Please Support Foodshare and NYH Food Bank
Free Balcony Garden Kits from Foodshare
Toronto Public Library Curbside
MD Open for Business, updated
Information Sources
Webinars and more for MD Businesses
Subscribe to our mailings here, or view in web version for options including translation!
Please Support Foodshare and the North York Harvest Food Bank
When the COVID-19 outbreak began, it was quickly apparent that
North York Harvest Food Bank (NYHFB) and
FoodShare faced a looming crisis. The federal government almost immediately announced a support package of $ 100 million for food providers!
Have you heard about the Good Food delivery program at Food Share? For as little as $20 a week, you can have a box of fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to your door by
Foodshare. Every week you get a variety of seasonal fresh food, most of it grown locally especially during the warm months. This is a great program with options for smaller or larger portions. Foodshare is a charity dedicated to providing low-cost food in our community, and can be supported easily just by signing up!
MDCA wondered how the crisis was affecting NYHFB, and spoke to their Executive Director Ryan Noble. It is a good news/bad news situation. The good news is a federal commitment to support food banks with $50 million immediately.
This funding, plus the disruption of the normal commercial food distribution in restaurants has made a huge amount of food available for immediate distribution. And therein lies the bad news; NYHFB suspended all volunteer operations out of an abundance of caution and redeployed staff to perform work normally done by volunteers. This has increased costs.
The federal funding is paying for food to meet the immediate demand during the COVID-19 crisis, but the committed funding is only for the summer.
Following the September 2008 financial crisis, food bank usage peaked more than a year later in 2010. It is feared that a similar situation will arise now, where unemployment in sectors like bars, restaurants, entertainment and retail will remain high but employment benefits and COVID-19 relief programs will be ending as governments try to reduce spending.
Already, the small distribution centres are closed, with the
Weston Area Emergency Support now being the remaining place to get help.
So what can you do to help? If you are a senior, you may be receiving a $300 one time payment from OAS. For many retirees, the crisis has reduced discretionary spending since you can no longer go out to events or gatherings. Donating that $300 to our local charities would be a great way to help, and the donation is a legitimate tax deduction too!
Some paid positions have been created.
Information:
Weston Area Emergency Support (
https://www.westonparkbaptist.org/outreach/weston-area-emergency-support) is the local distribution centre
Federal Support Information (
https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/03/prime-minister-announces-support-food-banks-and-local-food)
North York Harvest Food Bank (
https://northyorkharvest.com/donate-today/)
Foodshare (
https://goodfoodbox.foodshare.net/ )
Free Balcony Garden Kits from Foodshare
United Way Greater Toronto's Local Love Fund is helping FoodShare deliver 250 planter boxes to folks living in high-rise buildings in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas. There are so many benefits from being able to grow your own garden, including strengthening our connections to food systems and showing ways we can be more food secure in the future. Interested in fostering a blooming balcony? Apply online for your kit:
https://bit.ly/2TDoGkn
Toronto Library Curbside
DO you have a stack of books by the front door, just begging to go home to the library? TPL has announced that starting next week, you may be able to drop off the returns in the return shute! Plus, you will soon be able to reserve books for curbside pickup.
The TPL website isn't particularly helpful as it uses weasel words like most and early June to essentially make the announcements aspirational rather than concrete, but at least it is moving forward.
Hopefully next week we will learn the status of local branches, especially Mount Dennis, but for now, we can only hope that we can soon borrow books!
Details at https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/news_releases/toronto-public-library-service-update-covid-19-impacts.html#curbside
Open for Business (May 27)
MDCA will be reporting on which businesses are open, and any other information they provide. So we invite operators of businesses in Mount Dennis to email us, business@mountdennis.ca
This list is available at mountdennis.ca
What Stores are Open in Mount Dennis?
(as of May 25, 2020 /
bold type means updated since April)
Variety & Convenience Stores –
Kim Grocery 874 Weston Rd Daily 10 am – 8 pm 416-766-6924
World Variety 1081 Weston Rd Daily 10:30 am – 8:30 pm -if closed call: 416-763-0141
M&M Variety & Grocery 1184 Weston Rd Daily 9 or 10 am – 11 pm 416.243.0213
Henry (OK) Convenience 1207 Weston Rd Daily 2 pm – 9 pm 416-241-4323
A&M Lifestyle Variety 1233 Weston Rd Daily 10 am – 8 pm 416-243-0770
October Convenience 1339 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 7:30 am-10 pm/Sat-Sun 9 am-9 pm 416-241-7171
T & K Variety 1385 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 8 am-10 pm / Sat-Sun 9 am-9 pm
7-Eleven 1390 Jane St. @ Weston ALWAYS open 24-7 416-248-6743
Lambton Daily Mart 102 Lambton Ave Daily 8 am – 10 pm 647-352-3988
Lambton Convenience 113 Lambton Ave Daily … hours may vary; call 416-767-2118
Lambton Grocery 150 Lambton Ave Daily 8:30 am 8 pm -may vary/ pick-up @ door 647-831-8811
Corner Store 201 Lambton Ave Daily 8 am – 10 pm 416-760-8198
Emmett Convenience 55 Emmett Av. (Basement) Sun-Fri 8 am-10 pm /Sat 9 am-10 pm 416-248-6555
Other Grocery Stores
Sam & Nancy’s No Frills … Photography Dr … Daily 8 am-8 pm ; (drug store 10 am-5 pm); priority given to seniors & those w disabilities: 8-9 am
Newport Fish (fresh fish & groceries including Portuguese cheeses, meats) 370 Alliance Ave … Mon & Sat 8 am-5 pm / Tue & Wed 8 am-6 pm /Thur & Fri 8 am-7 pm / closed Sun 416-537-1278
Food Banks
Salvation Army – York Community Church 1100 Weston Rd. Visit www.sayorkcc.com , Foodbank Appointment., or call 416-766-1361
Weston Area Emergency Support 1 King St. @ Weston 416-247-3737
Restaurants –
All open ONLY for take-out and/or delivery
Pizza Tazza 878 Weston Rd. Daily noon-10pm, Fri-Sat till midnight 416-763-5500
I.D. Love Restaurant & Club 925 Weston Rd. Pick up only Tue-Sat, 2 pm 9 pm 416-242-9679
Beiramar Restaurant 995 Weston Rd Mon-Sat, 11:30 am – 6 pm 416-767-1433
Dragon House Chinese Food 1015 Weston Rd Pick-up only Thu 9 am-9 pm/Fri 9 am-11 pm/ Sat 11 am-10 pm/ closed Sun-Wed. 416-762-1271
supercoffee 1148 Weston @ Eglinton Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm/Sat-Sun 8 am-5 pm 416-551-8421
First Class Delites 1156 Weston Rd Sun-Fri 9 am – 9 pm / closed Sat Catering & take-out only 416-240-7810
244 Pizza & Wings 1166 Weston Rd Mon-Wed 11 am-12:30 am/Thur til 1 am/Fri-Sat til 2 am/Sun noon-12:30 am 416-244-7777
CalaBar & Grill 1178 Weston Rd Tue-Sun 1 pm – 7 pm 416-249-9100
Meechies BBQ & Jerk 1189 Weston Rd Tue-Thur 10 am-10 pm/Fri-Sat 10 am-11 pm/ Sun. & Mon closed 647-344-7939 ….
Domino’s Pizza 1200 Weston Rd Daily 11 am – 1 am 416-649-4445
Veez Vegan Vegetarian Restaurant 1221 Weston Rd. Tues-Sat 10 am – 7 pm 416-249-1221
Weston Pizza & Wings 1239 Weston Rd Sun -Thurs noon-12 pm / Fri 11 am- 2 am / Sat 11 am – 1 am 416-244-7777
Royal Bakery 1263 Weston Rd Mon-Sat 5 am-10 pm/Sun 6 am-10 pm 416-240-9969
African Player 1297 Weston Rd Pick-up only / must call ahead / hrs. vary 647-855-3220
Kentucky Fried Chicken 1300 Weston Rd Mon-Sat: noon-9 pm/Sun noon-8 pm 416-243-0433
Golden Crisp Fish & Chips 1354 Weston Rd Mon-Sat 11 am-7 pm (to 8 pm Fri)/closed Sun. 416-245-8839
Jerk Jerks Seafood Grill 1360 Weston Rd Mon-Thur 10 am-11 pm/ Fri-Sat 10 am-2 am/ Sun noon-11pm 416-241-5375
Pho Asia Noodle Shop 1391 Weston @ Jane Mon-Tue & Thur 10 am-9 pm/Fri-Sat 10 am-10 pm pm/Sun 10 am – 1pm/closed Wed. 416- 645-0304
Asian Hot & Spicy 1391 Weston @ Jane Daily 9 am-9 pm 416-248-1100
Westwood Burger 1391 Weston @ Jane Daily 11 am – midnight (may close 2 pm-4 pm) 416-244-7713
Automotive Services & Sales
Rui’s Auto Mechanics 923 Weston Rd. Mon-Fri 10 am – 5 pm 647-345-4545
SK Automotive 931 Weston Rd Mon-Sat, 10:30am – 8 pm 416-900-3956
Weston Enterprise (car sales) 931 Weston Rd Mon-Sat, 10:30 am – 8 pm 416-763-3591
Next Gen Auto Centre 931A Weston Rd Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm/Sat 8 am-1 pm 416-763-8808
Tint City 971 Weston Rd - by appointment only 416-240-7000
Jutt Motors 1000 Weston Rd Mon-Sat 8 am – 6 pm 416-531-4200
Autofix 1001 Weston Rd Mon-Fri’ 8 am-6 pm / Sat: 8 am – 2.pm 647-748-2920
C Auto Collision 1140 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 10 am – 10 pm / Sat 9 am 12 noon. 416-704-6362
Louison Automotive 1295 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 9 am – 6 pm 416-241-1862
The Auto Store 1345 Weston Rd Car sales by appointment only 416-546-2217
The Approval Store 1384 Weston Rd @ Jane Mon-Sat 10 am – 6 pm 416-247-6888
Viele Bros. Autobody 82 Lambton Ave Mon-Sat 9 am - 6 pm (hrs. vary) -call 416-763-5645
Laundromats & Cleaners
Ideal Coin Laundry 995 Weston Rd 7 am – 11 pm daily
Pasodaje Washouse Laundromat 1217 Weston Rd 5am – 11pm daily 416-519-9347
Loyal Custom Cleaners 1304 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 8 am-7 pm /Sat 8 am – 6pm 416-249-3000
Friendly Coin Laundry + dryclean 1357 Weston Rd 5 am-11 pm daily; call re alter’ns 416-949-8585
Soap Opera Laundromat 1366 Weston Rd 6 am-11 pm daily 416-457-1751
Lambton Coin Laundry 110 Lambton Ave ALWAYS open 24-7 416 243-3223
Toronto Coin Laundry 965 Jane @ Lambton 6 am – 11 pm 647-984-0090
Pharmacies & Medical Services
Pharmasave 1181 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 8 am-8 pm /Sat 8 am-4 pm/ Sun 8 am-noon 647-351-3371
Weston-Jane Pharmacy 1292 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm / Sat 9 am-12 noon 647-344-9111
Janedal Pharmacy 965 Jane @ Lambton Mon-Fri 9:30 am-6 pm / Sat 10am-4 pm 416-604-8888
Crosstown Family Health 1286 Weston Rd Daily, but you must call first 416-242-2850
Medical Clinic 1292 Weston Rd. open by appointment only 416-243-0700
Specialty Businesses & Services
CMA Aquatics 876 Weston Rd. Delivery and curbside pickup only Wed-Fri 1 pm-5 pm/Sat-Sun 12 pm to 5 pm. Call for drop-off appointments 416-901-9777
Western Gate Martial Arts 1036 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 5 – 8 pm/Sat noon -3 pm On-line free instruction. Call to schedule classes 416-760-7500
Caplan Appliances 1111 Weston Rd & Miele Gallery 1130 Weston Rd. Showrooms are open for appointments only - contact sales staff at 416-767-1655
Scotiabank 1151 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 10 am – 2 pm 416 240-7667
D&N Custom Upholstery & Furniture Refinishing 1160 Weston Rd CALL re hours 416-243-5451
West Toronto Support Services 1167 Weston Rd. No on-site programs but drivers & “runners” needed for meals-on-wheels delivery. Also personal support workers can be sent to those who need one. Call 416-249-7946
Klotz Law Firm 1177 Weston Rd Mon-Fri 10 am- 2:30 pm 416-243-2222
Chatelet (home décor)1188 Weston Rd “open by chance or by appointment” call or text 416-833-8366 (learn more at www.chatelethome.com)
Digicell 2000 1229 Weston Rd. Mon-Fri 11 am-6 pm/Sat 11 am - 4 pm/Sun closed. Cell-phone top-ups, pagers, cash transfer etc. 416-248-6200
Scott Funeral Home 1273 Weston Rd. Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm (max 9 visitors on site). Call first 416-243-0202
Canvas Cannabis 1285 Weston Rd. 11 am – 7 pm 416-778 8270
Bashment Boutique 1353 Weston Rd. Mon-Wed 10 am-7 pm / Th-Fri 10 am-9 pm / Sat closed / Sun 1 – 6 pm 416-614-2312
Dollarland $ transfers & top-ups 1373B Weston Rd Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pm/Sat 9 am-2 pm 647-430-5615
Can-Am Accountants 1275 Jane St Mon-Fri 9-6/Sat 9-2/Sun 10-2 COVID limits customers on site – call ahead 416-243-2912
Freedom Mobile 1277 Jane St. Mon-Sat 11 am-7 pm/ Sun 11 am-5 pm 416-901-9864 .
Information Sources
We urge you all to protect yourself from COVID-19 by keeping up to date with information from our elected representatives, and by following best practices. All three levels of government have regular updates that speak to best practices about staying safe, access to financial assistance, and updates on the fight to contain COVID-19
If you have suggestions for other ways MDCA can stay in touch during this COVD 19 crisis, please let us know.
If you have concerns, or things that you think MDCA should be doing, please LET US KNOW
There are many sources of information, MDCA cannot hope to list all of them, so we suggest you subscribe to our elected representatives' newsletters to get daily updates about our City, Province aand Federal activities and announcements.
City Councilor Nunziata: https://www.councillornunziata.com/ then click on Subscribe
Provincial Member Faisal Hassan Sign up for his newsletters here
Federal Member Ahmed Hussen's Newsletter Sign up for his newsletters here
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check
https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Webinars for MD Businesses and More
BusinessTO Newsletter
Correspondence from the CIty to our MD BIA, but of interest to all businesses!
From: Chris Rickett <
chris.rickett3@toronto.ca>
To: laura@mountdennisbia.ca
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2020, 07:18:40 p.m. EDT
Subject: City of Toronto COVID-19 Business Support – Upcoming Webinars & Free Online Stores
Good evening Laura - I hope you got to enjoy the sun today.
I wanted to flag some upcoming webinars we are hosting this week to support businesses during this crisis.
You can find them here:
• May 27 – Ask-An-Accountant – Applying for Government COVID-19 Funding Programs -
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-27-ask-an-accountant-applying-for-government-covid-19-funding-programs-tickets-103551342854
• May 28 – COVID-19 Re-Opening Guidance for the Retail Sector -
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-28-webinar-covid-19-re-opening-guidance-for-the-retail-sector-tickets-105533331034
We also have a series called Business AdviceTO that is focused on group mentoring and advice. They happen every Wednesday and there are three streams:
• May 27 – Business AdviceTO Female Founders with SheEO – -
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfuCupjIjEtI6Vqv5GNvtRtowhJ4V9goc
• May 27 – Business AdviceTO Retail with Retail Advantage –
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-27-business-adviceto-retail-with-partner-retail-insider-tickets-105113178346
• May 27 – Business AdviceTO Tech with TechTO –
https://ti.to/techtoronto/techto-online-may27-2020
Sign-up for future sessions on our COVID-19 Resource page -
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/covid-19-business-sector-resources/
We have also launched a new program called ShopHERE that will build free online stores for businesses and artists in Toronto. You can can sign-up here to get a site built in a matter of days -
https://digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere/ We have expanded the eligibility to include home-based businesses and the program will be expanding, so even if you're outside of Toronto, you can sign-up now too.
Otherwise, if you need advice or help completing a funding application, you can meet with one of Business Advisors by signing-up here -
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/covid-19-business-sector-resources/businessto-support-centre/
Thanks,
Chris
Chris Rickett
Director (A), COVID-19 Mitigation - Business
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- May 27, 2020
