Fontbonne Ministries

Fontbonne Ministries An inclusive social service org responding to food & housing insecurity, health & well-being.

OUR VISION
Building welcoming, supportive communities and pursuing social change. OUR MISSION
We are a welcoming community where you are not alone, and everyone belongs. As an inclusive social service organization, our programs foster personal well-being and creativity and respond to food and housing insecurity, social isolation and loneliness. Wherever you are in your life, the spirit of our founders -- the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto -- inspires us to join with you in nourishing mind, body and heart. OUR VALUES
RESPECT: We value each person as a distinct expression of God's love and invite each other to discover and to celebrate our unique gifts. ADVOCACY: We respond to society's evolving needs and mobilize positive change through transformational leadership. COMMUNITY: We work together with neighbours and partners to build strong relationships that are mutually supportive and collaborative. COMPASSION: We give our full attention to teach person and show understanding, empathy and sensitivity to their needs. ACCOUNTABILITY: We use the resources entrusted to us with care, and make sustainable choices that will benefit future generations.

This Thanksgiving, our Mustard Seed community came together to enjoy a warm, hearty meal and celebrate the spirit of gra...
10/09/2026

This Thanksgiving, our Mustard Seed community came together to enjoy a warm, hearty meal and celebrate the spirit of gratitude and togetherness. 🧡

Participants enjoyed traditional favourites, including turkey covered in gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing with cranberry sauce, and colourful vegetables—all served with care and plenty of smiles.

This special meal was made possible through the generosity of our donors and community partners, including FoodShare Toronto.

We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support, which helps us provide nutritious meals and welcoming spaces for our community. Together, we continue the Sisters of St. Joseph’s mission of compassion, hospitality and food security for all. 🧡🥕

It’s International Podiatry Day so we have to ask: how are your feet doing? 👣 Our feet do a lot of work for us, and foot...
10/08/2026

It’s International Podiatry Day so we have to ask: how are your feet doing? 👣

Our feet do a lot of work for us, and foot pain, injuries and other health concerns can have a major impact on our mobility and quality of life.

For people experiencing homelessness or age-related medical conditions, limited access to healthcare, proper footwear and safe places to care for their feet can make these problems particularly difficult to manage.

That’s why we’re so grateful to Dr. Minh Nguyen, a chiropodist who provides free foot care appointments at Mustard Seed every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The need for this service is significant—Dr. Minh is sometimes booked almost two months in advance!

Dr. Minh also provides foot care at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto on Thursdays and St. James Cathedral on Fridays, helping make this important service available to even more people in our community.

If you would like to support Dr. Minh’s work and help make free foot care possible for our community, please visit the Fontbonne Ministries website to donate today.

We’re celebrating a special day here at Fontbonne Ministries – October 7 was the day our founders, the Sisters of St. Jo...
10/07/2026

We’re celebrating a special day here at Fontbonne Ministries – October 7 was the day our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto , first arrived in Canada in 1851.

From their early days, the Sisters prioritized health care for the most vulnerable of society -- children, single women, elderly people and those who were living in poverty and experiencing homelessness.

They quickly established hospitals, including St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare.

Continuously aware of the social injustices they observed, the Sisters strived to meet the changing needs of all people. Most recently, they established the Daily Bread Food Bank and the Furniture Bank to provide food security and the dignity of a furnished home to families in crisis.

Today, 175 years later, the ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph continue to serve those who are socially isolated and economically disadvantaged, including seniors and newcomers to Canada.

We honour the Sisters and are deeply grateful for their vision and invaluable service in healthcare, education and social justice. We are especially grateful to them for starting Fontbonne Ministries and shaping our mission, values, and vision for a more compassionate community.

1 in 5 Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. At Mustard Seed, we welcome people with a wide range ...
10/05/2026

1 in 5 Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime.

At Mustard Seed, we welcome people with a wide range of experiences and challenges. Some of our visitors live with mental illness and may sometimes have difficulty regulating their emotions, communicating with others, or navigating social situations.

Unfortunately, behaviours that are unfamiliar to others can sometimes lead to people being excluded from public spaces and services, unable to safely access basic necessities.

At Fontbonne Ministries, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect, compassion and dignity. Our drop-in provides nutritious meals, free hygiene products, gently used clothing, a warm place to rest, and opportunities to build meaningful connections with others.

During Mental Illness Awareness Week, we want everyone who walks through our doors to know that you are welcome here. You are valued and we are here to support you!

As temperatures begin to drop overnight, the cold can be especially dangerous for neighbours who are experiencing homele...
10/02/2026

As temperatures begin to drop overnight, the cold can be especially dangerous for neighbours who are experiencing homelessness and have nowhere safe and warm to spend the night.

If you have spare winter clothing, blankets or other items to donate, please consider bringing them to Fontbonne Ministries at 791 Queen St East, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Here are some of the items that are much-needed right now:

⛺Blankets and sleeping bags
🧥Jackets, sweaters and hoodies – size medium and up
👖Joggers or jeans – size 30 and up
🥾Winter shoes – size 9 and up (men’s shoes are especially needed right now)
🧣Hats, scarves and gloves
🌂Unused hygiene products
🎒Backpacks

Whether it’s a warm jacket, a pair of winter shoes or a blanket, your donation can make a meaningful difference to someone facing a cold night without a safe place to stay.

If you have questions about donating, please call (416) 465-6069 and speak with our receptionist.


Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day and Fontbonne Ministries is honouring this tim...
09/30/2026

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day and Fontbonne Ministries is honouring this time to remember the Indigenous and First Nations children who never returned home from residential schools.

We’re also thinking of and creating awareness of the individuals who survived, their families, and the community intergenerational impacts of residential schools through wearing our orange shirts today. Some of these survivors are amongst our daily visitors seeking food, warmth, and community connection here at Mustard Seed.

We recognize that we have a part to play in reconciliation in support of our Indigenous friends and neighbours. We also know that reconciliation is an ongoing journey of listening, learning, and taking action.

Today—and every day—we remain committed to learning from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities as we work together toward a more compassionate and just future for everyone.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to gather with our Indigenous friends and neighbours, learn from their teachers and elders, and continue building stronger relationships within our community.

Getting a fresh haircut can feel great, doesn’t it? Sometimes a trim or a new ‘do’ from Untitled by Flaunt Boutique is e...
09/29/2026

Getting a fresh haircut can feel great, doesn’t it? Sometimes a trim or a new ‘do’ from Untitled by Flaunt Boutique is exactly what you need to look and feel your best. ✂️

But for people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, or mobility barriers, accessing a haircut can become rather difficult.

That’s why we’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Untitled, who send their talented staff to visit us once a month and generously donate their time and skills.

This month, Untitled sent Aaron to provide community members with a true salon experience in our special haircutting room, where they sit in salon chairs, are covered with a protective cape, and receive the same kindness, care, and attentiveness you’d expect at any salon.

We’re so grateful to Untitled, our Riverside Neighbourhood neighbours across the street, for making haircuts and time for self-care more accessible to our community. Thank you!

It’s Freedom from Hunger Day, a goal Fontbonne Ministries works towards every day by providing nutritious breakfasts, sn...
09/28/2026

It’s Freedom from Hunger Day, a goal Fontbonne Ministries works towards every day by providing nutritious breakfasts, snacks, and lunches to our Riverside Neighbourhood community.

Today, as always, Chef Drew and his team of volunteers prepared a delicious breakfast and lunch. Snacks of toast, soup, and sandwiches are also served between meals.

We’re proud to serve nourishing food to people in our neighbourhood and help ensure that everyone has access to healthy options.

Did you know that the fresh fruits and vegetables that remain unsold from our Good Food Market are put to use in our Meal Program? They help us provide nutritious, hot meals every day while reducing food waste and supporting food security.

A huge thank you to FoodShare Toronto for supplying us with affordable, local produce that fuels both our Good Food Market and daily Meal Program. Together, we’re helping to make nutritious food more accessible to our community. ❤️

Did you know that 2 out of 3 people experiencing homelessness are likely to have a serious foot problem? Pain, infection...
09/25/2026

Did you know that 2 out of 3 people experiencing homelessness are likely to have a serious foot problem?

Pain, infections, nerve damage, and other untreated conditions can significantly affect a person’s mobility, independence, and daily life.

Dr. Minh Nguyen, a chiropodist, works at Fontbonne every Monday to Wednesday to provide free foot care appointments. His patients often include seniors on limited incomes and those experiencing homelessness.

Last year, 1,423 visits were made to his office by people needing help with foot-related health concerns.

As Dr. Minh says: “You can have full use of your arms and a clear mind. But if you can’t get from one place to another, your world gets very small. Helping people stay on their feet helps open that world again.”

This clinic is about more than foot care — it is about mobility, dignity, and helping people remain connected to their community.

If you would like to donate in support of Dr. Minh’s work, please visit our website.

Thank you to everyone who came out today for the free community meal and Indigenous marketplace offered with our partner...
09/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out today for the free community meal and Indigenous marketplace offered with our partners, South Riverdale Community Health Centre - SRCHC, Ralph Thornton Community Centre, and OAHAS.

This community meal was one of our Truth & Reconciliation events for the month of September, and we were grateful to share traditional food, take part in bracelet making, and explore the marketplace featuring goods created by Indigenous artisans. We also heard from Indigenous elders about the experiences of their community.

While we were glad to come together and participate in these activities, we know that reconciliation is an ongoing journey of listening, learning, and acting. Today—and every day—we remain committed to learning from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities as we work together toward a more compassionate and just future for everyone.

We hope you'll also wear your orange shirt and join us at the next Truth & Reconciliation event:

September 29 | 1–3 p.m.
282 Parliament St.
A Sacred Fire honouring those who have passed as a result of colonization, as well as those who have survived.

See you there!

Address

791 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4H1M2

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30am
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30am

Telephone

+14164652889

Website

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