Programs that meet people where they are.
More than a meal: dignity, connection, and belonging.
At the drop-in, hot meals are prepared and shared each day. For many, this is the most consistent and nutritious meal they will have. For others, it offers something just as important: human connection.
Chef Drew prepares meals for up to 150 people a day in a modest kitchen, stretching donor dollars through careful planning. "Just because someone is living on a low income doesn't mean they should be eating bad food. I cook to see smiles."
"Nobody wakes up and says they want to be homeless or hungry. Things happen. And no matter how you got here, you still deserve the same as everyone else."
Affordable produce, real conversation.
Each Wednesday, the market — supported through our partnership with FoodShare Toronto — brings together seniors on fixed incomes, neighbours accessing food support for the first time, and community members looking for affordable produce.
FoodShare supports 51 community markets across the city. In 2025 alone, those markets sold more than 307,243 pounds of produce — equal to over one million servings.
"The market is way more than fruit and vegetables. It's about people who wouldn't normally interact standing in line together, talking, helping one another out."
A place to be in peace.
Fontbonne was created 25 years ago with the belief that people deserve to be met with care, consistency, and respect. The drop-in is not chaotic, rushed, or transactional. It is orderly, calm, and predictable — a place where people can eat, rest, and gather themselves.
Mornings begin with breakfast. Throughout the day, people can access practical supports like the clothing boutique. "The staff are not just here to do a task and leave," says Shaw. "They actually want to help."
"This is really a decent place where you can just be in peace. You can breathe here."
A place to land — permanent, affordable housing.
In Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood, Fontbonne Place is a low-rise building with 18 rent-geared-to-income, one-bedroom apartments — intentionally built by the Sisters of St. Joseph for senior women who might otherwise be homeless or precariously housed.
The building is women-only, accessible and pet-friendly. Seven of the original residents still call it home.
"I'm not going anywhere. This is the first place in a long time where I feel settled."
Finally comfortable on her feet.
Rooted in a long tradition of health care carried forward by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the clinic — now led by Dr. Minh — serves seniors, people on low incomes, and people without stable housing, many of whom arrive after years without consistent care.
For people living outdoors, damp socks and cold shoes can lead to trench foot. For people with diabetes, small wounds become ulcers. Regular foot care can prevent injuries from becoming serious enough to limit mobility or require hospitalization.
"You can have full use of your arms and a clear mind. But if you can't get from one place to another, your world gets very small. Helping people stay on their feet helps open that world again."