Ontario Central East Division

Cold Weather Care

Ontario Central East — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:37:10 +0000

Coping with cold weather is hard when you are homeless. From coast to coast, The Salvation Army offers many services to help people during bone-chilling temperatures.

“The Salvation Army is called to serve suffering humanity,” says Andrew Wilson, emergency disaster services Coordinator for The Salvation Army Maritime Division. “That includes helping the homeless cope with extreme temperatures and low-income families who are forced to choose between buying groceries or paying for the energy bill.” Throughout the Maritimes warming rooms, soup kitchens, outreach vans, shelter beds, heating assistance programs and practical help are giving hope and dignity to those in society who have met with hard times.

Wilson, a retired armed forces veteran, lives in Halifax. Every week, from November to March, he and a group of volunteers take The Salvation Army’s Community Response Unit to the downtown core where, in cold weather, the homeless tend to congregate. Hot, well-balanced meals and beverages, warm clothes, blankets, tarp and personal hygiene items are available for the taking.

“In sub-zero temperatures our team looks for people who need shelter,” says Wilson. “You find all age groups—people sleeping on heating vents, at ATM machines and curled up with cardboard boxes wrapped around them. We do our best to protect them.”

One evening, Wilson and his team discovered a young lady, with layers of clothing, resting her head on a garbage bag that contained all her belongings. They quickly discovered she was eight months pregnant and offered to take her to a shelter. “It’s like she was waiting for us to come,” says Wilson.

“But you always wonder about the hidden,” he continues. “There’s no way to get all of them.”

Toy Mountain Finale – December 22, 2011

Ontario Central East — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:41:39 +0000

Winner of the Toy Mountain Ford Focus Colt Davis… 156,425 toys donated! Thank You, Toronto and CTV!

See the photos on Facebook here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECrkN_k-gl4

Toy Mountain at Harbourfront Centre – December 21, 2011

Ontario Central East — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:39:25 +0000

We thank everyone for coming down to the rink last night at the Harbourfront Centre to help build a Mountain of Toys!! We invite you to follow us on Twitter @tsatoronto

See the photos on Facebook here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4D8i6E8Is

Toy Mountain at Dolphin Bingo – December 20, 2011

Ontario Central East — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:42:31 +0000

Toy Mountain thanks all those who came out to Dolphin Bingo and donated a toy. Over $15,000 was collected tonight so we can help close the gap in the toys we are short on. Thank you!

See the pictures on Facebook here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILF_066-nls

Toy Mountain at Pickering Town Centre – December 19, 2011

Ontario Central East — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:03:19 +0000

Thanks to our friends at Pickering Town Centre for helping us build a Toy Mountain!

See the pictures on Facebook here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAGynJkrJns

Toy Mountain at Markham Veterans – December 16, 2011

Ontario Central East — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:39:51 +0000

Toy Mountain visit Markham District Veterans Association to build a mountain of toys. Thank you for bringing smiles to many children this Christmas.

See the pictures on Facebook here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E43A5Ruan8s

City of Toronto Proclaims “Salvation Army Week” December 19-26, 2011

Ontario Central East — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:01:19 +0000

Toronto, ON – Monday, December 19, 2011 – Today Mayor Rob Ford on behalf of Toronto City Council has proclaimed December 19-26, 2011 as “Salvation Army Week” in the City of Toronto.

Mayor Rob Ford encourages everyone to support The Salvation Army this holiday season.

Proclamation: http://www.toronto.ca/proclamations/2011/salvationarmy2011.htm

See the pictures from the proclamation on Facebook here.

About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international faith-based organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and every day in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. News releases, articles and updated information can be found at SalvationArmy.ca

Astral Media Donates to Toy Mountain

Ontario Central East — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:54:55 +0000

Thank you to our friends at Astral for donating $2,500 to help build a Toy Mountain!

Toy Mountain at North Thornhill CC – December 15, 2011

Ontario Central East — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:52:50 +0000

We thank all of our friends from Thornhill who came out to help build a Toy Mountain!

See the photos on Facebook here.

Toy Mountain at Best Buy – December 14, 2011

Ontario Central East — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:35:38 +0000

Thank you to our friends at Best Buy for helping to raise a Mountain of Toys. Last night Best Buy donated not only toys but a gift certificate for $2,000 to buy items for our teen category.

See the Facebook photos here.