These are the most needed items at Toronto shelters this holiday season
Are you looking for ways to give back to the community in Toronto this holiday season?
If you’re interested in making a difference in someone’s life during the holidays, there are a few ways that you can do so.
Here is a list of community agencies in the city that support those who are vulnerable, and may be experiencing homelessness.
Central Toronto
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre
Clients: Primarily homeless men, but women and couples are served at the Rexdale location.
Items needed: Personal hygiene items, socks, toques and mittens, household items for those moving into housing; kitchen, bathroom linen, towels, cleaning supplies, sweaters and warm shirts in all sizes.
Address: 973 Lansdowne Avenue
Drop-offs: 24 hours, seven days a week
Good Shepherd Ministries
Clients: Homeless and at-risk men
Items needed: Personal hygiene items, socks, toques and mittens, household items for those moving into housing; kitchen, bathroom linen, towels, cleaning supplies, sweaters and warm shirts in all sizes.
Address: 973 Lansdowne Avenue
Drop-offs: 24 hours, seven days a week – please arrange a drop off time
Salvation Army Gateway
Clients: Homeless and under-housed men ages 21 years and older, as well as women and men of all ages from surrounding communities
Items needed: New men’s underwear, men’s shaving products, winter boots and waterproof shoes, winter gloves and mittens, hair brushes and combs.
Address: 107 Jarvis Street
Drop-offs: 24 hours, seven days a week
Sojourn House
Clients: Homeless refugees, refugee claimants, newcomers
Items needed: Children’s toys for ages one to 14 years old, grocery store gift cards, hygiene products, winter clothes and coats, loaded Presto Cards.
Address: 101 Ontario Street
Drop-offs: Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm
Eva’s Initiatives
Clients: Homeless youth ages 16 to 24
Items needed: Gift cards, iPads, headphones, flip flops, perfume or cologne, pyjama sets, bath towels.
Address: 401 Richmond Street W., Suite 245
Drop-offs: Please arrange a drop off time
East York
Kennedy House Youth Services Shelter Program
Clients: Homeless youth
Items needed: Video game consoles, gift cards for Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Shopper’s Drug Mart, or any other youth-friendly locations.
Address: 1076 Pape Avenue
Drop-offs: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm
Red Door Family Shelter
Clients: Homeless families, refugees, women who are fleeing from violence
Items needed: New winter accessories; hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks, new toys for ages 6 to 12 years old, gift cards for grocery and discount stores.
Address: 21 Carlaw Avenue
Drop-offs: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm
YWCA Davenport
Clients: Adult and youth female-identified, transgender, non-binary, gender-fluid
Items needed: Scarves, mittens, hats, jackets, socks, boots, hot thermoses, gift cards.
Address: 1684 Queen Street East
Drop-offs: Please email to arrange for a drop-off time
Etobicoke
Youth Without Shelter
Clients: Youths experiencing homelessness
Items needed: Winter boots, coats, sweatpants, t-shirts for all genders and in all sizes, Black hair care products.
Address: 6 Warrendale Court
Drop-offs: Please email to arrange for a drop-off time
North York
Bethlehem United Shelter
Clients: Homeless adults
Items needed: Socks, underwear for men and women, toiletries, towels, blankets, pyjamas.
Address: 1161 Caledonia Road
Drop-offs: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 8 pm
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul – St. Clare’s Residence
Clients: Women ages 25+
Items needed: Dishwashers, refrigerators, laundry appliances, mattress covers, bath towels, single bed sheets.
Address: 3410 Bayview Avenue
Drop-offs: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm – please arrange a drop off time
Scarborough
Warden Woods Community Centre
Clients: Homeless individuals of all ages
Items needed: Toiletries, hats, scarves, gloves, undergarments, winter jackets, socks, sleeping bags, toys, board games, tablets.
Address: 74 Firvalley Court
Drop-offs: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 2:30 pm
The Salvation Army Maxwell Meighen
Clients: Adult men
Items needed: Winter jackets, winter boots, sweaters, pants and socks in all sizes.
Address: 50 Estate Drive
Drop-offs: 24 hours seven days a week
York
Horizons for Youth
Clients: Homeless and at-risk youth: 16-24 years old
Items needed: Gift cards in $5-$10 amounts for coffee chains, McDonald’s, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Walmart, new pyjamas, sweatpants or leggings, sweaters and hoodies, underwear for both females and males in all sizes.
Address: 422 Gilbert Avenue
Drop-offs: 24 hours seven days a week