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
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
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