Aangen: a Circular Economy Rooted in Dignity
Aangen is a not-for-profit social enterprise with a bold and transformative mission: to disrupt cycles of poverty and injustice through holistic, sustainable solutions that uplift individuals and communities across Ontario. For over 25 years, Aangen has embodied what it means to be a truly values-driven organization: rooted in principles of purpose over profit and committed to creating an impact that is lasting, measurable, and meaningful.
At the heart of Aangen’s work is a belief in the power of employment as a pathway to stability, dignity, and empowerment. Their operations are intentionally designed to support marginalized individuals—including those experiencing housing insecurity, poverty, or systemic barriers to employment—through wraparound support and inclusive hiring practices. Every Aangen team member is housed, food secure, and supported by an in-house social worker who provides individualized assistance to meet diverse needs. From Presto card top-ups to ensure access to job-related transportation, to emotional and social support that acknowledges the full person, Aangen builds employment models that care deeply for the people behind the work.
Aangen operates a wide range of interconnected services that reflect a true circular economy. Their zero-waste cleaning services provide reliable jobs for vulnerable individuals, while their food enterprise focuses on sustainable, plant-based meals made with rescued ingredients—reducing food waste while increasing access to nutritious food. In addition to fresh meals, Aangen creates shelf-stable, dehydrated meals that are easy to transport and ideal for serving remote or underserved communities. These meals are nutritionally sound and designed to meet the urgent needs of food banks, shelters, and social service organizations across the province.
Through their “Chance for Change” Employment Services, Aangen partners with housing facilities to create supportive job placements in cleaning and meal preparation. These opportunities give residents a chance to build job skills, earn income, and take steps toward greater self-sufficiency in a supportive, trauma-informed environment. For many participants, these roles provide an essential first step into the workforce—often after long periods of instability.
Aangen’s commitment to sustainability also extends to soil health through its partnership with worm composting systems that convert food scraps into rich, fertile compost—closing the loop between food production, consumption, and regeneration.
With support from the Fair Finance Fund, Aangen is now expanding its operations to meet the growing demand for its plant-based, shelf-stable meals. This includes new packaging, recipe finalization and lab testing to ensure safe distribution, the development of a cost-effective line of products for food banks and community organizations, and new marketing materials to engage supporters and partners.
Aangen is at a tipping point—the result of years of careful planning, experimentation, and deep community engagement—and is scaling in a way that is intentional, equitable, and sustainable.
Their impact reaches far beyond the individuals they employ or feed. Their work models what a just, inclusive, and circular economy can look like in practice. With this new phase of growth, supported by the Fair Finance Fund, Aangen continues to bring its vision to more communities, create meaningful employment, and ensure that food security and economic opportunity are accessible to all.
