Drop-In
Good Food Box Registration and Delivery Schedule 2024 here
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Updates:
Drop-In Volunteer Appreciation Event
The St. James Cathedral’s Drop-In volunteers gathered for an Appreciation Meal.
It was a time where the volunteers got to share their experiences, got to know each other better, and take pleasure in each other’s company. I want to thank all volunteers for their past and ongoing support, dedication, and the engaging ways in which they have and continue to care for the participants attending the Drop-In.
I also want to express my appreciation from the bottom of my heart to Frank Kenyon and Bill Crooks for creating a delicious spread that everyone enjoyed and assisting with the cleanup in the kitchen. The event would never have been the celebration it turned out to be without your skills and support.
Last but not least, I want to thank the property staff who set up and cleaned up after the event and for doing the same after every Drop-In on Fridays. It takes a community of thoughtful and committed people to ensure that a weekly program like the Drop-In is there for our participants and St. James Cathedral provides this environment.
Thank you all for everything you do.
Kathy Biasi, Outreach Manager.
To view more photos of the best moments and to read more news, visit and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Happy Canada Day!
Thank you for joining us at the St. James Drop-In Annual BBQ on Monday, July 1!
Shout-out to everyone who joined us, helped make this event possible, and to everyone who shared their photos of this wonderful event.
Happy Canada Day from all of us at St. James Cathedral! To see photos of this fantastic event, visit our Facebook and Instagram.
“I would like to acknowledge how grateful I am for the support of all the amazing volunteers and staff who ensured the 2024 St. James Drop-In’s Canada Day BBQ was a success. It was a welcoming, safe atmosphere for the Drop-In participants to celebrate and a place where the church and surrounding community could connect with the participants in an inclusive environment. With your help we made many people feel included and cared for while enjoying great food, and fantastic music on a beautiful sunny, warm Canada Day. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and time.”
Kathy Biasi – Outreach Manager.
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Monday, July 1: Volunteer with us at the St. James Drop-In Annual BBQ!
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This year the BBQ will be preceded by a mid-day Eucharist in the Cathedral at 12:15pm.
The Drop-In will be celebrating Canada Day in our traditional way with a huge BBQ on the West Lawn and will need many hands to make the work lighter for the day.
Shifts start in the kitchen at 9:30am and run until we have cleaned up at the end of the day. The event runs from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. There are positions available in the kitchen, setting up, 2 areas we serve, and finally cleaning up.
If you are interested and would like more details, please contact Kathy Biasi at 416-364- 7865 *222 or kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca. Please leave a message and your call will be returned.
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Drop-In: Call for Summer Volunteers
The summer months are the busiest for St. James Drop-In but some volunteers go away during June, July, and August. If you are free during the summer, going to be in the city and you have extra time on Fridays the Drop-In would appreciate your support. Contact Kathy Biasi at 416-364-7865 *222 or kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca
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Foot Clinic 2024:
The Foot Care Clinic provides foot care by a Chiropodist and is held at St. James Cathedral Centre on
Fridays: 9:00am to 3:00pm
To book your next appointment please call Kathy Biasi at 416-364-7865 *222 and leave a detailed message so she can return your call.
You can also email your request to kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca with the subject heading “Foot Clinic”.
Thank you for sharing this information and helping us spread the word.
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Saturday, April 27 at 6:00pm: Our 1st Trivia Night was a great success!
Our first Annual ‘Food for Thought’ Trivia Night to raise funds for the Drop-in and Foot Care Clinic was a great success!
Our host Chris Glover and guest pianist Nathan Jeffery kept everyone in a jovial mood. You could feel the good energy in the room all night long.
Our winners were the Trivia Titans! A talk by Outreach Manager Kathy Biasi about the work that the Drop-in and Foot Care clinic does along with some trivia questions on homelessness in Toronto clearly left an impression.
Thanks to the many volunteers, Cathedral staff, sponsors, and donors who made this amazing evening a memorable one.
The Drop-in & The ‘Food for Thought’ Trivia Night Working Group.
To see an album with Trivia Night photos, click here.
Please visit our Facebook and Instagram channels.
Make it a fun evening with friends, family, or colleagues at the 1st Annual ‘Food for Thought’ Trivia Night Fundraiser.
*Great prizes for the winners.
*Intermission entertainment.
*A 50/50 draw.
*Food and drink will be available for sale.
It will make for a great evening while helping support our neighbors in need.
Get together a group of friends to compete as a team. Great prizes and a trophy for the winning team!
Team/Table Tickets $200 (+ fees) – Maximum 8 Players:
Put a team together and reserve your own table for this fun event. A Team Table Ticket is $200 (plus fees) and is good for a maximum of 8 players. Team Tables will be acknowledged during the event. A limited number of Team Table Tickets are available! So, buy yours now here!
Individual Tickets – $25 (+fees)
Don’t have a team, but still want to get in on the fun, and make some new friends? You can also purchase an individual ticket for $25. We will assign you to a Team Table when you arrive at the event. A limited number of Individual Tickets are available. Get yours while you can here!
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Call for volunteers:
Trivia Night is coming, and we need volunteers to help us make this event a success.
We need people to help with:
*Set up
*Guest registration
*Serving food
*Restocking food
*Selling food, drink, and 50/50 tickets
*Of course, the always popular clean-up.
If you are interested, please contact Kathy Biasi at kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca or 416-364-7865 Ext. 222.
Thank you!
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December 2023: Holiday Celebrations at the Drop-In
Post-COVID has allowed for the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations to be brought back inside Snell Hall. It could not be the success it was without the generosity of the many donors and individual supporters. The guests expressed their thanks for the traditional Christmas with gifts and a turkey meal and the wonderful New Year’s meal and treats provided by Biaggio Restaurant, their staff, and volunteers. Of course, nothing happens at the Drop-In without the dedicated Drop-In volunteers and those who volunteer at this special time of year. We would also like to thank The York Group, the volunteers who created and sold the 2023 Christmas Ornaments for the Drop-In, the chef Matt from Treeline Catering who cooked our turkeys, and Vinci for providing everything else for our Christmas celebration.
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Christmas Cards 2023: Thank you for your support!
It is that time of year again where we all like to reconnect with the people we care for in our lives. Some of us are very lucky and we can visit them, but others have family and friends they can only connect to by sending a card/letter or emails at Christmas time.
Thank you for your ongoing support for this worthwhile program.
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Flu and COVID Shot Clinic – Friday, November 24 between 12:30pm – 3:30pm.
St. James Drop-In is offered a flu and COVID shot clinic.
Click here for details.
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The Drop-In celebrated Thanksgiving Day.
On Friday, October 6, our St. James Drop-In celebrated Thanksgiving, and over 100 people attended.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Happy Thanksgiving!
Photos by Rebecca McTaggart (Volunteer)
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Summer Chill Party 2023 for families and kids was fantastic!
St. James Cathedral hosted the Summer Chill Party, a multi-denominational event and summer party for families and children.
On Sunday, August 27, over 300 people joined us to enjoy games, free food, cookie decorating, and a foam party while learning about the importance of winter respite for the homeless this coming winter.
Thank you to the volunteers and everyone in the community who helped to make this event possible.
The Anglican Diocese, St. James Cathedral, Regent Park Ministry, First Lutheran Church, and others, participated in this family-friendly event combining free kids’ activities with information about the need for expanded winter shelter/respite options for people experiencing homelessness.
To see more pictures of the best moments of the Summer Chill 2023 this year and get to know more news, visit and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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We continue to give water and spread hope & joy!
On June 21, The Bargains Group hosted the Water Project. This Project gives free cases of bottled water to Drop-In and other charitable programs throughout the GTA. This allows us to ensure the Drop-In guests and participants do not become dehydrated throughout the summer. St. James Drop-In received 40 cases of water to distribute not only to the Drop-In but those in the park that are in need of a drink of water on those extremely hot days of summer. The bottles are light and portable and are easily carried around so when they need a refill it can be done without carrying a heavy container. The Water Project has benefitted the Drop-In and the people in the park for the last 5 years. Thank you to Bargains Group for organizing this fantastic event that cares for some of the most vulnerable people in our neighbourhood.
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Wow, what a Canada Day celebration!
Happy Canada Day – may we all take a moment to be grateful! Thanks be to God!
Today July 1, The Drop-In celebrated Canada Day in our traditional way with a great BBQ on the west lawn of St. James Cathedral!
We thank God, our volunteers, and everyone in the community who made this possible.
Also, many thanks to all the members of the neighborhood and Cathedral community who participated.
To see more pictures of the best moments of our St. James Drop-In Annual BBQ this year and get to know more news, visit and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Saturday, July 1: Volunteer with us at the St. James Drop-In Annual BBQ!
The Drop-In will be celebrating Canada Day in our traditional way with a huge BBQ on the West lawn and will need many hands to make the work lighter for the day.
Shifts start in the kitchen at 9:30am and run until we have cleaned up at the end of the day.
The event runs from 12:30pm to 3:00pm.
There are positions available in the kitchen, in the BBQ pit, setting up, 2 areas we serve, and finally cleaning up.
If you are interested and would like more details, please contact Kathy Biasi at 416-364-7865 *222 or kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca. Please leave a message and your call will be returned.
Summer Volunteers 2023
In the past, the summer months are the busiest for St. James Drop-In but there are volunteers who go away during June, July, and August.
If you are free during the summer, going to be in the city and you have extra time on Fridays the Drop-In would appreciate your support.
If you are willing to help, please contact Kathy Biasi at 416-364-7865 *222 or kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca
Drop-In Book Drive was a success!
The Friday Drop-In program has reopened.
The Drop-In would like to thank everyone who donated books to share/give to our guests. The books were a wonderful assortment that gives the participants a greater variety to choose from. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your ongoing support of this program.
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Drop-In Update
The last few years have been a challenge for everyone. Trying to stay healthy while being isolated and trying to stay connected to those we care for; our family, the friends we are close to, and our work colleagues. Like everyone else, St. James Drop-In and its guests have seen many challenges and with the support of many individuals and collaborators, we have made it through these difficult times. It takes a village to ensure the continued support of this type of programming and the village has come through with flying colours.
Volunteers are The Heart of the Drop-In
Our thanks also go out to all the volunteers, from the pandemic start to the present, that have been and continue to be hard-working and dedicated to making sure the quality of experience of each of our guests was and continues to be optimal. Their ongoing support and caring, attentive, gentle actions, which include the wonderfully nutritious food they create to help keep everyone healthy are appreciated by all our guests. A week does not go by without some of our guests expressing their gratitude for all you do.
Heart In the City Fund Raiser
We would like to send out a special thank you to Pauline Brown and her assistant Edith Reese for the dedication and time they have spent on creating the handcrafted Heart ornaments and organizing and implementing this yearly fundraiser. It has supported the Drop-In’s Holiday celebrations for many years, this one included. The funds were used to purchase the stocking stuffers that included personal care items, chocolates, and Tim Horton Gift Cards for each of our guests.
Drop-in Christmas Card Program
The St. James Drop-In Christmas Card Program was available for our guests again this year for a few weeks and cards have been sent to Germany, the Netherlands, the U.S.A., and throughout Canada. Our guests look forward to this activity and guests ask about when it will start every year. The Drop-In would like to thank all those who have given their unused and new Christmas Cards for this valuable program. It allows people to reconnect to family and send wishes for a wonderful holiday season and New Year to their friends and relative.
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More information, please contact:
Kathy Biasi
Outreach Manager
St. James Cathedral
416-364-7865, ext *222
kbiasi@stjamescathedral.ca
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“Protect and be with our guests as they leave. Give strength and courage to the volunteers. We give thanks for the support of the Cathedral to carry out this ministry. Bring us all back next week. Amen.”
