Every Saturday afternoon a distribution crew takes food and clothing to homeless people at three sites in downtown Toronto. This apostolate of the Canadian Association responds to the Order of Malta’s mandate of obsequium pauperum, service to our lords the sick and the poor.
During the week, volunteers (individuals as well as a class of students with developmental disabilities) make sandwiches (egg salad is a particular favourite). A volunteer picks up day-old bread, muffins, and pastries donated by Bread and Roses Bakery. On Saturday, several volunteers make soup. Other volunteers have purchased juice boxes, socks, and underwear for both men and women.
We work out of the basement of St. Olave’s Anglican Church, 360 Windermere Avenue, where Toronto Hunger Patrol was originally founded over 25 years ago by the Reverend David Burrows, when he was Rector of St. Olave’s Church.
There are many ways to participate in Toronto Hunger Patrol:
- picking up day old bread, muffins, and pastries
- making sandwiches
- making soup
- purchasing underwear and socks
- collecting winter coats
- distributing food and clothing on Saturday afternoons/evenings
- negotiating donations of food and clothing
For more information about Toronto Hunger Patrol, contact Executive Secretary Roberta Bittencourt, executivesecretary@orderofmaltacanada.org
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Canadian Association
Email: executivedirector@orderofmaltacanada.org, Telephone: (613) 731-8897