Food and Friends

By: June Li

Every week, the Bloor Central Corps in Toronto hosts a community meal and invites anyone interested in an evening of eating and conversation. But these meals aren’t your ordinary community meals. Rather, Major Doug Hammond, the Corps Officer at Bloor Central strives to create a welcoming environment where those with no place to go can feel accepted. “We want to build connections with people. We try to learn their names, look them in the eyes, greet them personally and make this interaction as personable as possible,” says Major Hammond.

Though the act of sharing a meal is simple, it can give hope to those who are lonely or down on their luck. “One of the most difficult parts of being homeless is the isolation and seclusion,” says Major Hammond, “Even if you are in a room full of people, if you have no connection with anyone, it can be very lonely.” With over 250 meals being served each week, Major Doug Hammond and his wife Major Karen Hammond along with volunteers, ensure that every individual who walks through the doors of Bloor Central are treated with dignity and respect. At every community meal, you can see Major Hammond and volunteers sitting at the tables with guests, making connections and creating relationships.

Lt. Col. Sandra Rice, with two volunteers

What makes Bloor Central’s community meals special is that they operate on a policy of complete acceptance. Regardless of faith beliefs or economic means, their mission is to provide nourishing food and a listening ear in a welcoming space.  On a brisk evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Sandra Rice, Divisional Commander, Ontario Central East Division, visited Bloor Central to volunteer. “I saw that many people who entered this building knew each other – it is community at its best. It was beautiful,” she explained. Major Hammond noted that the main groups of individuals who attend the community meals are either those lonely or those with mental illness, but no matter the reason that brought them to Bloor Central, they are all treated the same. “I could not help but be impressed and inspired by the effort that the staff and volunteers go through to engage face-to-face with those who come for a meal, recognizing that this is such an opportune time to extend friendship as well as share Christ’s love,” says Lieutenant-Colonel Rice.

The Salvation Army believes that everybody deserves a safe place to live, food to eat and a second chance at life. The way that Major Hammond and his team at Bloor Central treat their guests show that we all need to rethink the way we view mental illness, homelessness, and poverty.  Those experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable members in our society and they deserve support and compassion. “We want to serve our guests the best meal possible and treat them like they are at home,” says Major Hammond, “They are like family and there will always be a place set at our table for our friends from the community.”