Blythwood Out of the Cold

Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers who participated in the 2024-2025 Season 

Out of the Cold was held on Saturdays, from 2 pm - 4 pm  at  Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Square from the beginning of November 2024 to the end of April 2025

Blythwood Out of the Cold will be held at Trinity Square on Saturdays, from 2 pm to 4 pm.

We served hot nutritious meals along with fresh fruit and home-baked goods. Guests also received winter clothing accessories and toiletries.

Time:  Saturday from 2 pm- 4 pm

Dates: November 2nd, 2024 until April 26th, 2025

Directions: 19 Trinity Square, Toronto, ON M5G 1B1

                   https://maps.app.goo.gl/o2DwcdGUnxDsKs9A8

                  Trinity Square can be accessed by the walkways East of Bay Street and south of Dundas Street West, 

                  or through the Eaton Centre.  

If you are interested in volunteering for the 2025-2026 Season, please contact: office@blythwood.org

Thank you to our generous donors.  

To donate to Blythwood OOTC outreach, please go to: Click here to donate.

Our History

Since 1995, from the beginning of November until the end of March, Blythwood has provided a safe place for the homeless and those in need.  Hot meals, clothing, and a mat to sleep on were offered with open arms and compassion, and people could enjoy friendship and fellowship every Saturday night and Sunday morning during the winter months. In mid-March 2020, Blythwood and the other Out of the Cold sites throughout Toronto closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2024-2025 - We kicked off the season on November 2nd with ten teams scheduled over the next six months to cook approximately 140 meals on Saturday mornings at Blythwood. The meals were then delivered to Trinity Square to be handed out by our volunteers to the guests from 2 pm - 4 pm each Saturday. Another dedicated group of volunteers handed out warm clothing, winter accessories and toiletries. In January, we moved indoors to Holy Trinity Church, where guests were invited to sit and enjoy their meals while listening to local musicians.  

2023-2024 - In November and December, we were located near City Hall and the provincial courthouses downtown. In January, we moved to Trinity Square, south of Dundas Street West and east of Bay Street and the Eaton Centre's west side.  Our tables were set up in front of the Church of the Holy Trinity. We were serving between 90 and 115 people each week.

We extended our season by a month and operated from November through April.

Our core team at Trinity Square is comprised of about 25 volunteers each Saturday. The meals were prepared on Saturday mornings in Blythwood’s commercial kitchen. Over the 5 months, more than 200 volunteers helped with the meals, from 9 different churches, businesses or groups of friends.

2022-2023 - Blythwood OOTC  partnered with Seeds of Hope, using their building at 6 St. Joseph Street in downtown Toronto (near Yonge and Wellesley).

We served hot meals and handed out clothing and toiletries to people on Saturday afternoons from December 3, 2022, to April 29, 2023.

2021-2022  - We again made financial gifts to front-line agencies but also partnered with Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. For 15 Wednesday nights as Yorkminster Park prepared and served a hot takeaway meal and lunches, Blythwood provided volunteers for the outdoor roles and purchased and distributed clothing, boots and important personal supplies.

2020-2021 - During the 2020-2021 COVID shutdown, Blythwood OOTC distributed funds and clothing to several front-line agencies that assist people experiencing homelessness.

Each Saturday during the winter, our volunteers purchase and bring food to cook and prepare takeaway meals.

Our volunteers are also operating the existing Seeds of Hope foodbank and clothing room.

In addition to food, Blythwood is purchasing cold-weather clothing and other essentials to help guests get through winter weather and deprivation.

Please join us in praying that the thousands of people who either live on the streets or in shelters or are on the verge of becoming homeless will find support and protection this winter.

We gratefully thank our generous donors and our amazing, dedicated volunteers for making the Blythwood program possible. Click here to donate.

This picture is a woodcut of a line of homeless men and women.

The Out of the Cold Story

Blythwood Road Baptist Church joined the city-wide Out of the Cold Program in the season of 1994/1995 in response to the growing tragedy of homelessness in Toronto. Thousands live on the streets. You see them everywhere: sad, defeated, lonely, and sick. They sleep in doorways, down alleyways, on rooftops, and over the heating grates.  Covered in old newspapers and stinking blankets, they are despised and rejected, regarded as an embarrassment and a nuisance in a glittering, prosperous city.  But Jesus loves them and died for them.  And his command to us to care for them is inescapable. 

How we at Blythwood, got started with the Out of the Cold Program

by the late Dennis Bruce, Co-Chair, Blythwood Out of the Cold Program 

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