The Stop Community Food Centre

The Stop Community Food Centre

I had a wonderful experience volunteering at an event hosted by the Stop Community Food Centre on Food Justice in Toronto.  They do incredible work, offering access to those needing food in a manner that demonstrates dignity and allows healthy and wholesome choices and programs for meal preparation.  Wonderful place, wonderful people.  

Who I work for and how to join in support

I thought I should throw a link up on the blog letting others introduce who I work for and how, if anyone would like to get involved in supporting this ministry where they can find the information to do so.  I would however like to keep this blog an open dialogue and a place for community, not a place for advertising or promotion.  That being said, I will post my support that it will be archived so that if anyone wishes to reference this they may do so.  Blessings on the day fellow sojourners.

Toronto City Mission

And the ball gets rollin'

So, the first major hurdle to getting started with this new job is that I have to raise financial support and must have half of the financial support raised before I start.  At first I was freaked at this notion, a complete shocker!  But now, the more people I talk with about this venture I realize two truths: What it means to be dependent, and how dependent I am about money and that people are willing to be generous with their money when presented with a good cause and a trust worthy person.
I realize how tightly I hold my money, not because I have lots or little but because I can make it and it can bring value and worth.  When I release money as a motivator bringing worth and value I find that I am a more generous person and will value others the same way.  This means that I can break down social barriers by releasing the difference that money (have and have nots) presents.  This realization comes as our Canadian news has released figures about Canada's growing social gap between those who have and those who do not.  I must realize and be thankful today for what I have and with my new position allow myself to depend on others to assist me and this is really humbling.  I realize that this will take an adjustment, and I will not always be perfect but Lord willing I will try.  
  

Where to begin?

Yes, where to begin?  Well, today is my official start date with Toronto City Mission, an organization whose presence in Toronto's most needy and vulnerable places intends to see positive change by building community, sharing relationships and faith.  I begin my employ as a Community Worker in St. James Town.  This one square city block called St. James Town has 19 high rise and 4 low rise apartments.  It has the highest population density per area in Canada, overwhelmingly impoverished and full of hard working single families.
I have the privilege of working with youth/ children and family programming in this neighborhood and I am wonderfully excited, but woefully new to inner city work and hope to be a listener and observer first foremost.  I hope to chronicle my thoughts and impressions and if you wish you can follow along and perhaps give me insight when I lack.  I desire to be honest and frank and willing to be taught.
As I am working for a Christian organization of course I am influenced by what the Christian God has to say about poverty and justice but I also understand that we share much in common with people of other faiths and religious background, not to mention that we share our humanity and common needs.  Many people have been inspired to write, say and do wonderful things to see peace and justice come to our world and I want to be inspired by it all.
Feel free to comment, to encourage and to challenge.  Please be fair and honest.
And so now to begin...