City of Toronto Christmas Bureau;

If you are looking for individual or family assistance, you can contact

a)your local Salvation Army Branch, church group or community organization.

OR

b)As of November 1st, you may also try contacting the City of Toronto Christmas Bureau at 416-392-3601, and they will attempt to link you with an agency that can apply on your behalf. They have a network of agencies for each neighborhood in Toronto. They will serve anyone in need and are very friendly.

Toronto Star Gift Boxes;

Toronto Firefighters

For Francophone Families:

You need to become a member/client in order to access the services. You also need to be a francophone (does not matter if you are a resident of Canada for services below). Allow some time for support to be set up. Contact Catherine Tambu [number is below] and she will provide you with further information.

Free children's clothing counter (children 0 to 12 years)

Francophone families who live on a low-income or who are newly arrived in Toronto may use the clothing services counter where they can get free new or used clothing for their children from 0 to 12 years of age. Shoes and toys are also available.

The clothing counter welcomes donations of new or used clothing for this same age group.

The clothing counter is open on appointment Wednesday afternoons at 22 College St.

Information or donation drop-off: Catherine Tambu, Social Worker, 416-922-6624, Ext. 235.

Christmas baskets

We wish everyone a very happy festive season. The team at the Centre francophone makes sure that disadvantaged francophone families will be able to enjoy it as well.

A few days before the beginning of festivities, we distribute Loblaws grocery vouchers to Toronto francophone families through the Christmas basket program.

If you know of a family in need or wish to make a donation, contact:

Catherine Tambu, 416-922-2672, Ext. 235

Norbert Piché, 416-203-1220, Ext. 234

Laurence Makanda, 416-203-1220, Ext. 231

Food Banks

Food banks provide free, emergency food for people in need. Call the food bank before you go. Each food bank has different hours and days that they are open, and most serve people in their immediate neighborhoods only. They will ask you for identification or something with your name and address on it. To locate a food bank or food program in or around your neighbourhood, you may call:

FoodLink Hotline: 416-392-6655

Foodlink also provides information on community gardens and kitchens, meals-on-wheels programs, pet food banks, and nutritional information.

Daily Bread Food Bank 416-203-0050

If you have any problems getting help at the food bank or if you don’t have required documents to access food, contact Maureen Tracey, Director of Agency Relations at Daily Bread.

If the Daily Bread Food Bank is closed, you may try calling 211 to locate a food bank near you.

There are approximately over 200 emergency food programs in Toronto. The following agencies have confirmed that they do indeed serve non-status people. Most are located in the west end

The STOP Community Food Centre

Office phone: (416) 652-7867

Fax: (416) 652-2294

E-mail:

Website:

Address: 1884 Davenport Rd, Rear Entrance, Toronto, Ontario, M6N 4Y2

Mail Address: Box 69, Stn E, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 4E1

Location: Toronto West (Lansdowne Ave-Davenport Rd)

Area served: St Clair Ave W-Bloor St W; Dovercourt Rd-Keele St

Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 * drop-in Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 9-3 * food bank -- Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 12 noon-3 * breakfast -- Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 9-10 * lunch -- Mon, Thu 12 noon-1 * community kitchen -- Tue 10-12 noon * Healthy Beginnings -- Wed 9:30 am-1 pm * community gardens and other kitchens -- call for hours

Language of service: English, Spanish

How to apply: Drop in

Fees: Free

Physical access: Wheelchair accessible -- call for details

Service description: Community food centre providing services, programs and advocacy to address the problems of food access and hunger * most programs initiated and developed by participants * open to community ideas for use of resources * member of Daily Bread Food Bank

Morning drop-in * community dining * afternoon drop-in and food bank * community gardening * community kitchens * Healthy Beginnings -- prenatal nutritions and support * Good Food Box distribution -- see separate entry FoodShare * advocacy with welfare, landlords and other agencies * information and referral

Syme-Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre

Food Bank

Office phone: (416) 766-4634

Fax: (416) 766-8162

Website:

Address: 190 Woolner Ave, Basement Recreation Room, Toronto, Ontario, M6N 1Y3

Location: City of York (Jane St-St Clair Ave W)

Area served: Jane/Woolner, Eglinton/Keele

Hours: Tue, Thu 9-12 noon * closed 1st full week of month

Language of service: English, Spanish, Polish

How to apply: Identification required

Service description: Food bank (member of Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank). Food is distributed by appointment Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 am to 2 pm.

Food Bank also located at main office at 2468 Eglinton Ave. West (Eglinton Ave W & Keele St.)

Oasis Dufferin Community Centre

Office phone 416-536-3197 ; 416-536-4431

Fax 416-536-0122

Email

Web site

Address 1219 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON, M6H 4C2

Location (Intersection) Toronto West (Dufferin St-Dupont St)

Hours Mon-Thu 8:30-3:30

Area served Food Bank -- St Clair Ave W-Bloor St W; Dovercourt Rd-Lansdowne Ave * also Bloor St W-Dundas St W; Rusholme Rd-Brock Ave

Languages of service English ; Spanish

Fees Registration fee for courses

Physical access Not wheelchair accessible

Service description Community centre serving diverse groups including Spanish-speaking community * settlement, counselling, orientation, life skills for immigrants and newcomers * information and referral including referrals to women's shelters * interpretation, translation, escort * job training courses * spiritual counselling * advocacy for social assistance * Spanish-speaking seniors programs focusing on social, physical and spiritual needs

Office phone: (416) 530-1302

Fax: (416) 530-0816

E-mail:

Address: 22 Pauline Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 3M8

Location: Toronto West (Dufferin St-Bloor St W)

Contacts: Doris Martin, Assistant Director

Area served: Emergency food -- Dupont St-College St; Ossington Ave-Lansdowne Ave

Hours: Emergency food, clothing -- Tue 10:30-3pm

Language of service: English

How to apply: Call first for clothing.

Fees: Free, or nominal fee when able to pay, small donations.

Physical access: Not wheelchair accessible * street parking close to entrance

Service description: Emergency food, material assistance -- when available, clothing.

Rainbow Information and Social Services

Office phone: (416) 531-6701

Crisis phone: (416) 531-6701

Fax: (416) 531-8390 Call first

E-mail:

Address: OssingtonAvenueBaptistChurch, 720 Ossington Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6G 3T7

Location: Toronto West (Ossington Ave-Bloor St W)

Area served: Greater Toronto Area and beyond

Hours: Mon-Fri 10-4

Language of service: English, Korean * some interpretation available for other languages

Eligibility: Anyone with low-income and in need

How to apply: Call for appointment

Fees: Free

Physical access: Not wheelchair accessible

Service description: Settlement services * information and referral * counselling * anger management * translation and interpretation * seminars and workshops * information on Korean culture and community

High Park Baptist Church Outreach Ministries

Office phone: (416) 534-4225

Fax: (416) 534-5453

E-mail:

Contacts: Donna Bartlam, Administrative Assistant

Address: 9 Hewitt Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 1Y4

Location: Toronto West (Roncesvalles Ave-Dundas St W)

Area served: City of Toronto * food and clothing bank -- Bloor St W-Lake Shore Blvd W; Lansdowne to St-Parkside Dr

Hours: Food and clothing bank Tuesday 10:30-1:30

Office: Tue-Fri 9:00-4:30

Language of service: English

How to apply: Drop in or call

Fees: Most services free

Physical access: Street level access to building but not to many programs

Service description: Food and clothing bank * English as a Second Language (ESL) conversation Thursday 7:30-9 pm * summer day camp and sports for children * counselling ministry -- individual, marriage and family counselling by appointment

Scott Mission

Office phone: (416) 923-8872

Fax: (416) 923-1067

E-mail:

Website:

Address: 502 Spadina Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2H1

Location: Toronto Central (Spadina Ave-College St)

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5, Sat-Sun 8:30-12 noon * some programs after hours

Language of service: English, Cantonese, Farsi, French, Greek, Italian, Ilongo, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Sinhala, Vietnamese, Zambal

Eligibility: Men and women 16 years and over * children and youth 1-1/2 - 17 years * varies for different programs

How to apply: Contact intake worker * identification required

Physical access: Street parking

Service description: Hot meal Monday-Sunday at 10:30 am and 11:30 am * also daily bag lunches at 2 pm and 7 pm

Men -- clothing * Sunday morning worship * films, outings, games, Bible discussion group -- call for times * counselling * support groups * overnight shelter Monday-Sunday from 7 pm-7 am -- capacity 45, supper and breakfast included (pre-register at Men's Ministry Department intake office 7 pm) * evening drop-in centre -- Monday-Friday, October-May * laundry and shower facilities -- call for times * foot clinic * first aid, primary health care Monday-Friday -- call for times

Women 416-923-8872 -- by appointment * emergency clothing and food, including baby food and formula * layettes for newborns * household items, bedding * supportive counselling and referrals * Christmas hampers * Ladies Fellowship Thursday afternoons *Bible Study groups in English, Spanish, Filipino, Russian & Seniors

Women and Family Food and Clothing Bank 416-923-3916 -- by appointment only, emergencies accepted * Monday-Friday 9:30-11:45; Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday 1:30-4 * for women and their families and single fathers with custody of children

Children and youth -- after school and weekend clubs * summer camp at Caledon * licenced child care * fees, subsidies available

416 Drop-In

Office phone: (416) 928-3334

Fax: (416) 928-2044

Address: 416 Dundas St E, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 2A8

Location: Toronto East (Parliament St-Dundas St E)

Hours: Mon-Sun 8-4 * open statutory holidays

Language of service: English, Filipino, Korean, Portuguese

Eligibility: Women 16 years and over, including women who are transient, homeless, socially isolated or single mothers

Fees: Free

Physical access: Not wheelchair accessible

Service description: Drop-in crisis centre * laundry and shower facilities * case management/ mental health crisis intervention * recreation and craft activities * breakfast, lunch * clothing * telephone * food bank, call for details (member of Daily Bread Food Bank) * medical clinic -- Tuesday, Thursday afternoons * anger management * trusteeships * outreach services including drug prevention * liaison with other community agencies and government services

Salvation Army. Community and Family Services

Bloor Central Family Services

Office phone: (416) 532-4511

Website:

Address: 789 Dovercourt Rd, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 2X4

Location: Toronto West (Dovercourt Rd-Bloor St W)

Contacts: Lynne Fisher, Family Services Worker;

Cheryl Frampton

Hours: Mon-Fri 9-12 noon, 1-4 * food bank -- Mon, Wed 9-12 noon, 1-4; Fri 9-12 noon

Language of service: English & French

Area served: Lawrence Ave-Lake Ontario; BathurstSt-HumberRiver

How to apply: Call for appointment -- proof of identity, address and income required

Service description: Emergency material assistance including food, clothing, household effects as available * adult fellowship Tuesday 10:30-1 * Moms & Tots program Wednesday 10-11:30 * Thursday lunch 11-4, dinner 6-8 * Christmas assistance program * residential summer camp for children

Society of St Vincent de Paul

Office phone 416-364-5577

Fax 416-364-2055

Email

Web site

Address 240 Church St, Toronto, ON, M5B 1Z2

Location (Intersection) Toronto Central (Church St-Dundas St E)

Hours Mon-Fri 9-4:30

Area served Greater Toronto Area

Languages of service English

How to apply Call for referral to nearest Conference for appropriate services

Service description Referrals to food vouchers, clothing and furniture

Fort York Food Bank

Office phone 416-203-3011

Fax 416-203-3275

Web site

Address 797 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1V2

Location (Intersection) Toronto West (Bathurst St-Dundas St W)

Contacts Mike Schoonheyt, Program Coordinator

Hours Food Bank -- Tue, Thu, Fri-Sat 11-3 * Community Drop-In Centre -- Tue-Sat 10-3

Area served Bloor St W-Queen St W; Yonge St-Dovercourt Rd * Queen St W-Lake Ontario; Spadina Ave-Strachan Ave * other areas if no local services

Languages of service English ; arrangements can be made for some other languages

Eligibility Individuals and families with low incomes, based on need

Fees None

Physical access Wheelchair accessible -- call for details

Service description Food bank -- 3 day supply of groceries

Community Drop-In Centre -- counselling * legal assistance * advocacy * resume writing, job readiness workshops, interview preparation for unemployed or underemployed * referrals * income tax preparation * form filling * clothing and book exchange * access to computers, telephone, fax, Internet * life skills * computer training * resource library * sandwiches, snacks, meals, coffee, juice * nutrition classes * community garden