DANYAO'S STORY
Tucked away in a quiet residential neighbourhood near Dufferin Station is a house with a turquoise colored front door that is never locked. If you walk in, you will almost certainly walk right into a laid back conversation between several people of different nationalities, who would all greet you with a warm hello, even though they have never met you. This is Adam House, where 2500 refugee claimants have called home since 2002.
My husband Ryan and I started going to Adam House in the summer of 2015, joining a small team of people from Grace Toronto who have been going there regularly once a month for a few years. At the time, I was a new Christian eager to join Christians serving in the community. I chose Adam House for two practical reasons: there was already a structure in place for new volunteers to plug in, and the Friday time fitted our schedule.
Going to Adam House was certainly something outside of our comfort zone. The regular Grace engagement there is a games night every third Friday of the month. Volunteers and residents would trickle into the family room in the basement just before 7pm. There were always new faces and small talk plus the language barrier did not help my social anxiety. But lining up for pizza made for a plausible excuse to strike up a conversation or escape one. After the light meal, we’d break into small groups for rounds of Dutch Blitz, Jenga, and other games. Some will sit back at the round table near the kitchen sink for some chit chat. To be honest, I never got used to this and sometimes dreaded going to a “social” after a long day of work on Friday. But once I was there, it was uplifting seeing people having a good time, because I’ve come to know that their days could be stressful, weighed down by the often slow progress of their asylum applications and the uncertainty about the future.
A key part of our mission at Adam House is to build long-term relationships with residents and continue to walk with them after they move out. But as we are only there once a month, and the average stay of a resident is about two-to-four months, it can be challenging. But an unexpected friendship came to us when a Syrian family invited Ryan and me for tea and games in the backyard. It turned out that we had a lot in common. We were similar in age. All four of us studied electrical and computer engineering. We loved talking about culture, history and education, plus we all enjoyed playing Monopoly Deal together. She taught me to cook Mutabbal Haom (a Syrian variant of Baba Ganoush from her husband’s hometown, Hama), and we brought Wonder Woman over to their home for a movie night and everyone was delighted at the resemblance of their daughter to young Diana, both in looks and the adventurous spirit. The family showed us gratitude for being their friends, but truly I was humbled by their friendship and hospitality. These relationships also encouraged us to create new traditions over time: a Maple Syrup Festival outing in the spring, holiday-themed meal preparation on some Fridays, camping in late summer, and Christmas Market visits in the winter. These created additional opportunities for volunteers and residents to get to know each other better.
Things have been more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Friday socials resumed on Zoom in June, but we aren’t able to connect with people in the same way that was possible in person. It’s hard to make out the faces on a small screen and the language barrier is exacerbated by choppy connections and the absence of body language. Isolation has been worse for the residents, who are new to Canada and have very few social connections to start with. Mobility has also been impacted as residents try to minimize exposure to public transportation and don’t have cars. Refugee case processing was paused for a few months, creating an even bigger backlog and longer wait. This adds to the uncertainty of their future. Recently, a beloved long-time staff left to serve a mission overseas, and the house is looking for ways to fill the gaps left behind. Volunteer engagement has also been declining, as many have their own struggles in this pandemic. Hiring a new community manager would be great, but finding the right person with a calling to serve this community is hard, and new funds would also need to be raised to support this position.
We are submitting our needs to God through prayers, and are confident that He will provide for us because He has always been faithful to this community. Recently, a few cases of COVID-19 were discovered at Adam House, but no one had severe symptoms and everyone has recovered as of two weeks ago. Even stricter social distancing measures have been implemented for the 15 adults and children who live there now, but they are praising God for protecting them in this difficult time.
AFFILIATE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS
Find ways to love our neighbours in partnership with our affiliates and other organizations serving the community.
SERVING - FOR INDIVIDUALS
Adam House
- Female volunteers needed who can speak Spanish or Korean to pray with an Adam House resident 1:1 over the phone once a week (under 15 minutes)
- Drivers needed to pick up and deliver ready-made fruit packages to Adam House North (Finch & Leslie area) once every 4-6 weeks
- Assemble a Starter Kit (link) and deliver to Adam House (cost ~$100)
- For more information, contact https://bit.ly/GraceAHTeam
Pregnancy Care Centre
- Attend a virtual information/training session in December (date: TBD) to learn about PCC as an organization, the Biblical basis for Christian care, the issues surrounding unexpected pregnancies, and to learn how to give a compassionate and life-affirming first response to someone who shares news of their unexpected pregnancy with you.
- For more information, contact rosemarie@gracetoronto.ca
Safe Families
- Sign-up to become a “Family Friend” to a segregated family in our city -- providing love to the parent(s) through encouragement, security of being cared for, sharing of known information, access to our extended church network, and a shared desire for the security and well-being of their children
- For more information, contact Safe Families (link)
The Dale Ministries
- Volunteers needed to check-in with community members virtually (https://www.thedale.org)
Yonge Street Mission
- Volunteers needed: help people build their networks, individual mentorship, language proficiency tutoring, and family-to-family mentorship (especially, Black families)
- Write encouraging notes (link) to community members, for the hundreds of daily meal bags
SERVING - FOR GRACE GATHERINGS
Adam House
- Assemble a Starter Kit (link) and deliver to Adam House (cost ~$100)
- For questions and more information, contact Tim and Danyao at https://bit.ly/GraceAHTeam
Safe Families
- Together, sign-up to become “Family Friends” to a segregated family in our city -- providing love to the parent(s) through encouragement, security of being cared for, sharing of known information, access to our extended church network, and a shared desire for the security and well-being of their children.
- For more information, contact Safe Families (link)
TANGIBLE NEEDS
Light Patrol
- Needed items to support current outreach: $5 Tim Hortons gift cards, sweatpants in medium and large sizes, men’s and women’s underwear in medium and large sizes
Pregnancy Care Centre
- Needed items for new mothers/parents: clothing, diapers (sizes 1,2,3), wipes, formula, gently used furniture (crib, car seat, stroller, etc.)
- Deliver to 15 Hove Street, Suite 100, North York, ON M3H 4Y8 - Bathurst & Sheppard
- Monetary donations: https://pccfriends.ca/donations
The Dale Ministries
- Needed items: masks (disposable or homemade), sanitizer, soap, containers for takeout food
- Monetary donations: www.thedale.org/donate
Yonge Street Mission
- Food donations needed: bread, fruit (especially oranges), potatoes, milk, and yogurt
- Toiletry donations needed: toothpaste, body wash, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletry items
- Deliver to The Davis Centre, 270 Gerrard Street East; contact Zana or receptionist at 416-929-9614 press "0", or email both Zana (zferataj@ysm.ca) and receptionist (receptiondept@ysm.ca)
Homeless Connect Toronto
- Assemble 60 “Christmas Cheer” Packages for families living in the Toronto Shelter System; needed by Dec. 5th
+ Details
Choose 5-6 items from the following:
- children’s arts & crafts supplies, bead kits
- books, board games & puzzles
- coloring books & markers
- Lego & Duplo building toys
- dolls, teddy bears, soft toys
- cars, trucks, boats, trains
- electronics (media players, earphones, mini speakers)
- sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls)
- gift cards
- frequently used shops include: malls (Cadillac Fairview), discount stores, drugstores (i.e. Shoppers Drug Mart), book stores, movie theatres, and clothing stores (i.e. H&M, Foot Locker)
- winter wear – hats, socks, gloves, coats, boots, and scarves
- underwear (men’s and women’s)
- toiletry items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, lotion, lip balm, toothbrushes, and toothpaste (including travel size) & sanitary products
- TTC tickets/tokens
For more information contact sarah.katz@hctoronto.org
For more information contact: rosemarie@gracetoronto.ca
PRAYER PLAN
Help love our neighbours by committing to a rotating prayer plan.
+ Monday: Pregnancy Care Centre
Prayer for women who are facing unexpected pregnancies during Covid
Prayer for the staff as they try to navigate these uncertain times and the increase of women who due to Covid feel they can’t parent
Prayer that the church can connect and help build communities around these moms so that they may feel supported
+ Tuesday: Adam House
Prayer for a community manager to be called to serve at Adam House North who can visit the residents there weekly and coordinate local church engagement
+ Wednesday: Light Patrol
Prayer for new youth to be open to receiving help and learning to trust Light Patrol staff and volunteers so that they will build healthy relationships in their lives
Praise God for youth that have begun to open up to the good news of Christ and pray for others to do so as well
Prayer for wisdom and creativity for staff and volunteers as they establish community/interest based circles during this time of Covid restrictions
+ Thursday: Safe Families
Prayer for insight, wisdom, fortitude and compassion for the staff and volunteers as they develop meaningful relationships with every family served and that even without a physical church to take these families to, volunteers would be able to find ways to share the good, eternal news of Christ with these families
Prayer for God to provide support, comfort, and for the needs of families who struggle alone in this city, especially during the Christmas season
Prayer especially for the single mothers in our care who have been parenting alone with no breaks and less access to resources throughout this pandemic
+ Friday: Toronto City Mission
Prayer for good health for all children and staff who are back to school
Prayer for protection over the communities as there has been an increase of violence
Prayer for wisdom to stay safe as in-person programs are re-started with children, TLCs, volunteers, and staff
+ Saturday: Community Organizations
Homeless Connect Toronto
Prayer that HCT can continue to find spaces to operate that meet health guidelines and for the safety of volunteers working in restricted spaces
Prayer that adequate donations come in to sustain operations and that people stay engaged with HCT during these difficult times
The Dale Ministries
Prayer for housing, increased shelter beds, especially considering that Out of the Cold programs have been cancelled this winter
Prayer for people who are experiencing growing loneliness, fatigue, and fear as the pandemic drags on, that the burden and weight on them would be lifted Prayer for hope in the midst of struggle
Yonge Street Mission
Prayer for help for people to build their networks to find employment
Prayer for individual and family-to-family mentorship for life skills
Prayer for volunteers to offer language proficiency tutoring which is key for personal and professional development
VOLUNTEER OPENINGS
FIGHT4FREEDOM
Fight4Freedom is an organization that works in the GTA with women, children and men enslaved in the sex trade. In addition, they offer aftercare, advocacy, and referral support to individuals who are ready and able to transition into alternate work. They are currently recruiting qualified individuals.
+ Details
Street Outreach
Commitment: minimum 1 year, weekly outreach
Outreach time: Fridays from 10:30pm-2:30am (usually it doesn't take up the whole 4 hours)
Through our street outreach ministry, we continue to journey with women in Toronto who are involved in sex work and often face challenges related to housing, substance use and mental health. During outreach time, we walk around the neighbourhood where it's known to have sex-work-related activities. We approach individuals with gifts and try to start up conversations. We listen as they share stories about their upbringing, relationships and long-distance parenting. From these stories, the common narrative that often emerges is one of intergenerational trauma perpetuated by cycles of criminalization and structural violence – many share about growing up in foster care, getting recruited into the sex industry, using street drugs to self-medicate, having 3-8 children apprehended due to addictions and then being incarcerated for drug possession. We continue to pray that our relationships with these ladies would allow us to speak truth and hope into the narratives that distort their sense of worth and identity. At a systemic level, both our ministry and survivor care departments are working with community partners to provide survivors and individuals who would like to exit with health support and to develop sustainable employment opportunities.
Club or Parlour Outreach
Commitment: minimum 1 year, monthly outreach and prayer gathering
Outreach time: one evening a month between Monday to Thursday for outreach; one evening a month for prayer and gift bag preparation; meet up time varies between 6-9pm; each outreach usually is within 3 hours time
Each club or parlour outreach team goes to the same strip club or parlours every month. The team approaches a club and asks entry permission from the club manager. Once allowed access, the team will go to the main area and approach individuals working there with gifts and try to start up conversations. For parlour outreach, the team approaches a parlour and tries to start up conversations with the individual who answers the door. We listen as they share stories. Same as street outreach, we continue to pray that our relationships with these ladies would allow us to speak truth and hope into the narratives that distort their sense of worth and identity. At a systemic level, both our ministry and survivor care departments are working with community partners to provide survivors and individuals who would like to exit with various support and to develop sustainable employment opportunities.
NOTE: Volunteers may encounter nudity during outreach. It is an asset to be bilingual in English and Chinese for parlour outreach.
If you are interested, please contact Rosemarie Friesen: rosemarie@gracetoronto.ca