We’re at a critical time for the containment of COVID–19. In response, The Stop Community Food Centre has shifted its resources away from community programming and towards emergency food access services.
Our first and foremost priority is to protect the health and well-being of all Stop community members, staff, and volunteers.
We will continue to provide essential food access services to our community in an adjusted form:
• The Stop’s Food Bank will run Mondays and Fridays, 12pm-3pm. 1884 Davenport Road. Please bring proof of address (piece of mail, ID, etc). If you don’t have ID, we can help you get it.
• The Drop-in serves free takeaway meals on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9am-10am for breakfast, 12pm-1pm for lunch. 1884 Davenport Road.
• The Good Food Market sells at-cost produce, grains, and spices on Tuesday, 12pm-3pm. 1884 Davenport Road.
• The Stop’s Wychwood Open Door serves takeway breakfast and lunch on Wednesdays, 9am-10am and 12pm-1pm and takeaway dinner Thursdays 4pm-5pm. 729 St. Clair Avenue.
• The Stop’s Community Advocacy Office phone hotline provides information, support, and referrals on issues like ODSP, tenant rights, settlement, housing services, ID, and more. No appointment needed. Monday-Friday 10am-2pm Call (416) 652-7867 x243 or email advocacy@thestop.org.
If you are in need of immediate food access and are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus, or have come in contact with someone with symptoms, please do not visit The Stop. Instead, please ask a friend or family member to do so for you.
Questions? Please contact our general line: 416-652-7867, or email general@thestop.org.
If you would like to support our work, monetary donations are the most efficient way. They allow us to purchase the exact items we need on short notice. We also have purchasing relationships with farmers, stores, and suppliers, so we can buy items at a lower price than retail customers. You can make a donation here.
If you’d prefer to donate items, that’s great too! Currently, we’re seeking
• face masks (disposable or fabric)
• empty egg cartons
• baby supplies (wipes, diapers, and formula)
• unused personal care products (like hand sanitizer, shampoo, menstrual products, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, etc)
These items can be dropped off at 1884 Davenport Road, Monday-Friday 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm.
We all must do our part to contain any spread and mitigate the effects of Coronavirus—both physically and mentally—on our staff, volunteers, and community members.
To keep our workplace healthy throughout this period, our staff and volunteers are following stringent precautionary measures such as frequent hand washing, continually sterilizing our work environments, use of rubber gloves, and social distancing. The Stop is also providing extended, paid sick days and work-from-home arrangements to our employees upon request, no questions asked.
Yet for so many of our community members, these arrangements are completely inaccessible.
To isolate yourself, you need adequate housing.
To take a sick day, you need to know you’ll get to keep your job.
To stockpile food and supplies, you need to be able to afford these essentials in the first place.
In times like these, vulnerable community members need our support the most.
Thank you, as always, for standing with The Stop.