In late 2009 I volunteered on The Salvation Army’s street youth van that feeds and befriends Toronto’s homeless youth. Seven evenings a week, the “Sally Van” gives a glimpse of hope to 16 to 25-year-olds who are desperate for food, compassion and understanding.

The Life Employability and Enhancement Program (LEEP) is a pre-employment training program that assists newcomers in becoming contributing members of Canadian society. Participants must be from a country affected by war and be between the ages of 18-30 years.

Many kids are heading for school on empty stomachs. This isn’t something you would expect in one of the best places in the world to live.

The clients and volunteers who participate in The Salvation Army’s soup kitchen on Tuesdays are a close community. Marcus Maloney, 87, has a bowl of soup, or chili almost every Tuesday, along with his wife Hazel, 82.

When 18-year-old Gwen Boyne was stabbed in the back of her head by her boyfriend, she thought she would die. Brad wanted to control, demean, harm and punish her. He had succeeded to do so countless times before.

It’s about survival. Homeless youth are rarely on the streets by choice. They are typically there because of circumstances. Peter Lewis, 26, discovered that sleeping on the streets, in tents, emergency shelters or on friends’ couches was a solution to an unstable family situation.

One of Toronto’s working poor – homeless in his final moments – died last year at St. Michael’s Hospital, unnoticed by the greater world around him.

When temperatures plummet, many low-income families are forced to chose between buying groceries or paying for the energy bill. Since 1997 The Salvation Army-run Good Neighbours Energy Program in Nova Scotia has been helping individuals and families when they have nowhere else to turn.

The Salvation Army in Canada is sending US$58,000 to assist Chile with ongoing relief efforts following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated much of the country.

Following Chile’s devastating earthquake on February 27, the immediate need is still food, water and medicine.