Welfare Avenue Toronto
Toronto
Students and young volunteers cooking and serving free meals with shelters and drop-in centres across the city.
What we do in Toronto
Good food, cooked together
Our first Toronto serving in September 2024 brought 36 meals and a new student chapter. Since then, our Toronto team has run free food events with shelters and drop-in centres: we cook together in a community kitchen, then serve the meals where they are needed, with food from partners like Daily Bread Food Bank and Aangen Kitchen.
- Cook with a team, no experience needed
- Serve meals with care, side by side with the people we serve
- Meet students and young people who care about their city
Coming up this fall
Community event at Toronto Metropolitan University
A weekend event with the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council, open to students and the community: meet our team, learn about food security in Toronto and lend a hand.
- Late November
Cook and serve
We cook at the Ralph Thornton Community Centre, then serve the meals at a drop-in centre or shelter nearby.
- Late November
Dates are confirmed with our partners first. Register and we will let you know as soon as they are set.
How it works
Register
Fill in the volunteer form, or the student form if you study in Toronto.
Hear from us
Our Toronto team reaches out as events are planned, by email, phone or WhatsApp.
Cook and serve
Join the team on the day. Our leads show you the ropes; the rest is teamwork.
Register
Volunteer with us in Toronto
Pick the form that fits you. Both take a few minutes and open in a new tab, or fill them in right here.
Volunteer in Toronto
For anyone who wants to cook, serve or help at our Toronto events. Tell us where you live in the GTA and which days work for you.
Fill it in on this page
Student volunteers
Studying at a university, college or school in Toronto? Register as a student volunteer and join our events as a cook or a food server, with your classmates and student groups.
Fill it in on this page
The forms are run by Keela, the tool our Toronto team uses today. Questions? Write to the Toronto team at toronto@welfareavenue.com. Volunteering in Montreal instead? See our Sunday servings.
Who we work with
Our Toronto partners
Food banks, community kitchens, universities and youth groups who make our Toronto events possible.
- Daily Bread Food Bank
- Aangen Kitchen
- Not Far From The Tree
- Toronto Youth Food Policy Council
- Toronto Metropolitan University
Our team
The Toronto team
Students and young professionals who plan, cook and serve, a few hours a week. Reach them directly at toronto@welfareavenue.com. Want to join them? See our open roles.
Tate
On the team since 2025
Melvina
On the team since 2026
Gamze
Sama
On the team since 2025
Karan
On the team since 2026
Bring your school or group
Clubs, classes and student unions can volunteer together. Write to the Toronto team at toronto@welfareavenue.com and we will plan an event with you.