RUC at The Out of the Cold Meal Program at Saint Luke’s U.C.
The Out of the Cold Meal Program at Saint Luke’s U.C. opened its doors in December of 2020 as an emergency response to serve those in need during COVID-19. The Program was designed to feed 350 people a week for a 6-month period. In April of 2021 when it came time to close the Program for the year it was serving 650 meals a week. The moral and spiritual obligation to continue serving our community members kept the doors open. Currently the Meal Program is in its 45th consecutive month of operation and has served well over 100,000 hot meals.
How the Program Distinguishes Itself From Other Out of the Colds
-it is the largest interfiath volunteer food intiative in the history of the City providing close to 800 hot meals a week to the community.
-it is not a seasonal program and operates 52 weeks a year. Hungry and houselessness do not end when the snow melts. These issues exist all year round.
-it operates twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays.
-it has an extensive outreach component. Almost half of its meals are served off site to those sleeping rough and living in encampments.
-it supports the lifesaving work of three overdose prevention sites: Moss Park, Regent Park Community Health Centre, and Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, by providing these sites with hot meals for their clients.
Compassionate Outreach Opportunity
RUC supports this Food Program financially, and now we have an opportunity to support the work in-person, with hands-on help. St. Luke's needs help with:
1) SANDWICH MAKING
They need 200 sandwiches/week that would make-up 100 bagged lunches containing 2 sandwiches per bag.
2) ORGANIZING THE CLOTHING DONATIONS & DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTHING
They need a separate team of volunteers to take charge of the clothing donations as well as distribution. This would entail coming in during the week to sort the clothing donations. There would also be dispensing of clothing to front-line organizations and on the days we are open to our guests.
3) MEAL SERVICE VOLUNTEER SHIFTS
a) The Meal Program operates on Sundays and Wednesdays. They have a prep shift from 1 to 3 p.m. which involves heating meals, bagging cutlery and getting things organized for the serving shift.
b) The serving shifts out front of Saint Luke’s is from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. Currently there is only a need for volunteers on Sundays.
c) They need drivers to bring meals to those in encampments and the clients of overdose prevention sites. New volunteers are asked to work a few shifts in the church first and are then partnered with an experienced volunteer. Having your own vehicle is beneficial but not essential. On Wednesday mornings from 10:30 to 12:30 drivers are needed to pic up meals from George Brown and bring them back to Saint Luke’s.
Interested? Rev. Dr. Kristin Philipson is forming teams to help this fall 2024! Email her at kphilipson@rosedaleunited.org
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