We have just received word of the passing of our friend, Kevin Havens. Our condolences to his family and friends.
Tag Archives: volunteer
Important Announcement to the BLCF Community
Sadly, for the first time since we first opened January 2008, the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner will suspend operations due to the threat of the COVID-19 Virus, in order to protect the vulnerable.
BLCF Cafe has suspended operations as we are not equipped for take-out service and are unable to safely serve a eat-in dinner involving a group of some 100-150 guests and volunteers during the pandemic.
Please follow our social media channels for postings of when BLCF would be able to safely reopen in accordance to the guidelines set forth by Public Health Agency of Canada and local health officials allowing for operations within current social-distancing guidelines. Our goal is providing a safe environment for all.
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COVID-19: Letter to faith community leaders from Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer
April 3, 2020
Dear Faith Community Leaders
I am reaching out to you today to thank you for your efforts to date in helping Canada delay the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Over the past few weeks, we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases increase in Canada. To reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities across the country, governments and health officials have asked the public to practice social distancing. This means staying home, avoiding crowds and refraining from common social greetings like handshakes. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during an outbreak.
I am asking you to follow the advice of your local, provincial, and territorial public health authorities with regards to social distancing and restrictions on mass gatherings, which likely includes suspending all regular services for the time being.
Social distancing involves creating a two-metre zone of protection around ourselves—the distance that infected droplets can spread from a cough or sneeze. It is only through social distancing that we can protect our communities, including older adults and medically vulnerable Canadians, who are most at risk of severe illness.
Many community members may want to use this opportunity to host small gatherings in their homes, apartments, and multipurpose rooms. I urge you to use your leadership role to discourage these gatherings, in order to protect the safety and health of your congregants and community.
I know this is not easy. It is an uncertain and difficult time for many and people in your communities are likely turning to their faith for support. I ask that you continue to provide leadership and encourage all of your community members to stay home. I have been encouraged seeing many stories of faith leaders across Canada who have adopted innovative alternative options to reach their communities, from offering services online to using social media. I hope to see more of this as we stay the course in our collective efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at the community level.
We can only respond to the challenge COVID-19 places on our country with your support and leadership.
For more information on Canada’s response to COVID-19, including awareness resources and guidance documents, visit Canada.ca/coronavirus.
Thank you,
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
Luke 4:12 (ESV)
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Be Safe!
To our Guests, Volunteers, and Friends of BLCF Cafe,
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, located in the heart of Toronto, has suspended operations on March 16, 2020. As we are not equipped for take-out service and are unable to provide Personal Protection Equipment to our vulnerable volunteers and guests as a sit-down dinner. Please follow our social media channels for postings of when BLCF would open after health officials post the all clear for reduced social-distancing guidelines which are currently in place.
Be safe.
Sophie Mickelson
Director-Coordinator BLCF Cafe Community Dinner
Attention All BLCF Cafe Volunteers – Past and Present!
Everyone at GBCESL is welcome!
🥗🥞Bring some food to share.
📍Location: 1307 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1P1
🕕Time: 6:00 PM
Volunteers, (individuals or Groups) Needed
Volunteers, (individuals or Groups) Needed Volunteers, (individuals or groups), are needed to help at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, a weekly dinner that feeds over 100 homeless and marginalized people, every Wednesday Evening. Relying on fundraisers and private donations, BLCF Cafe receives neither government grants nor corporate sponsorship. BLCF Cafe does rely on the dedication of volunteers to serve over 7,500 dinners, annually.
Volunteers serve each guest a wholesome dinner, with dignity and respect. If you are able, why not contribute a few of hours of your time for a great cause? You will be glad you did when you see the smiles on the faces of the people we serve.
For more information: Contact Sophie Mickelson at blcfcafe@yahoo.ca 416-535-9578. See us on facebook under BLCF Cafe: BLCF Cafe Facebook Link or our BLOG: BLCF Cafe BLOG. BLCF Cafe Community Dinner was established in January 2008 by and is operated under, the auspices of, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church: BLCF Church Web Page: http://www.blcfchurch.ca/
Please Note: While BLCF Cafe is willing to complete school, college and university community service volunteer forms, in order to ensure both the safety and protection of young volunteers, BLCF will neither supervise nor fill out forms or letters for volunteers required by the courts or social services.
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly. I say as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’ – Matthew 25:40
Thumbs Up and Thanks to Our TEAM of Volunteers at the BLCF Café!
Thumbs Up and Thanks to Our TEAM of
Volunteers
at the BLCF Café Community Dinner,
in the heart of Toronto!
Thanks to all our dedicated volunteers who helped serve meals at the BLCF Café throughout 2016 and into 2017 which is the 9th year that the BLCf Cafe has served Wednesday evening dinner to 100 or more homeless and marginalized guests in the heart of Toronto.
BLCF Café needs volunteers to help feed the homeless and marginalized in the heart of Toronto. If you or your group is interested in helping at the BLCF Café Community Dinner, contact Sophie at blcfcafe@yahoo.ca or 416-535-9578. Here is a link to our info brochure: BLCF Cafe Info Brochure
BLCF Cafe Fundraiser Wednesday May 25 at 6:00 at BLCF.
BLCF Cafe Info Brochure
Note: 100% of donations go directly to feeding upwards of 150 homeless and marginalized men, women and children at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner. BLCF Cafe receives no government or corporate sponsorship. Come and support a worthy cause in the heart of Toronto.
Bloor Lansdowne Community Dinner – BLCF Cafe – Needs Volunteers To Help Feed The Homeless
Version française
For more information: Contact Sophie Mickelson at blcfcafe@yahoo.ca 416-535-9578. See us on facebook under BLCF Cafe: BLCF Cafe Facebook Link or our BLOG: BLCF Cafe BLOG. BLCF Cafe Community Dinner was established in January 2008 by, and is operated under, the auspices of, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church: BLCF Church Web Page
Please Note: While BLCF Cafe is willing to complete school, college and university community service volunteer forms, in order to ensure both the safety and protection of young volunteers, BLCF will neither supervise nor fill out forms or letters for volunteers required by the courts or social services.
To find out how you or your group may help the cause of feeding the homeless and marginalized right in the heart of Toronto, please contact us at BLCF on any Wednesday anytime after 12:00PM and before 5:00PM. Or call and leave a message. Please use the side door, as we do not open the front doors until after 6PM. We need our volunteers to arrive by 5:30PM to be briefed before we serve dinner.
Sophie Mickelson
Director/Coordinator BLCF Cafe Community Dinner
416-535-9578
Bloor Lansdowne Community Dinner – BLCF Cafe – Needs Volunteers To Help Feed The Homeless
BLCF Cafe: Why Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?
Why Did Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?
Most of us have heard the Chinese Proverb: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’
Sandwich runs and to a lesser degree Food Banks offer scant opportunity to fellowship with or establish a meaningful dialogue with the homeless and marginalized. Both can make it awkward and embarrassing to those on the receiving end of a sandwich or food from a relative stranger. This can be a great stumbling block to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the ‘volunteer’ may appear condescending or patronizing to a homeless or marginalized person.
It is extremely difficult to share how faith in Jesus’ sacrifice allows all to be equal in the eyes of God, especially if they find out that volunteers are paying a fee to give a sandwich to them! At the cafe, there are no fees required to volunteer.
BLCF Cafe Community Dinner guests, who are the homeless and marginalized, are treated with dignity and respect, served a warm meal with music, and fellowship. These conditions are perfect for meaningful dialogue and to establish friendships as a launching point to witness as equals at the same dinner table.
A short testimony and shared scripture are given as the dinner’s second course, served between the main and dessert. Over time, our guests develop an appetite and appreciation for spiritual sustenance as much as the dinner served at the cafe.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit some of our guests now help to serve others at the dinner, giving of themselves, showing that they have learned to become fishermen/women and embracing the Mission Statement BLCF Cafe Community Dinner:
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’
– Matthew 25:40.
A number of our guests have made a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, which demonstrates how marvelous and great the work of the Lord is when we trust him to transform a simple function as serving and sharing a community dinner into a meeting of faith and worshiping of our Lord. Many returning guests feel that the community is their church meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing when he fed the multitude as He shared His message on the mount.
BLCF Café Contact Info: Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON | Phone: 416-535-9578 | Email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca | BLOG: blcfcafe.blogspot.com | Facebook: BLCF Cafe Facebook | Web Page: blcfchurch.ca
Volunteer To Help Feed The Homeless Right In The Heart Of Toronto
BLCF Café needs volunteers, (individuals or groups), to help at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, a weekly dinner that feeds over 150 homeless and marginalized people, every Wednesday Evening. Relying on fundraisers and private donations, BLCF Cafe receives neither government grants nor corporate sponsorship. BLCF Cafe does rely on the dedication of volunteers to serve over 7,500 dinners, annually.
Volunteers serve each guest a wholesome dinner, with dignity and respect. If you are able, why not contribute a couple of hours of your time for a great cause? You will be glad you did, when you see the smiles on the faces of the people we serve.For more information: Contact Sophie Mickelson at blcfcafe@yahoo.ca 416-535-9578 see us on facebook under BLCF Cafe: BLCF Cafe Facebook Link or our BLOG: BLCF Cafe BLOG. BLCF Cafe Community Dinner was established in January 2008 by, and is operated under, the auspices of, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church: BLCF Church Web Page
We would be happy to have you or your group help as a volunteer at the BLCF Cafe. Our volunteers help at various times of the day between 12PM and 8:30PM and help in all aspects of running the dinner, from food preparation, serving, setting up tables and chairs, and clean up.
To find out how you or your group may help the cause of feeding the homeless and marginalized right in the heart of Toronto, please contact us at BLCF on any Wednesday anytime after 12:00PM and before 5:00PM. Or call and leave a message.
Please use the side door, as we do not open the front doors until after 6PM and we need our volunteers to arrive by 5:30PM to be briefed before we serve dinner.
Sophie Mickelson
Director/Coordinator BLCF Cafe Community Dinner
416-535-9578
Now that the weather’s turning cold, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship is asking for donations of socks, gloves, scarves and toques for our homeless and marginalized guests in the heart of Toronto at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner.
Donations may be brought to the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, (Wednesdays between 6 and 8 PM). To arrange delivery at a different time, contact Sophie by email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca or call BLCF at 416-535-9578.
Not a bread line, food bank or soup kitchen, BLCF Café has been serving wholesome dinners to upwards of 150 of Toronto’s homeless every Wednesday evening since January 2008.
BLCF Cafe/BLCF Church, 1307 Bloor Street West, one block west of Lansdowne Avenue.
Help bring some warmth to those in need.
Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship BLCF Church 
