Serving meals, music, and more to a community in need

Walking around downtown Toronto can, at times, be a powerful reminder of the need for services of organizations like Out of the Cold. Operating out of a network of participating agencies, churches, and synagogues city-wide in Toronto, they provide warm clothing and a hot meal to those in need—a mission that sounds simple but goes a long way in helping provide much-needed dignity and compassion to the guests they support. One location, St. Andrew’s Church, is just across the street from the Toronto Doane Grant Thornton office. It stands as a powerful reminder of the need for Out of the Cold’s services. It’s why the National Office’s Greater Purpose Committee has supported them with an annual $30,000 donation for the last two years.

The number of people served by Out of the Cold has grown year over year, and as costs rise, it’s become increasingly challenging for this non-profit to continue their vital work. Every Monday night, from November to April, they serve quality hot meals in a warm, comforting environment.

Michelle Posner, Director, Community Programming, shared, "The idea is to serve meals that they would be proud to serve family and friends. Out of the Cold goes the extra mile by offering live music and having volunteers available for guests to chat with to help build a sense of connection."

In addition to the Monday night dinners, year-round Tuesday morning breakfasts support local residents past the winter months. They also run an Out of the Cold boutique, offering clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other supplies like sleeping bags and blankets. 

For the last three years, our National Office has supported in various ways beyond donations. They’ve hosted volunteer nights, inviting colleagues to volunteer at the Monday night dinners, and supported their book drive and fundraiser with volunteers and donated items. Each year, Toronto colleagues participate in holiday gift bag packing, one of our National Office’s most popular volunteer opportunities. Before the holidays, 30 colleagues packed 450 gift bags to be distributed on the last Monday of December. Each bag was custom-made and included necessities as well as treats for the holiday season. Some colleagues have been so inspired that they volunteer on their own with the organization’s regular programming.

A deep relationship has been built over the years.