Things are going strong with our Tuesday and Thursday night outings and Sunday community lunches.
As the weather got colder, hot chocolate, extra sleeping bags and lots of hand and toe warmers thanks to a
kind donation from Kai at ihatethecold were given out. Our usual outreach spot (a few blocks north from Queen and University intersection) is undergoing major construction so it can be a bit of a challenge to park. Despite that, our friends in need are still there to greet us with a friendly smile on their face. Due to the extreme cold weather temperatures, we have increased the amount of street patrol we do. We patrol the streets to see if there is anyone staying outside that is in need. Often there are and we see them lying on street corners in the middle of winter can be truly heartbreaking. This is probably the most rewarding part of the job for our wonderful volunteers in helping our friends.
St. Margaret’s twice monthly community lunches are going wonderfully as well. It is all inside so our friends can warm up during this cold Sunday afternoons. We work together with some of their staff and volunteers. We often serve casseroles, salads, fruits, snacks, and a warm beverage. Recently, we were connected with a man named John who provides us with his most delicious Portuguese burgers from his restaurant, John’s Burger. He makes and cooks them for our friends. In the near future, Bobby from Bobby’s photography will be making Jamaican food. We serve 60 people there on an average Sunday.
We are also actively looking into expanding the program to help our local friends in South Etobicoke. We have begun making weekly scouting trips in the neighbourhood to help our local friends in the near future.