Get to Know The Stop’s Community Advocates
At The Stop, the call to join our community is more than a simple invitation—it reflects our commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, supported, and welcomed to take a seat at our table. Since 2008, the impact of our Community Advocacy Program (CAP) has been central to shaping The Stop into a hub that offers health, hope, skills, dignity, and connection, using the universal language of good food. While our emergency food services may be the most visible part of our work, they reflect just one element of our broader effort to tackle the root causes of food insecurity, hunger, and poverty.
Guided by the principle nothing for us, without us, CAP provides compassionate, barrier-free assistance to those seeking housing, family services, employment, and immigration support, among other needs. What sets CAP apart is that it’s led by our Community Advocates; local champions who have navigated the same challenges they now help others to overcome. After completing a 12 week Community Action Training (CAT) course, advocates work to bridge community members to essential resources, support, and opportunities—while fostering an inclusive environment where the person seeking support is fully in charge of their outcomes and decisions.
But who better to describe the program, the role of the advocate, and its impact than the leaders themselves? Meet Tita, Brock, Daisy, Nancy, and Tom, who graciously shared their experiences and reflections as members of the Community Advocacy Team.
Cap Advocate Team. From Left, Daisy, Nancy, Tom, Brock and Tita.
Daisy
Daisy discovered The Stop through her role as a volunteer, but she quickly wanted to explore more ways to get involved. “A fellow volunteer introduced me to the Community Action Training (CAT), which sparked my interest. The training equipped me with the tools to tackle social issues effectively, igniting a desire to help people more directly as an Advocate.” She viewed this role as the perfect opportunity to offer personalized, one on one support. “I wanted to help people address their issues more effectively,” she explains. “Being an Advocate allowed me to do just that.”
Daisy describes her work as an Advocate as “meeting people where they’re at, without judgment, and tackling their issues one step at a time.” At both The Stop’s main location and Wychwood Open Door, she connects community members to various resources, including housing and legal assistance, medical services, and essential items like food and clothing. Daisy emphasizes that these services are available without discrimination, and she prioritizes privacy and confidentiality to maintain an environment of trust.
One aspect of the role that Daisy finds especially rewarding is the program’s ability to provide case management for those with complex needs—a service not easily available elsewhere. “Our doors are open to everyone,” she asserts, “regardless of their issue, background, colour, or financial situation.”
“I help community members understand information relevant to their situation, explain their options, and help them make a plan.”
“Being an Advocate has been the honour and privilege of a lifetime, and a tremendously rewarding experience.”
Nancy
Nancy’s motivation to become an Advocate is rooted in her commitment to justice, equity, and access. She observers many community members encounter unnecessary barriers that restrict their ability to access essential resources. “Too often, people suffer loss or injustice due to bad advice, poor information, or not knowing where to turn,” she explains. Nancy sees her role as an opportunity to empower individuals through peer to peer knowledge sharing. “Sharing information is such a simple way to empower people, and it’s something they- can easily pay forward,” she says.
“I truly believe knowledge is power,” she shares, noting that when people understand their rights and know where to seek support, they feel better equipped, and have more capacity to tackle complex challenges. “We’ve helped a number of eligible seniors increase their monthly income by helping them apply for OAS or GIS as well as help other community members file their taxes and apply for various benefits they were not previously aware of.”
The team’s ability to relate personally to community members fosters an atmosphere of empathy and understanding, which Nancy considers essential for effective advocacy. “We were not meant to face life’s challenges alone,” she reflects, emphasizing that the team’s approach is both compassionate and practical.
Brock
Driven by empathy for those often overlooked, Brock’s path to becoming an Advocate stems from a steadfast commitment to supporting the rights and dignity of all community members. “I root for the underdog,” he says, reflecting on his personal connection to the community. Even before officially taking on his role, Brock frequently assisted The Stop’s community members outside office hours. As both an Advocate and Mentor Team Leader, he’s formalized that support in a role he describes as a “natural fit.” He credits and celebrates mentors from the CAP team who helped shape his journey and supported him as he grew into a leadership role. “It’s been an honour to be on the advocacy team for over five years,” he shares.
Brock describes CAP as “true gem” taking pride in the essential services he and his team offer. He notes that community members return because they can rely on the qualified, well-trained team to tackle a wide range of issues. “Every single shift in the advocacy office is different,” he says, each visit providing a chance to offer both practical help and a compassionate ear. Post-pandemic, Brock observes that many community members need a space to share their struggles, and he and his fellow Advocates provide supportive counselling along with targeted resource guidance. “Our office is a safe space for [community members] to vent, relieve stress, and talk to a nonjudgmental listener.”
“It’s from moments filled with thanks and appreciation from the hundreds of community members I’ve helped over the years that make it all worthwhile and leave me with a tremendous sense of pride, accomplishment and humility.”
“I’m proud to offer a safe and welcoming space for community members to come , and have their concerns and needs listened to.”
Tita
Tita’s commitment to advocacy was influenced by her own unique and challenging life experiences. At just 16, she was incarcerated in El Salvador, unfairly swept up in a region marked by corruption and oppression. This experience instilled in her a lifelong commitment to social and political awareness. “That experience gave me the political and social consciousness I carry to this day,” Tita explains. It inspired her to champion the rights of others, ensuring her lived experiences shape and inform her approach as an Advocate.
For Tita, being an Advocate means demystifying services available at The Stop and beyond, connecting community members with resources that can truly make a difference. “I explain and promote all the services that could help support community members,” she says. She describes her role as multifaceted, challenging, and never boring.
One notable example involves an elderly couple with limited English who were transitioning from Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to Old Age Security (OAS) and were owed $18,000 in back payments. Tita stepped in, contacting their ODSP worker and translating critical information to facilitate the process. Her support enabled the couple to secure the benefits they were entitled to. For Tita, moments like these highlight the vital, tangible impact of CAP.
Tom
Tom became an Advocate to send a powerful message to community members: you are not alone. “I consider myself a people person and genuinely enjoy helping others,” he says. Thirty years ago, he received support that inspired him to gain the right skills to give back. He returned to school to earn a Counseling Diploma, focusing on supporting individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges. For Tom, helping someone alleviate their suffering through compassion and practical support is profoundly rewarding. “The Advocacy office is a place they can go without fear of discrimination, where they’re always welcome to seek support,” he explains.
One story Tom shares illustrates the importance CAP places on building trust, offering validation, and leading with compassion. A community member came to the office expressing a desire to re-immigrate to Canada after having made the decision to move back to Peru, in order to be closer to family. As she shared her story, she began to cry, recalling the passing of her son. Tom and his fellow Advocates responded with empathy, providing her with essential information and referrals, and assuring her she could use the office space as long as she needed. By the end of the appointment, the community member was left equipped with the information and confidence to make an informed decision about her citizenship and residency status.
“It’s very satisfying for me to assist someone resolve any suffering that they may be experiencing.”
The Stop’s Advocate team is a driving force in our commitment to breaking down systemic barriers and meaningfully addressing community needs that go beyond food access. Food insecurity often overlaps with other significant challenges, demanding a holistic approach. Our Community Advocacy Program (CAP) is essential in providing comprehensive access to nutritious food and the support necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life. We’re inspired by our Advocates, whose daily efforts are paving the way for a future where good food, fairness, and economic justice are within everyone’s reach.