The Sisters and Mustard Seed volunteers are planning to fill more than 100 Christmas bags for guests to their drop-in centre on Queen Street East. The gift bags will include items like soap, a toothbrush, shaving cream and socks, preferably with very little elastic. They also come with hand knit toques and mittens by volunteers.

“Many of our guests live in rooming houses with no privacy or security and have little money left once rent is paid,” said staff member Leanne Kloppenborg. About 50 to 60 guests are expected at the centre for a Christmas party when they will receive their gift bags.

Smith administers the drop-in centre while Sr. Rosemary McGinn and some student nurses have been providing foot care for the past five years.

McGinn offers “care of the sole” three afternoons a week. She spends an hour with each person, many with swollen feet.

“I am deeply blessed to provide foot care to all who come and they enrich and nourish my soul,” she said.

During a drop-in visit, Smith met one of the guests who asked her if she saw “a pair of grey socks running down the hall?” She answered, “No,” to which the guest replied: “Yes, they were so happy to get off my feet, they ran away.”

“I’ve got new feet and new socks. I’m a new man,” Smith recalled the guest saying.

For more information about the program, call (416) 465-6069.