Like many faith communities, East End United Regional Ministry has been attempting to address the needs of underserved neighbours for decades. From feeding over 600 people each week through our market-style food bank to providing hot meals, clothing, and shelter to our Out of the Cold guests, EEURM strives to embrace our mission—to be God's love lived out in public—through all of our outreach efforts.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support our communities in these ways. It is our responsibility to offer care and compassion to those who seek it. But we wish this work wasn’t necessary. Our hope is for a world where everyone has what they need—not only to survive, but to thrive. To flourish. In a country as abundant as Canada, we struggle to understand why this isn’t the reality.

Programs like Out of the Cold and food banks were designed to be temporary stopgaps. Yet, 40 years later, they’ve become embedded in the fabric of the social safety net.

This needs to change.

Learn more about what brings people to our programs and how we can work together to advocate for a more just and equitable society.  ​

EVENT ALERT
​COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
re: HOMELESSNESS AND PRECARIOUS HOUSING

More information will be added in the coming days. However, for now, SAVE THE DATE!

Monday, February 3rd, 2025 at 6:30pm
Glen Rhodes Campus at the East End Food Hub (1470 Gerrard Street East)

Following the tragic death of Mary/Rita, who was living outside the Shopper's Drug Mart at Danforth and Coxwell, the East End community of Toronto is invited to an evening of education aimed at supporting the collective actions of those who have been advocating for more compassionate and just systems for years. This event will explore how the Toronto shelter system operates, what community groups are doing to address its gaps, the experiences of those who have been underserved, and the efforts of social service partners working to address the failures that have left so many people with limited choices.

Refreshments will be provided.  If possible, please indicate your intention to attend via our Facebook Event so we can plan for numbers.
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
***Please check back as additional guests confirm their participation in the coming days***
Seeds of Hope 
Lorraine Lam, community worker, organizer
Angie Hocking, Regent Park Community Ministry 
Facilitator: Bri-anne Swan, East End United Regional Ministry 

ACCESSIBILITY
Our building has a lift. You can find the lift off of Rhodes Avenue. If you ring the bell, a volunteer or staff member will come to assist you.

LOCATION
Our Glen Rhodes Campus at the East End Food Hub is located at 1470 Gerrard Street East, near Coxwell Avenue. We are easily reached by the 22 Coxwell Bus and the 506 Street Car (that runs along Gerrard Street).
Street parking is available for a on Gerrard Street ($), and on neighbourhood side streets.

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These are the people
​IN our neighbourhood.

Out of the Cold guests and Nourish East End clients were asked if they would like to share how they came to be utilizing the services of these ministries.  Please check back often as our bank of stories grows. 

James

James talks about his past, finding housing, and the struggle to make ends meet within the city.

"[Out of the Cold] is very important for me to eat because without this, I wouldn't be able to eat. I would be stealing from grocery stores, and that's the reality of it. I have to feed myself."

Interview is presented in its entirety. Interviewer's questions have been replaced as title cards.

LyALL

Lyle does a lot to help people and even ran as a candidate for mayor in the last election. In this video, he expresses his gratitude for the volunteers and reminds people that they just never know who in our community's relies on these services.

"Even those of us who are working and who have aspirations to have bigger things, we really, really rely on being able to come here and being able to have that nice meal on Friday nights and community."
Interview is presented in its entirety.

Walter

While he has housing, Walter would prefer to sleep at Out of the Cold because of the bedbug issues at his house that his landlord isn't adequately addressing.

This interview is presented in its entirety.

Janice

Janice describes her past work, and that she wishes there were more food banks and Out of the Colds because of the reception she received at our programs.

"I come here for the food and the clothing...and it's friendly."

Interview has been presented in its entirety.

Peter Tabuns
​MPP, Toronto-Danforth

Peter describes the food and housing insecurity many of his constituents are struggling with, and some measures that could be implemented that might benefit those who are overwhelmed with housing costs and food security.

Comments have been edited for length, and the questions asked have been removed from the recording.

Coming Soon!

Watch for "Food for Thought" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to your favourite shows.

In this three-part podcast series, we take an in-depth look at the evolution of food banks in Canada, exploring their origins, current realities, and what must change to eliminate their need.
In Part 1, we dive into the history of food banks in Canada, tracing their beginnings in the 1980s as grassroots efforts to address hunger and poverty. We explore the social, economic, and political factors that led to their creation and how they quickly became embedded in Canadian society.
In Part 2, we shift our focus to the present-day state of food banks, examining how they operate across the country and the growing demand for their services. 
Finally, in Part 3, we envision a future where food banks are no longer needed. We explore solutions such as systemic change, better food distribution models, and advocacy for sustainable, long-term approaches to tackling poverty and hunger. 
Join us as we break bread together, reflecting on the past, present, and future of food banks, and the collective work required to ensure no one in Canada goes to bed hungry.

RESOURCES TO HELP GET INVOLVED

Guaranteed livable income

So many of our guests' and clients' lives would be made better if Canada supported a Guaranteed Livable Income. The United Church of Canada has been calling for a GLI for ages and their website has a large number of resources, including a template letter for writing to your government representatives.

United Church of Canada - Guaranteed Livable Income

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Justice Can’t Wait: Demand Action on Poverty and Hunger!

Toronto is in an unprecedented food insecurity crisis. This past year, food banks across the city served a record-breaking 3.49 million visits—almost 1 million more than last year and the highest increase ever reported. That’s a staggering 273% increase since pre-pandemic.  

This year’s Who’s Hungry report reveals the grim reality behind these startling numbers: crushing costs of housing, food, and other basic needs—paired with insufficient wages and income supports—are leaving more and more Torontonians trapped in hunger and poverty. 

Daily Bread Food Bank is calling on leaders at every level of government to prioritize more deeply affordable housing, better wages and stable jobs, and stronger income supports that bring people above the poverty line. Use our tool below to contact your elected officials, urging them to champion and adopt the recommendations in Who’s Hungry 2024. 

SEND A LETTER TO YOUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES HERE.