Sticking with tradition, Good Shepherd Ministries will once again provide guests with a holiday feast Easter Sunday in the face of further rising needs in food bank usage and meal programs in Toronto. 

Even as nearly 1,200 meals were served during last year’s Easter meal at the downtown shelter, that number is expected to increase this year as individuals reliant on a hot meal find themselves with nowhere else to turn. 

“ There has once again been a substantial increase in the demand for our meal programs since last year, I think in large part due to inflation and the rise in cost of living, and so the number of clients depending on our program has increased steadily,” said Aklilu Wendaferew, Good Shepherd Ministries executive director. 

He confirmed the team at Good Shepherd is preparing to serve anywhere between 1,400 to 1,500 meals this Easter. 

While the shelter has the unique perspective of being located in the heart of the City at 412 Queen St. E., it’s not the only organization tasked with assisting Toronto’s growing needs. Daily Bread Food Bank, another Toronto organization with the goal of eliminating food insecurity, found in its most recent Who’s Hungry? report that more than 154,000 new clients are turning to food banks for the first time. The City of Toronto also reported that one in four households (24.9 per cent) in the city experience food insecurity in some form. 

Wendaferew says that no demographic has been left untouched by the stark reality facing Torontonians over the past few years. He says that after COVID restrictions were lifted, the numbers began to climb and haven’t slowed down since. 

“ We continued our takeout program during COVID, never stopping for even a day, but since then, we see many new faces coming to us for nutritious meals. We've gone from 700 to about 800, 900 and now close to 1,000 people per day at this point,” he said. 

A reflection of the reality that many are facing, Wendaferew attests to the rise. Factors such as booming inflation, increased cost of rent and general food insecurity have left many facing a choice on how to survive. 

“A lot of people we serve are the working poor.  People are choosing between paying their rent or for their food,” he said. “ We see the young, the elderly, those on Ontario Disability Support and Ontario Works, we see them all, every day,” he said. 

Increasing poverty, inadequate income, a lack of housing affordability, all leave individuals struggling to meet their needs.

About 50 volunteers will be  prepare this year’s feast — a turkey dinner with trimmings of  mixed vegetables, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and even apple pie, chocolate and coffee for dessert. 

With ShareLife, the Archdiocese of Toronto and various schools and parishes continuing to support the shelter’s ongoing efforts and annual Easter meal,  Good Shepherd Ministries remains a beacon of hope in a city grappling with unprecedented need. 

For Wendaferew and his team, it's more than a meal, it’s a celebration of community, dignity and the enduring values that have guided the organization for decades.

“All of our special celebrations, whether it’s Christmas or Easter, have deep meaning to Good Shepherd,” Wendaferew said. “It goes back to the legacy of how the organization was formed by the Brothers of Good Shepherd and how it has sustained itself for so many years.”

Rooted in the core values of hospitality, the shelter continues to welcome everyone with generosity and openness, providing both nourishment and a sense of belonging.

“It’s about providing quality service, excellent service, to our clients, whoever they are, whatever their background is, and respecting their spirituality, their culture, their traditions. We respect the dignity each person deserves. That’s what guides us every day,” he said.

To support Good Shepherd’s efforts, Wendaferew invites Torontonians to donate, volunteer, or spread the word about the scarcity of affordable food options and housing in any way they can.  

“Every little bit counts,” he said. “Together, we can ensure no one goes hungry this Easter and year-round.”