Members of the community came out for the Out of the Cold Cafe appreciation BBQ on Sunday in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
The cafe, which operates under the umbrella of WOW-Living registered charity, was established at the onset of the pandemic in response to a community's need for food and temporary shelter, is celebrating the hard work of its volunteers and community partners in helping support the town's most vulnerable.
Jodi Greenstreet founder of WOW-Living, which runs the cafe, was pleased to see so many familiar faces out on Sunday enjoying the sunshine and company.
"This is cool," she said, noting how much the cafe community has grown since it first opened in 2020. "It started with the people that needed it, it was their idea, we just partnered with some resources but it's very much a team."
The cafe was originally only supposed to be open during the winter months, to provide shelter and a warm meal for those in need. But due to the demand for service, the cafe ended up staying open all year. The cafe serves around 400 meals per month, donated by volunteers and community partners, but Greenstreet says new guests are stopping by every week.
"It's just as much (important) for us on the team (to stay open) as it is for those we are helping," said Greenstreet.
The cafe is now open seven days a week from Oct. 1 to June 30, and three days per week during the summer months.
But it's more than just a cafe.
Guests are able to stop by for resources and support with finding jobs, housing and support services.
Thomas Soller has been coming to the cafe for the past few months, and recently was able to secure employment with a local business with the help and support of the cafe volunteers.
"It's a nice place in there," he said.
"We support Jodi and her team, they do a great job for our community," said Deputy Mayor James Leduc who stopped by the BBQ on Sunday along with Coun. Raj Sandhu.
"This (cafe) tells me when someone gets a shoulder to lean on, how much that can mean, and that little help can go a long way," added Sandhu.
WOW-Living will be hosting another fundraising event WOWZAPALOOZA with music, food and games, for affordable housing innovation on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at King Christian School at 19740 Bathurst St.
To learn more about WOW-Living and the Out of the Cold Cafe, visit their website here.
