St. James Food Basket

St. James Food Basket grew out of a request from a local community tenants association and was launched on February 7, 2007.  We are thrilled that it has grown into an inter-faith, inter-church and community partnership (scroll down for a list of partners).  The St. James Food Basket is open every Wednesday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm. to give a hand up to the 20% of our neighbours living at or below the poverty line, many of whom are children and seniors, the working poor and people with disabilities.  We are currently serving 180 families a week and over 2,100 people each month.  Volunteers and donations are greatly appreciated (see below for details).

Criteria for Receiving Food:
The St. James Food Basket will serve people living between the south side of Eglinton Avenue and the north side of Dundas Street, and between the west side of the Etobicoke Creek and the east side of Kipling Avenue.  To register to the first time, clients will need to show identification for each member of the family, proof of their address and income, and applicable expenses from among the following: rent or lease receipt, mortgage payment, taxes and utilities and any regular medical expenses.  We will also need to know of any medical conditions or allergies that require special food.  It is also important that clients bring bags or something in which to carry their food.

Donations Needed:
While our community partners, listed below, provide much of the food each week, we are always in need of canned fish of any kind, and personal care products such as toilet paper, sanitary products, diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc., cleaning products, pet food and Ziplock bags of all sizes.  Other desirable food products include canned fruit, cereal, pasta, beans and lentils, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jam, juice, powdered milk, tea and coffee,   Ensure , Boost or other such meal replacement products, salt and pepper, sugar and sugar free foods for diabetics.

Volunteers
Volunteers are welcomed in two hour time blocks on Wednesdays from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Please send us your name, telephone number and email address and we will follow up with you directly.

Community Partners:
The Food Basket is thrilled to have the support of the following partners:  Bloordale United Church, Graceview Presbyterian Church, Martin Grove Baptist Church, the Memon Community, Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church, Rehoboth Congregation, Renforth Baptist Church, Richview United Church, St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church, St. Gregory's Catholic Church, St. Luke's United Church, St. Philip's Lutheran Church, St. James United Church and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Canada Mississauga Office. Daily Bread supply most of the canned and dry food according to what they have available.  Second Harvest provide the basis for a hot lunch each week and an ever-changing supply of fresh food according to availability.  We also get weekly food donations from Bulk and Buy at Cloverdale Mall, the Canadian Bagel at Six Points Plaza, Future Bakery on North Queen near The East Mall, Galati Market on Burnhamthorpe, Loblaws on The East Mall at Burnhamthorpe Road, M & M at both Six Points Plaza and Eglinton at Lloyd Manor, and Morris Brown and Sons outlet at the Food Terminal on the Queensway near Park Lawn.  It is the generosity of so many that makes this possible.  We need to be equally committed to addressing the moral travesty that allows 900,000 people in Toronto alone, many of whom are children, to depend on Food Banks.