Church engagement

Make Yonge Street Mission your outreach partner

Poverty is complex, and knowing how to respond can sometimes feel challenging. Whether your church is looking for ways to serve, learn, pray, or give, we’d love to invite you to partner with Yonge Street Mission (YSM).

Since 1896, YSM has been a Christian social service provider helping struggling Toronto neighbours move from surviving to thriving. Today, we offer more than 100 programs and services across four locations, supporting adults, youth, and families.

We offer serving opportunities to appeal to every generation, and ways to involve your whole congregation. Together, let’s work toward a Toronto where people, and not poverty, thrive.

[Read YSM’s Articles of Faith.]

Opportunities for every generation

CHILDREN

Help children discover what it means to care for their neighbours through YSM’s Junior Fundraisers program. Designed for elementary school-aged children, the program includes flexible, DIY resources for children’s ministries, groups and classrooms.

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

Our Fundraise for YSM – Youth Toolkit provides step-by-step support to brainstorm, plan, and carry out a fundraiser in support of YSM. It’s an opportunity to make a difference while building valuable skills in leadership, project management, and event planning. It also could serve as an impactful means to earn the Ontario Ministry of Education’s 40 volunteer hours which are a mandatory graduation requirement.

We’ll also be launching YSM’s new Youth Ambassador Program ‘YAP’ in 2027!

ADULTS

Adults can use our Fundraise for YSM Toolkit to organize a fundraiser around a personal occasion, such as a birthday, or as part of a church event or initiative. You could also organize a goods drive, for snack or hygiene kits, backpacks for our Backpack Drive, or new toys for our Christmas Toy Market.

For small groups who would like a hands-on opportunity, Project: GENERAT1ON offers nearly 12 different engagement options. Please note: Participants must be 18+.

CHURCH-WIDE OPPORTUNITIES

You might also consider connecting with YSM in ways that go beyond these programs:

Give an annual gift or organize a special offering to advance YSM’s comprehensive outreach efforts.
Register a team from your church for our February Winter Walk for Neighbours in Need. All the funds raised through this fun, family-friendly event benefit vulnerable neighbours during the difficult winter months.
Host a mission-focused awareness event.
Host a product drive for snack or hygiene kits, backpacks for our Backpack Drive, toys for our Christmas Toy Market, and more.
Arrange a visit or hands-on experience at YSM locations in Regent Park or Kensington Market.
Invite YSM staff to speak at your church, small group, or ministry event, to learn about our poverty reduction efforts in our city.
Explore a partnership idea that fits your church’s interests and capacity.