Recently fulfilled needs

We share the imaginary world of Sesame Street, talking trains and superhero pups with kids before they have a good grasp of the real world. We do this because books cultivate imagination and help expand our view of the world. All kids should get the chance to fly with a pixie or cast spells with a young wizard.

Amy is a new mom to a six-month-old baby. Life can be hard as a new mom, but it’s even harder if you’re 17 years old, living in shared housing and raising a child alone while trying to finish high school. Amy is working hard to become the kind of mom she wants to be, and with the help of the team at the Parkdale Parents Primary Prevention Program, she’s on the right path.

When it’s 20 degrees below zero and skins cells are exposed, that skin and the rest of my body feels damn cold. I’m likely not alone in feeling this, which makes me think a lot about homeless people in our community as I dust off my winter best.
The temperature is due to drop into the low single digits within the next few weeks. Making it just the right time for Troop to help out the members of Sistering, a multi-service charity, supporting socially isolated women in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.

The LA Centre for Active Living, a registered charity, has become a haven for marginalized, economically disadvantaged and disabled seniors, aged 55+. Their Food Rescue program hasn’t been the same since the breakdown of the Centre’s freezer in September. Without being able to keep the delivered food frozen, they can no longer accept perishable food items until the freezer is replaced. This creates a protein shortage for the seniors, who rely on the program.

For most families in Toronto, Halloween is the ultimate kids’ party: costumes, make-up, candy and staying up late – well, that is until the inevitable sugar crash hits! But for some families, the decision to purchase a Halloween costume for one night of fun is a luxury they just don’t have. Kids in these homes often experience stress and disappointment when they can’t participate in a party celebrated in school or daycare and by their friends.

It’s a harsh reality that human trafficking exists in Toronto, in our neighbourhood. But it’s a reality that can’t be ignored, particularly for the women struggling to escape that world. From online chat rooms to female recruiters placed in schools, the promise of fast cash for very little work can be far too enticing for vulnerable women. Traffickers prey on vulnerability, and once the exploitation begins these women are trapped in a world that is hard to escape.

Imagine stepping off a plane in a foreign country with no family, no friends and no possessions. Now imagine you’re 8 months pregnant. That’s the difficult situation Melat finds herself in after fleeing her home in Ethiopia. She arrived on Canadian soil on August 28th and her baby is due to greet the world at the end of this month. That’s not much time to get settled and prepared for a newborn. But heck, Troop members don’t shy away from pulling off a great Baby Shower in a matter of days – we got this!

At a time when most twenty-somethings are trying to get a job and figure out how to make french toast, Faith Wilson and Tim McConnell were working to fix a broken support system that lacked the services they so needed when they were growing up suffering from substance abuse. As transgender youths, they found themselves in a system grossly underserved by public health.

Arrabon House, in Parkdale, offers support services and housing to young women ages 13-24. Many of these women are survivors of abuse, trauma and mental health. Through a safe, healing environment, they empower young women to grow to their full potential. We’re throwing one of those women a party.

Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre (CONC) is a multi-service agency in West Downtown Toronto providing services for vulnerable community members.

Art For Cancer Foundation offers a range of programs from beginner workshops to more in-depth multi-week programs that ends with an art exhibition.

Camp Wimodausis is a specialized SNAP day camp for children ages 6 to 11 whose social and behaviour problems would otherwise prevent them from attending a summer day camp.

The program is highly-structured to maximize opportunities for success. In small groups of six, with two qualified counsellors, children learn to use SNAP to manage their behaviour, exercise self-control and resolve problems

reBOOT Canada is a registered charity that refurbishes donated computer equipment to provide non-profits, charities, and individuals, with access to subsidized technology, software, and training.

Matthew House’s primary goal is to restore refugees’ dignity by providing shelter and support in a welcoming, home-like setting. Many refugees arrive with little more than a small bag and need practical support. They ensure that their individual needs are met and empower refugees to restart their lives in Canada.

Through Ruff Times works to reduce barriers for people who experience poverty, homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges, violent living conditions and/or any other hurdles.