The Redeemer

The Common Table

About Us

The Common Table Drop-In Program is a grassroots community effort run out of Church of the Redeemer, which relies on volunteers and donors. We are open for both indoor and outside service from Monday to Friday. Indoors, we offer two healthy meals a day, daily toiletry supplies, basic health care services and housing referrals. We also provide social and creative activities, psychotherapy, support groups and more.

In response to COVID-19, we began to offer outside services such as meals and washroom and phone access. We also began going out on the streets beyond the church building with carts, seeking others who might need help. Many were served this way, and so we will continue to make available both the outside meals and the outreach carts.

We connect with 80 to 100 people each day, through meals and the meeting of other basic physical necessities. Even more significantly, we offer a place of peace, where stories are shared, voices are heard, and relationships are established. In short, Common Table is a community to belong to.

We are grateful for our neighbourhood partners, donors, advocates and volunteers, who make our program possible.

Watch our video to see us in action: Common Table – Community Update – YouTube

Donate today by clicking here

Schedule

INDOORS
Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
We will start with a light breakfast, with lunch being served from 10:00 to 11:15. Social activities will be offered throughout the morning.

OUTSIDE
Monday – Wednesday
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
We will distribute take-away hot meals.
Thursday – Friday
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
We will serve a light breakfast (porridge, yogurt), coffee and takeaway sandwiches.
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
We will start the mobile outreach with carts visiting key locations around Bloor St.

Volunteering/Support

We have a number of different opportunities for people to become involved as volunteers. These include food preparation or serving, shopping, donation pick-ups, friendly conversation, group facilitation, nursing care, muffin and sandwich making (from home or on site), and sorting. We adhere to strict COVID safety protocols and also ask that our volunteers are at least double vaccinated to protect our community. New volunteers are welcome.

Volunteer Application Form - The Common Table

Please answer the questions down below to apply to be a volunteer at The Common Table.
Are you interested in helping on site? If so, please know that you must participate in an orientation, trial shifts, ongoing educational and training seminars, and be subject to a police check and COVID vaccine requirement. Also, you MUST be available during weekdays, as our program operates Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 1 PM. Generally volunteers help one day per week.(Required)
What on-site opportunities are you open to helping with? Check all that apply. If you are interested in helping off-site, skip this question.
Would you be willing to work on special computer-based projects at home? (you would need access to a computer, be comfortable doing research, creating documents, etc.)(Required)
Would you be willing to make sandwiches from home? (you would need a clean working area, proper refrigeration space, and the ability to purchase and donate the supplies needed for 20-30 sandwiches at a time)(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

In-kind Donations!
Donations of various kinds are always appreciated. We keep a small clothing closet for emergencies and are often in need of the following items.

  • T-shirts Men’s Medium, Large, & XL
  • Pants Men’s sizes 30 to 40
  • Hoodies & Sweaters Men’s Medium, Large & XL
  • Jackets Men’s Medium & XL
  • Men’s Winter Boots Sizes 8 to 14
  • Men’s Underwear Medium, Large & XL (new please!)
  • Women’s Underwear Medium & Large (new please!)
  • Toiletries: Razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, travel-size shampoo, soap, lotion, toothpaste
  • Sleeping bags

Financial support will be gratefully received through CanadaHelps.

Common Table Community Advocacy

Invitation to Advocacy

We at Church of the Redeemer are deeply committed to social justice ministries along with our outreach to the marginalized, most visibly through Common Table. Throughout the pandemic, dedicated staff and volunteers have maintained a continuous service of feeding and caring for people experiencing homelessness, supported by your financial contributions.

While continuing to respond to basic needs, members of Common Table staff advocate within the neighbourhood and beyond for the concerns of the marginalized.

We want to expand our advocacy reach to connecting with owners and staff of nearby businesses and being a strong voice in speaking with politicians. We would welcome your support in this vital advocacy work. Writing letters to representatives from all three levels of government will amplify our voices and concerns and increase the possibility of action on the part of governments. Letter-writing is an action people can make from home. Please join in this initiative and help make a difference to the most vulnerable among us.

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