December 23, 2003

Turkey, socks and a challenge

A dinner in the park, a news conference in the square. At  holiday time as no other, thoughts turn to the homeless.

NECO COCKBURN
Staff Reporter

It’s almost time.

The big white tent is well lit by candles and a lantern glowing amid the darkness of Grange Park downtown.

Hours have been spent preparing for the night’s feast.

Inside, a tarp covers the muddy ground. Eight chairs surround each of the five tables. A small bag of candy marks each guest’s place.

The dozens of street youth and homeless attending the meal will get other presents as they leave: a bag filled with gloves, socks, a hat, restaurant certificates, a new sleeping bag, chocolate bars and a Christmas card.

“They’ll leave here with their hands full,” says Paul Pryce, a street youth specialist with the Christian outreach program Light Patrol, which is run by Youth Unlimited. The meal and gifts will show them that someone cares.

Pryce leaves the tent and calls to the couple of dozen street youth who huddle outside, chatting in groups.

“You’re more than welcome to come in and have a seat,” he tells them. “It’s warmer in here than out there.”

Although most guests keep their jackets on, it is. And their voices seem to warm the interior. Tray after tray of food is carried in. The tent fills with the smell of turkey and gravy.

Pryce says a prayer, and then one at a time, each table of people heads to the front of the room. They return with steaming plates. The word spreads, amd more people come in. There’s enough food for 100; they’ll probably be close to reaching that by night’s end, as people move in and out.

“I called (my parents) a couple of weeks ago and wished them a Merry Christmas,” says a 17-year-old named Paul, who is spending his second Christmas away from home.

He was kicked out after getting in trouble with the law at 15.

“Family will always be there,” he says. “If it was my choice, I’d like to go home.”

But it’s not. Some of the others are in the same boat. Some want to, some can’t, and some wouldn’t if they had the choice, Pryce says.

But family and the holidays go together, says Paul’s friend Osman. Raised in a Muslim home, he follows a simple mantra: “It’s not about (the religion behind) Christmas, it’s about family.”

“Turkey. You never see turkey,” says Tav, 28. This is a great week for food with numerous suppers being held, he says.

“I’m sure it’s easier than it will be in January and February,” he says. “I definitely won’t be eating turkey and gravy and mashed potatos.”

This is a hard time for those who sleep without a roof over their heads. “It’s murder in the wintertime,” says Tav, who’s lucky enough to have found a room in a rooming house.

Many in the city don’t have even that, which is why the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, Sherbourne Health Centre and the Rotary Club started a drive to pay for sleeping bags and other items, yesterday at Nathan Phillips Square. They hope to raise $40,000 to $60,000.

A free breakfast was provided for homeless people. As a news conference began to launch the drive, a young man lay sleeping in a bright blue bag. John, 19, was using his shoes as a pillow.

“You get used to the cold,” he said after he woke up.

But each year, many of the homeless suffer in bad weather.

“I’ve been passing out sleeping bags since 1993. Since then, virtually no new housing has been built. And the problem gets worse and worse,” said John Andras, president of the Rotary Club of Toronto.

“This is a Band-Aid, but it’s absolutely essential, because unfortunately, we have no other options. Until the politicians have the political will to do something – to build housing, to have proper rent subsidies – this is the best option and the best solution we have.”

Holiday good deeds continued across the city yesterday. About 200 students from across North America attending a convention of United Synagogue Youth helped stuff some 200 bags at Beth Emeth Yehuda synagogue, on Elder St.

Their “baskets of hope” for the homeless were filled with toiletries, socks, candy, coupons and help pamphlets for Ve-ahavta, a Jewish humanitarian group.

“It feels much better knowing that I’m helping others, rather than myself,” said Evan Green-Lowe, 15, of Parkland, Fla.

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