Project: GENERAT1ON
Join us in our mission to end long-term poverty in one generation
Project: GENERAT1ON is a hands-on group engagement experience that makes giving back fun and meaningful, while also financially supporting YSM. Your team will participate directly in the life-changing services offered at Yonge Street Mission, at one of our three downtown Toronto locations.
As part of your experience, we are happy to offer a brief educational tour that explores the realities of poverty in Toronto – including the challenges faced by vulnerable youth, families in need and adults experiencing hardship – and how every person, organization or group can be part of the solution to poverty in our city.
You can learn more about specific Project: GENERAT1ON opportunities by selecting an option below or scrolling down the page.
Project: GENERAT1ON opportunities
EVERGREEN CENTRE KITCHEN
Help YSM provide nutritious meals for vulnerable youth! Each weekday, our in-house chef prepares an assortment of delicious hot dishes and sets up a vibrant salad bar for youth to choose from and enjoy. With your help, we will prepare a meal, serve it, and tidy up afterwards. Together, we can create a positive dining experience that nourishes the body while building community.
AVAILABILITY: Lunch shift Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, or dinner shift Monday to Thursday, 1:00 to 4:30 pm
GROUP SIZE: Up to 5 participants
LOCATION: YSM Evergreen Centre, 365 Spadina Ave (south of College St., in the Kensington Market area)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $1,500 per group
DOUBLE TAKE THRIFT STORE
Express your creativity at YSM’s thrift store by sorting donations, merchandising shelves, and preparing upcycled items for our online boutique. Your support helps us provide employment opportunities, enables Regent Park pop-up markets, and more. All Double Take proceeds are reinvested back into YSM programs, to serve our community.
AVAILABILITY: Morning shift Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, or afternoon shift Monday to Friday, 1:30 to 4:00 pm
GROUP SIZE: From 5 to 24 participants
LOCATION: Double Take, 310 Gerrard St. E. (east of Parliament)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: For 5 to 6 participants: $1,500 per group. For 7 to 12 participants: $3,000 per group. For 13 to 24 participants: $5,000 per group
FOOD BANK
Help prepare YSM’s Food Bank for its many weekly appointments by assisting staff in unloading food trucks, sorting and stocking a variety of fresh and non-perishable foods, and other donated products, to ensure those in need have nutritious food.
AVAILABILITY: Mondays only — our food delivery day! — from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
GROUP SIZE: Up to 5 participants
LOCATION: YSM Davis Centre, 270 Gerrard St. E. (west of Parliament)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $1,500 per group
COMMUNITY CARE KITS
Each day, YSM gives out dozens of kits vital to the well-being of vulnerable neighbours. We invite your group — whether from work, church or school — to come to YSM for a kit-packing experience! We provide all supplies, set up the packing line, and guide your group through the process. Each participant can pack up to 25 kits per hour.
Learn more about our hygiene kits and winter care kits.
AVAILABILITY: Morning shift – Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Afternoon shift – Monday to Thursday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
GROUP SIZE: Flexible, but we suggest a maximum of 50 participants
LOCATION: YSM Martin Centre, 306 Gerrard St. E. (east of Parliament). Location is subject to change, based on availability.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $300 per person (plus the cost of kits)
YSM WINTER WALK FOR NEIGHBOURS IN NEED
February 7, 2026
Help make this Winter Walk our most successful yet! More than 300 Torontonians will be walking to help raise funds in support of the vulnerable youth, families in need, and adults experiencing long-term poverty that YSM serves. Your team could help in the afternoon or evening to oversee event set up, welcome and cheer walkers as they start and finish their walk, manage our rest stop refreshments, or some combination of those opportunities. There are lots of options, whatever your interests!
AVAILABILITY: February 7, 2026, 2:00 to 8:30 pm
GROUP SIZE: 5 to 10 participants
LOCATION: Midtown Toronto, Bloor and Yonge / Church area
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $1,500 to $3,000 per group*
* Pricing dependent on group size.
BACKPACK DRIVE
Seasonal: August
Each summer, YSM collects backpacks and school supplies for hundreds of families to help send their kids back to school fully prepared! Join us on backpack distribution day to help set up and display backpacks, serve as volunteer guides for families during the event, or help us tear down at the end of the day.
AVAILABILITY: Mid-August (dates vary annually). Morning shift – Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Afternoon shift – Monday to Thursday, 12:30 to 3:30 pm.
GROUP SIZE: 3 to 5 participants
LOCATION: YSM Martin Centre, 306 Gerrard St. E. (east of Parliament)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $1,500 per group
TOY MARKET
Seasonal: December
Each December, our annual Toy Market invites the families engaged in our programs to experience five days of holiday fun and Christmas joy! The holidays can be a challenging time for struggling parents, so YSM collects toys, books, stocking stuffers, games, sports equipment and more, serving up to 450 Regent Park families and 1,000 children aged 0 to 13 years. This is our biggest and most highly anticipated event of the year with volunteer groups often waitlisted! For 2025, we have 16 shifts available. You can read more about last year’s event here.
AVAILABILITY: December 15 to 22. Morning shifts: 8:45 am to 12:15 pm. Afternoon shifts: 1:15 pm to 4:45 pm.
GROUP SIZE: 10 to 12 participants
LOCATION: YSM Martin Centre, 306 Gerrard St. E. (east of Parliament)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $3,500 per group
WORKFORCE READYSET VOLUNTEERS
SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS
Three times a year, at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, we host special community meals for Regent Park-area neighbours. These celebrations are about more than food — they’re about connection. Instead of feeling alone, cold or hungry, guests come to eat, celebrate, and even sing together!
You can help make these moments possible by sponsoring all or some of the cost of providing a hearty meal for 250-350 guests, offering a small gift card or other item for each attendee, and joining us to set up, prepare and/or serve at the meal, and share in the joy.
AVAILABILITY FOR 2025: Every October (Thanksgiving), December (Christmas), and March/April (Easter). Afternoon shift: Times to be confirmed.
GROUP SIZE: 10 to 12 participants
LOCATION: YSM Davis Centre, 270 Gerrard St E (west of Parliament)
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $5,000 per meal
A contribution is levied to offset the program costs associated with your team-building experience.
These funds directly support YSM’s mission to help individuals and families experiencing poverty.
Ready to learn more?
Fill in the form below, and we’ll be in touch!