First Interfaith Out of the Cold

Since 1997, guided by the values of warmth, kindness and dignity, First Interfaith Out of the Cold has offered the most vulnerable in our community a brief respite from the struggles of homelessness, food insecurity and isolation.

Every Tuesday at St. Matthew’s United Church, from the first week of November to the end of April, we provide healthy snacks, a four-course hot dinner, personal care items, foot care and socialization activities to approximately 150 guests per week. Each week we also accommodate 30 guests for overnight shelter. Doors open at 4 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:00p.m.

By providing a safe place to sleep, nutritious food and caring hospitality, we hope to help those who are homeless stay alive in the harsh winter. We aim to help those who are precariously housed save money on food and keep their homes. We do our best to support our guests’ mental health and social connection.

We also assist the Common Table program at Church of the Redeemer (Avenue Rd and Bloor) by funding and preparing 220 bagged lunches on Thursday afternoons for mobile distribution on the streets and in the parks. As well, on Wednesday we provide 120 sandwiches and 120 protein bags to Seeds of Hope, a downtown grassroots organization.

Every year, on average, First Interfaith Out of the Cold provides 11,700 meals, 780 overnight shelter spaces and we serve over 9,000 people.

panhandler holds up a sign that says "help"

Join us!

We’re always looking for enthusiastic people who are keen to make a positive difference.

First Interfaith Out of the Cold is volunteer-run and we rely on more than 100 dedicated community members to deliver our program every year. We welcome anyone 15+ (ages 12-14, with on-site parental supervision). We ask that volunteers make a commitment to attend regularly – weekly, bi-monthly or monthly. Volunteers experience a gratifying sense of shared purpose, camaraderie and community. Most volunteers return year after year!

Volunteer shifts

The volunteers are organized into shifts that involve a variety of tasks with varying degree of guest contact. Each shift is comprised of a team of volunteers and a Team Lead, who provides direction.

The shifts run between 2-3 hours. The earliest shift on Tuesdays at St. Matthew’s starts at 3:00pm and the last shift ends at 10:00p.m.

The shifts include:

Set-up and Snack Prep
Reception
Takeaway Packaging

Takeaway Serving
Dinner Plating
Dinner Serving

Foot Care
Dinner Clean-up
After-Dinner Activities

Most weekly dinners at our program are funded and prepared by Community Cooking Teams – groups of friends, family members, work colleagues or school groups. The Cooking Teams raise the funds for the cost of the meal and with lots of support, they plan the menu, shop for the ingredients and cook the dinners. It’s an invaluable, fun and most rewarding experience!

The lunch program at Church of the Redeemer involves grocery shopping on Thursday mornings or sandwich-making from 12:00-2:00p.m.

For more information about volunteering, signing up or providing a meal, please contact sharna.cohen@rogers.com or maryhansonmd@gmail.com

A tent covered in snow leaning against a chain link fence.

Donate!

Donate to First Interfaith Out of the Cold

First Interfaith Out of the Cold relies 100% on donations. We receive no government support! 100% of donations go directly to operating the program. Our costs include rent, maintenance, security, food and supplies. It takes a lot of money to serve so many people in need!

We are most grateful to the very generous individuals, institutions and businesses that support our program. Without their amazing financial and in-kind contributions, no matter how large or small, we simply could not function!

wholesome food being ladeled out of a pot and handed over

Contact us

For more information about First Interfaith Out of the Cold, please contact
Sharna Cohen: sharna.cohen@rogers.com or Mary Hanson: maryhansonmd@gmail.com