unbelievable feeling, knowing that you helped alleviate a bit of stress and pain in their stomach.”
Lauren Isaacs is a part time student at York University studying History. She started OneMeal Inc. in 2015 and the organization continues to grow. The prepared packages are created all on a donation basis, and the organization is completely volunteer-run. Lauren hopes to continue this work and has a dream of one day opening a shelter or soup kitchen in Toronto.
Hungry for more details? Check out OneMeal Inc. on Instagram, Facebook, and their website to learn more.
Liked discovering this incredible person? Click HERE to meet more Jumans of Toronto.
Jumans of Toronto is a window into the lives and passion of Jewish young adults making their mark in the world. A 50-part series, Jumans is inspired by Humans of New York. If you’d like to recommend someone awesome to be highlighted, please send an email to adina@thehousetoronto.com.
Written by: Adina Samuels