Help Out a Worthy Cause
Living in Mississauga is a multicultural experience, if you are a bit of a foodie like me you enjoy the tastes that this cultural mash-up can bring. Maybe you enjoy listening to music or watching dancers perform at local multicultural events such as Carrasauga. These new tastes & sounds come from new immigrants, new Canadians. Some of these newcomers come to this new home with support from their community and find the adjustment easy, they transition into our seasons with the clothing they need, and find the income to furnish their homes never wanting for food. Then there are those who come here running; running from danger, from torn families, torn communities or a dangerous government. Many of them scarred from their past and they need a hand to rebuild. Sometimes the people who need assistance are our neighbours, someone we know from our commute to work, or a parent we see in passing at our kids school, fleeing from a bad relationship and going into new experiences tentatively.
More and more families in Mississauga are turning to the community for help. More of our friends and neighbours are needing to rebuild, and may be turning to the Mississauga Furniture Bank to rebuild their homes and the Mississauga Food Bank to put food on their table.
The Mississauga Food Bank and The Mississauga Furniture Bank are there to assist with these transitions. Today both of these worthy charities are seeking the much needed donations. $10 from 100 people will go a lot farther with these charitable organizations than $10 at the local drive-thru.
The Mississauga Furniture Bank is the newest charitable organization in Mississauga and they have just received the prestigious Trillium Grant; enabling them to build the organization into a much needed community assistance group.
The Mississauga Furniture Bank recycles new and nearly new furniture that helps families furnish their home. The furniture is donated from corporations and people like you and me. The Mississauga Furniture Bank is helping in an entirely different way than we have seen before; they are furnishing homes. The families who are selected may be refugees, single parents, the elderly and victims of domestic violence or victims of household tragedies such as a fire. The people who receive assistance from the Mississauga Furniture Bank are referred by social agencies, religious organizations and community shelters throughout the city.
Many of us are redecorating our homes, what do you do with the old furniture? As I drive through my own community I often see perfectly good sofa sets, dinettes, dressers and entertainment units, these items could help furnish someone else’s home. Don’t put it out on the curb, don’t gift it to a niece or nephew for their first apartment (they don’t really want every aunt & uncles kitchen set), donate it to the Furniture Bank.
Mission and Vision
The mission of the MFB is to provide basic household furnishing and home essentials to individuals and families who are in need. We work to achieve this by collaborating with Mississauga social service agencies whose clients desperately need furniture.
It is our long-term vision to see that EVERY child in Mississauga has a bed to sleep in and every family in Mississauga living with dignity in a properly-furnished home.
Interested in helping out the Mississauga Furniture Bank, or finding out more about this new charity visit; http://www.mississaugafurniturebank.org/
The Mississauga Food Bank has been assisting families in Mississauga for 25 years. For 25 years people living in Mississauga have relied on donations. Sometimes people only need enough food to get them to the next paycheck. Others need assistance with staples so they can buy produce, whatever the need it is easy to donate! In Canada we pride ourselves in sending aid to far away countries, although there are many people right on our doorstep that struggle to put food on their table, they struggle to feed their kids. Some of these families in need are new to Canada and only need assistance for a short time. Others are seniors whose pensions were well planned, but in the turns of life they now find themselves struggling to buy that can of soup. No matter the reason behind using the Food Banks, every Mississaugan should have food to eat and the Mississauga Food Bank is there to help.
Raid your pantry for a bag of staples or stop in at your local supermarket to pick up the most needed items; beans (canned & dried), peanut butter, pasta, a bag of rice and Kraft Dinner or canned fish. And the best bit, you can drop off the bag of groceries at your local fire hall, now that’s easy! For more details visit http://www.themississaugafoodbank.org/?np=1
Skip the Friday night movie in the theatre and donate that money, $10 can go a long way to supporting the community in Mississauga.
Or give your time, help sort, help move, and help deliver. Visit the website and see how you can best support these local charities.
It feels good to give!
The following programs are also available to residents of Mississauga.
- Breakfast for Kids: 11-315 Traders Blvd East, Mississauga, L4Z 3E4 (Over 80 Breakfast Programs in Mississauga.)
- Deacon’s Cupboard: 1745 Dundas St W, Mississauga L5K 2E1
- ICNA Relief Canada: 391 Burnhamthorpe Rd E, Oakville L6H 7B4
- St. Joseph Community Kitchen: 1699 Dundas St E, Mississauga L4X 1L5
- Active Coptic Seniors in Mississauga: Contact Amal El Shammah 905.507.1370
- Women Centre of Peel: 13 – 3585 Laird Road, Mississauga L5L 5Z8
- The Dam: 6850 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga L5N 4J9
MALTON FOOD BANK
905.696.9963
7060 Airport Road (Airport & Derry)
Website: www.maltonfoodbank.org
EDEN COMMUNITY FOOD BANK – BATTLEFORD
905.785.3651
3051 Battleford Rd. (At Winston Churchill, in Eden United Church)
Website: www.edenfoodbank.org
ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK COOPERS
905.890.0900
5715 Coopers Ave. Unit 4 (North of Matheson, East side of Kennedy Rd.)
Website: www.stmarysfb.com
ST MARY’S FOOD BANK DUNDAS
905.890-09001699 Dundas East (East of Dixie Rd)
Website: www.stmarysfb.com
EDEN COMMUNITY FOOD BANK – UNITY
905.785.3651
3185 Unity Drive Unit #2 (At Winston Churchill)
Website: www.edenfoodbank.org
COMPASS MARKET FOOD BANK
905. 274.9309
310 Lakeshore Road West (West of Mississauga Rd.)
Website: www.thecompass.ca
SEVA FOOD BANK
905.361.7382
3413 Wolfedale Rd, Unit 10 (South of Central Parkway)
Website: www.sevafoodbank.ca
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