Love Leads the Way at Christmas

JULIANAH OLORUNYOMI AND SON © COURTESY OF SCOTT MISSION

Love Leads the Way at Christmas

Scott Mission’s Christmas Program gives love and hope to people like Julianah and her family.

Toronto was cold and lonely when Julianah Olorunyomi, a young mother, arrived from Nigeria with her family. She knew no one, could barely speak the language, and her family had very little other than the clothes on their backs.

Julianah heard about Scott Mission from someone on the street. They provide hot meals for drop-in clients and could help her with groceries and clothing, too.

“I was scared when I came in,” Julianah remembers. “But I was happy to know there was an opportunity to get help,” she says with a smile.

Opportunity is dwindling in Canada, and nearly 45 per cent of Canadians are experiencing financial stress, with many living payday to payday, according to Statistics Canada in a report last summer. Every day, Scott Mission sees more and more new faces visiting our GTA locations. Last year, the Mission provided over 310,000 meals and 41,520 bags of groceries.

“Everything I experienced when I came to Toronto was quite challenging until I got to Scott Mission—I felt a sense of belonging there,” says Julianah.

“The Mission gave me information too—where to get this and get that. This really helped me at the beginning,” she recalls.

“They would say, this is where you go to look for a job and go here for ESL support. They helped with it all, so I didn’t feel alone anymore because everyone is like a family at the Mission.”

The need across the city is real and widespread, and surviving day to day is already a tremendous struggle for families like Julianah’s. It’s even harder during the holidays when other Canadians are preparing special meals and buying gifts for their children.

Thankfully, Scott Mission has a program to help over 2,600 families like Julianah’s at Christmas— providing special groceries for families to prepare a culturally specific holiday meal of their choosing and giving children warm clothing, boots, and more.

The Mission also stocks a FREE Christmas toy store where parents can shop with joy and dignity to select age-appropriate toys, games, books, and other items for 1,400 boys and girls who might not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas.

“When the kids see the Christmas toys, it goes a long way,” says Julianah, who is thrilled to see the smiles on her children’s faces.

“Beyond the gifts, we enjoy the atmosphere, you know, the joy of the season, it’s an atmosphere of love, and the Mission shares the love of God with us. And they give with an open hand,” she says, smiling while hugging her young son.

Scott Mission expects to provide as many as 64,500 meals and over 6,900 bags of groceries in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Hundreds of meals will be served on Christmas Day—for neighbours with nowhere else to turn.

Your gift today will ensure this Christmas isn’t just another day of hunger and loneliness for our Toronto neighbours. Let your love lead the way to a Merry Christmas for people who are facing overwhelming needs. Give today at scottmission.com