TORONTO, October 9, 2024 – This World Homeless Day, Thursday, October 10th, 12-1pm, Ve’ahavta’s frontline staff will host a free, Zoom-based lunch-n-learn session. Homelessness in a Whole New Light is an educational opportunity for the general public to learn more about the issue, break down stigmas and dispel myths, and inspire people to realize that their small contributions of time, energy, and support can have a disproportionate impact on individuals facing homelessness.
All are invited to attend the Zoom session. Register here. Registrants who are unable to attend the live session will receive a recording afterwards.
Later on in the day, at sundown, Toronto’s CN Tower will light up in Ve’ahavta’s colours – blue, yellow, and green – in a 2nd annual event to raise awareness about the plight of people facing homelessness in our city.
We are asking people to take a selfie with the CN Tower and post it to their social media feed (tag @veahavtanews) to demonstrate their care for individuals in Toronto who are facing homelessness.
Those who are not near the CN Tower can watch and share the lighting-up via CN Tower Livestream.
“Homelessness seems like an insurmountable problem that is only solvable by government policy, but this isn’t the only factor,” says Cari Kozierok, Ve’ahavta’s Executive Director. “In addition to systemic changes and professional supports, people on the streets need to feel like society hasn’t abandoned them. When people dedicate their time volunteering on our outreach vans, their warmth, care, and acceptance have a huge impact on the people we serve. People make massive life changes on the wings of small acts of human kindness.”
Seven nights a week, from 6pm to midnight, Ve’ahavta’s two Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness outreach vans visit shelters, clinics, encampments, and safe injection sites in Toronto’s downtown core, Scarborough, and North York, where outreach workers and volunteers distribute hot, nutritious meals, donated clothing and other life-saving supplies such as blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene products, and overdose prevention kits.
Ve’ahavta’s outreach vans serve around 350 people in our city facing homelessness each night. Since 2019, the number of people served by the vans has increased by 173%.
ABOUT VE’AHAVTA
Ve’ahavta takes its name from the bible passage: “Ve’ahavta lerecha kamocha,” to love your fellow human as yourself. Ve’ahavta’s life-saving Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness (MJRH) outreach van program delivers the essential supplies and supports that people need to survive homelessness. The organization also offers a comprehensive suite of pre-employment supports to individuals who are ready to stabilize their lives and, ultimately, re-enter the workforce and achieve sustainable employment. Ve’ahavta offers deeply meaningful hands-on volunteer opportunities to individuals who want to invest their time, energy, and love into making the world a better and more equitable place.