On Nov. 25, while the environment will be typical, there will be one difference: St. Francis Table will be serving its one millionth meal. But this is no reason to celebrate, said Frampton.

“We can’t celebrate hunger,” he said. “We’re marking the service of one million meals.”

Capuchin friars Fr. Terry Boland and Neil Thompson established St. Francis Table, in Toronto’s Parkdale district, at 1322 Queen St. W., in 1987 following an interfaith demographic survey that showed the neighbourhood’s number one need was a food service ministry for the poor. The restaurant has 10 tables that can each seat four. Meals cost $1 a plate and is open six days a week for nine different meal times under the direction of cooks Sam Kumarasamy and Dominic Morris.

The clientele includes the working poor, post-psychiatric patients, the unemployed, seniors and ex-cons.

On the day of the millionth meal, Frampton plans to keep it simple.

“We looked at getting some dignitary in, some religious figure or provincial minister, but it’s going to be service as usual,” said Frampton.

“We will be letting patrons in one at a time and serving them as they come in so nobody is waiting to be served. We’re trying to keep it as real as possible.”

But the person receiving the millionth meal will receive a bonus: free meals until Christmas, said Frampton.

Samantha Hiles, a regular, said there’s no way she could afford such a good meal if it weren’t for St. Francis Table.

“You can’t get a meal like this for one dollar anywhere else,” she said.

And it’s healthy, said James Poes. “I don’t like beans, though,” he said with a laugh.

Volunteer Anne Wright-Howard said the millionth meal is a tribute to 23 years of ministry by Capuchin friars. They have never missed a meal.

“And it’s a tribute to the fact that they don’t get any handouts,” she said. “It’s all individual donations.”

The restaurant relies completely on the generosity of individuals, businesses and groups for financial support. St. Francis Table, a federally registered non-profit charity, receives no government or diocesan funding.

“They pull it off day after day feeding the hungry in Parkdale,” said Wright-Howard. “A millionth meal really is a milestone. It’s disappointing that we’ve got hunger in Toronto in 2010 but it’s also a lovely tribute to Br. John and the other friars who’ve worked there over the years that they can give so much to people who are so needy. And they get so many volunteers.”

On a weekly basis, between 900 and 1,000 volunteers help out at St. Francis Table, said Frampton.  Leftovers are often donated to food banks, including Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank.

To keep track of the number of patrons, Frampton tallies the number of diners at every meal and keeps a computer record.  

Unfortunately, business has increased by roughly 30 per cent since the economic downturn of 2008. Frampton said the restaurant used to serve dinner to an average of 100 people a night, but now it’s 130 to 150. Lunches have gone up too — from 50 to 70 people a day to often close to 100.

“In a city like Toronto, where we just had a municipal election, hunger certainly didn’t seem to be an issue with those elected,” said Frampton. “It’s just a shame that Toronto has to rely on agencies to take care of issues that I feel others should be at least partially responsible for.”

For more information on St. Francis Table, see www.capuchinoutreach.org.