Anita Rajkumar and Semira Abdella are the Interfaith and Social Outreach Coordinators on the St. Michael’s College Campus Ministry Team for 2023-2024. Anita is a fourth-year student specializing in Health and Disease, and Semira is a fourth-year student majoring in Health and Disease, with minors in Immunology and Italian Studies. Both have significantly contributed to the spiritual and service-oriented community at St. Michael’s College this year.
As Interfaith and Social Outreach coordinators this year, we had the privilege to launch a weekly Snack Outreach Program at St. Michael’s, aimed at serving the vulnerable in Toronto. This program occurred every Thursday in the St. Basil’s Church kitchen from 1-4 p.m., providing students community service opportunities without leaving the campus.
Amidst the surge in food prices gripping Toronto, it’s imperative to address the pressing need to deliver food and snack programs, especially during the cold months. Inflationary pressures have compounded the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, making access to affordable and nutritious food increasingly difficult. These outreach initiatives play a vital role in bridging the gap, ensuring that individuals facing economic hardships have access to essential snacks and meals. By strengthening support for such programs, we can alleviate the burden on those struggling to make ends meet and foster a more inclusive and resilient community.
This initiative was unique. In comparison to the Out of the Cold outreach program run on Mondays and Tuesdays at St. Basil’s, the snack program was solely student-led. Under the guidance of Hilda, the St. Basil’s kitchen coordinator, our team of 15 student volunteers were eager to prepare and serve meals. During the first hour, the volunteers would organize plates with the meal, which included soup or pasta, a fruit, yogurt, and dessert. Take-out bags with the same meal would also be made for those who could not stay to eat their meals. The remainder of the session would consist of serving the meals and interacting with the vulnerable, followed by cleaning. Special edition snack outreach programming also occurred throughout the year, where volunteers and other student leaders would bake fresh cookies for the community.
The community members attended weekly often mentioned the program made their day. These individuals would share their life stories and the daily challenges they are facing, allowing student volunteers to develop compassion and respect for human dignity. The student volunteers did not consider this program as an obligation but rather a time to form a community with other student leaders and those in need. These are some words from the volunteer team:
“Snack outreach has allowed me to meet and connect with so many beautiful souls in the St. Mike’s and St. Basil’s community.”- Emily Hospedales
“It allowed me to better understand my community and meet wonderful and determined people.” – Hriday Sharma
“Volunteering with the snack outreach team provided the opportunity to connect with new friends and help me find my place within the St. Mike’s community.” – Anthony Dinglasan
“The program has given me the opportunity to serve those in the community while allowing me to meet new people and form greater connections! It also doesn’t hurt that I had loads of fun doing it as well!” – Katrisse Bautista
Our team has served more than a thousand meals this year and we are very proud of this achievement! As graduating students, we are excited to pass on the baton to the new coordinators pursuing our positions, and hope this program continues to grow and support a larger community in need in the years to come.
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