This week the staff of UNIFOR Local 1996-0 participated in our annual volunteer day at St. Francis Table, a local destination for hundreds of our community members every day.

St. Francis Table opened its doors December 1987 in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.

With seating capacity for 40 people, serving an average of 250 meals per day, they’ve served over 500,000 meals to date.

Half of the patrons are post-psychiatric patients who are unable to work due to their illness. St Francis Table also provides meals to single parents, refugees, the unemployed, transients, ex-convicts and people living on our city’s streets, in our parks and alleys.

Many of the patrons spend most of their meager income on accommodation. About one-quarter of St. Francis Table’s patrons are senior citizens who come for nourishment and companionship.

In keeping with the Franciscan heritage, no one is turned away without the offer of a meal.

We live in an era where there are no more “gold watches” for years of loyalty and service to corporations. Where workers must unite and fight tirelessly for fair wages, benefits–and even decent support for differently-abled team-members. When society is just beginning to get past the stigma associated with mental illness.

At a time when, despite all we have, we can’t seem to figure out how to distribute our success more evenly, thank goodness for organizations like St. Francis Table. They are an essential, binding element in the fabric of our society.

And they do it for a dollar.

Hungry guests who depend on the ethos and work of the Capuchin order are requested to make a small donation of one dollar. A meal can deliver more than charity. It can deliver a dose of dignity.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that helping St. Francis Table do their work brings returns for volunteers as well. A meal at St. Francis Table is an opportunity for community, advocacy, and friendship.

If you would like to join local 1996-o next year, please let us know, there’s always a need for another pair of helping hands.