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

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