The Ever-changing Nature of Mondays

This past Monday started with our routine: staff check-in, meals on low in the oven, and wagons and bins packed for the day. This week we were excited to welcome our two interns who are from Germany and will be helping at The Dale for the next few months. It was lovely to have their help all day. From the start they were able to help us transport all of our supplies to our drop-in, set up all the tables, and spend time getting to know the community. 

From 11am until 1pm, we have a good amount of time to chat over coffee before lunch is served. This week a friend brought an abundance of fancy chocolate that the whole drop-in enjoyed during our coffee time. Looking around the room I saw folks arrive and make their coffee how they like it. I noticed friends sitting together and catching up on the latest. Some were sitting in their usual seats, while others would hop from table to table visiting everyone. Those who love to help organized forks and napkins neatly in front of each chair. I really enjoy the vibe of this space and the routine that has come so naturally. 

After lunch was served, some took it to-go and some stayed to eat together. At this moment I always feel like the whole room shifts and re-settles. Today we ate pork and beef meals from Second Harvest. I picked up a beef fried rice meal and joined a table I haven’t sat with in a while. Most of the group at the table spoke Polish to one another except for the lady who sat across from me. She also didn’t speak Polish, so it was nice to have each other to talk to. She told me about her life in Parkdale and how special the neighbourhood was to her. 

Then I turned around and saw a circle of chairs being put together. A community member who often serves food with us wanted to lead a session of chair aerobics. More and more people got word on what was happening and the circle grew until it was more than a dozen ladies! This was the biggest group that had ever participated in any aerobics circles we’ve done before, and it was so great to see the laughter and joy that this activity brought to the room. Our friend who led the group kept us on our toes and guided the group in such an intentional way by including each person. 

Before we knew it, it was time to go! Many helping hands made for a quick clean up. Some folks even have a routine clean up task that they do every week and stick around until the end just to help. 

There are so many special little moments that take place on Mondays that really warm my heart. No day at The Dale is ever exactly alike. A “typical” Monday comes with so many new and unpredictable moments, sweet conversations, and little blessings. I wouldn’t change a thing.

The Moments in Between

Every week at our Monday drop-in, our lunch is served at 1pm. Before then, we open our doors in the morning at 11am, not only to set up but to make space to be with our community. This time creates room for folks to get settled in their favourite spot, grab a coffee, and chat. Since our meal prep is currently done beforehand, all that is required is sandwich assembly and heating up the soup, which doesn’t take too long. I am discovering more and more that these Monday mornings are my favourite moment of the week. 

I have been observing how everyone makes the space their own. A few individuals take this time to sit quietly alone to enjoy their coffee in a peaceful and warm space, some catch up with their neighbours in the building, and some are meeting new people for the first time. One table routinely is filled with a group of ladies that laugh a lot when together. Recently, I have even been a part of playing some table games and it has been fun getting together to play. I find that some jump in right away while others are excited to watch. 

It brings me joy to see the moments that happen in that extra slice of time before lunch. It’s not always sunshine and roses, there can be fights and tension, but it reminds me that this drop-in is a safe enough space to bring your full self, even when feeling upset or going through a difficult time. I’m reminded that this drop-in isn’t just a place to eat, but a place to be together. Whether that be through the good times or the hard, I get to witness community supporting community. It is an honour to be a part of these moments in between.  

Eating Together

Since that infamous March 2020, when everything stopped, we haven’t had an indoor Monday meal. Though we didn’t completely shut down, with our meals still distributed through to-go bags, it was a difficult change. It was sad that we had to stand 6ft apart, while wearing masks, and any interactions had to be brief. Over time, as regulations changed, fortunately we have been able to inch closer and closer to extended time with community in a variety of ways. It’s been great doing our art group indoors again, our Sunday church service has moved indoors, we’ve had a variety of events in indoor spaces, but our meals have been the toughest part of our weekly schedule to return to an indoor space. 

Our meal on Monday has always been our biggest program, with 80-100 people. The volume of people is part of the reason it has been so hard to find a space, as well as accessibility- something that is consistently a struggle with older buildings in the city. After a long journey of searching we finally found a great fit in the recreation room of a Toronto Community Housing building, just one block over from where we have been serving our to-go meals! It couldn’t be a better fit, not to mention the fact that much of our core crew lives in that building, so we’re only an elevator ride away. 

September 25th we finally had our first sit-down Monday drop-in since covid! It was quite an adjustment, from a line up to sitting around a table. It was fun to tell everyone the news; that they were invited to join us, have a coffee, and chat before the meal was served. This particular week, to kick off the very new change, we brought the tables outside in the “patio” area of the building. All 10 tables were full just before serving the meal. The space was filled with chatter that just filled my heart. I loved seeing connections being made, laughter around the table, and people accepting the invitation to sit and rest. 

Since it has been 3.5 years of serving food to-go, for this first Monday we kept the meals in their to-go containers for anyone who didn’t feel comfortable staying and eating. Erinn took a moment to give announcements and prayed over the food, which was followed by an encouraging applause. Once the meals were passed around, many people got up to take their food to-go. I was a little saddened that only a few hung around to eat at the table, but I know this is a huge change for some people and it will take an adjustment. 

Since that first Monday, each week more people have been staying to eat. After having our first lunch outside, we began to set up our tables inside the building, and they have been filling up more and more. It’s a different feeling, sitting with community for hours, rather than just the quick pace of the line. It’s so special to be invited into the building by my friends who live there, as they welcome us into their home. My heart feels so full by the end of the day, it has been great to have these moments back. I am excited for us as a community to settle into this new space. It’s encouraging to see the number of people that stay to eat continue to grow and I hope that it increasingly feels like a safe place that is welcoming to all.

The Dale does Pottery

Something I love about Parkdale is that it sometimes feels like a small town. When you’re new to the neighbourhood, it doesn’t take long to learn the names of long-time residents, local business owners, baristas, health care workers, etc. 

I can’t believe I’ve been at The Dale for almost 4 whole years now! I’m grateful for how much I have learned about life in Parkdale; learning the names of so many people, and meeting all the unique and loved small businesses that have fought to keep their space through the pandemic. 

Long before my time here, there has been an on-going partnership and friendship with a coffee shop called Capital Espresso. When I first came to a Monday lunch (pre-pandemic), I noticed there were always really delicious muffins by the coffee station. I quickly learned those came from Capital Espresso and were donated every week. Since the beginning of our to-go meals, thankfully we are still enjoying these homemade muffins, but instead have been packaging them each week for our Thursday breakfast.

Over time we have got to know the very friendly staff that work there! One of the baristas, named Shakeel, is also an amazing pottery artist. He makes beautiful pieces by hand and sells them at the coffee shop.

This past week we had the opportunity to run a Pottery Workshop at The Dale, taught by Shakeel! It was a lot of fun to get creative with our community and see each person make a piece with their own unique style. Shakeel was such a great teacher, one friend who came kept expressing how kind he was as he went around the room checking in with everyone.

We had twelve spots and twelve people rolled up, which worked out perfectly! Shakeel passed around a generous amount of clay for each person to make big art pieces. Some chose to make bowls, mugs, and some one-of-a-kind dishes to suit their style. It was a lot of fun trying something new as a community, and to have the opportunity to hang out with Shakeel outside the coffee shop and witness him in his element.

Thank you to Shakeel for taking the time to teach us such a fun and beautiful art. We are so excited to use our finished pieces!

Check out his amazing art on instagram @shakeelrehemtulla_ceramics

Few Words but Lots of Love

During outreach, as we walked around the neighbourhood, I met someone new. I noticed an older woman who started to look sad as the rain showed up out of nowhere. She smiled sweetly at me as I introduced myself along with one of our interns. She put her hand out and held mine, really looking into my eyes. Her words were few as we sat in each other’s presence. When she did speak they were things like “I love you”, “thank you”, and “bless you”. She reminded me of my grandma. Though she didn’t have much to say, she was able to communicate her love. 

Though this was our first time meeting, there was something about just sitting together that seemed to mean something deeper. It made me think more about how presence can communicate love. Most days my grandma forgets who I am. It’s easy for me to have the mindset that I shouldn’t visit as much, since I am just a stranger to her. But, just like this lady in Parkdale, my grandma smiles the whole time I’m there, full of joy. Even as a stranger, she holds my hand and communicates a sincere deep love with few words spoken. I’m reminded that it’s important to show up, pause, and to be present; that sometimes outreach is simply communicating love through a smile. Being there, even in the rain.

The Dale Lately

Here is a little photo collection of life at the Dale these days. The warm weather has brought so much joy and more opportunity to hang out with our community.

Being outside for Art Group! There is a beautiful outdoor space next to the room we have Art Group, and since it’s been so warm, we’ve moved out there.

We had our first Open Stage since 2020! It was a beautiful afternoon of art work and live music from the community!

The sunshine makes Wednesday outreach in the Parkette feel like a picnic with friends. It is so nice to take our time chatting and not rushing away from the cold.

The Dale has a plot in the Hope Community Garden and recently the strawberries that we planted last year popped!

It’s been a lot of fun working alongside our interns who are here all the way from Germany. They’ve really become a part of the community and we’re sad they’ll only be here for a little bit longer.

I continue to feel grateful for these people and the sun. I feel like recently most people have been in a much better mood because of the change of season. There’s an excitement in the air and I am trying not to take it for granted as we head into the summer.

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My job with The Dale requires that I fundraise my entire salary! If you would like to support me in this work click here to donate online or reach out to me at livdower@gmail.com. Please prayerfully consider joining my team whether that be through support financially or through prayer! Thank you!

A Cozy Space

Before Covid, part of The Dale’s weekly schedule, was an Art and Breakfast program that happened inside the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre. It was a time filled with pancakes, bacon, colouring, clay, beading, and acoustic guitar music. It was a great way to connect with the staff in the health centre, so that if anyone from our group wanted medical care they could easily get connected. Also, the opposite, someone might be able to discover us at the health centre while there for an appointment.

It was really sweet to start the day surrounded with community, and unfortunately we haven’t been able to go back since early 2020. 

Fast forward to now! Starting at the end of this February, we finally have had permission to be back inside! Since it is a medical centre, we have to be careful and therefore cannot cook and eat breakfast. Instead, we use the space for just an art-drop at the moment and continue to serve our breakfast in to-go bags outside the church in the morning. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect going back. I was surprised, the space felt so peaceful and refreshing. Some people chose to colour and while others knitted, all with quiet conversations and soft acoustic music playing in the background. 

I love that Thursdays have become a cozy space to chat if you want, but if you don’t then you are welcome to just do your own thing. It’s been sweet to meet new people and see how everyone’s creativity is so different. Not everyone has access to a peaceful space, so it’s cool to see the way each person in the room plays a role into making it so welcoming.

I continue to learn about peace and the beauty of being together through this community- and sometimes that just looks like colouring quietly. And now I really look forward to Thursdays!

Church Potluck

It has been a long time since we have eaten together as a community. Both our weekly lunch and breakfast meals have been in to-go bags since March 2020. Alas, there still have been little moments- picnics with a handful of people, birthday celebrations with individuals, dinners at St.Francis’ Table (an organization that serves food around tables in the neighbourhood). But otherwise, eating together hasn’t been able to happen with community like it used to. 

Before Covid, as a part of our regular routine, on the first Sunday of every month we would partake in a potluck after service. And now, after three years, we finally had the chance to bring back this special time! At the beginning of January, Erinn announced this news to the congregation and it was met with a response of cheer and excitement. A Sunday potluck involves inviting all to bring whatever they can, whether that be a pizza, homemade baked goods, a box of crackers, a chocolate bar, etc. 

I was not sure how this potluck would pan out. It’s been a long time since we’ve done this and there’s quite a few new people as well. But sure enough, the minute the service wrapped up, we all dove into the potluck just like before. It felt like no time had passed. Food from everyone was spread out across the table at the back and, in buffet fashion, people filled their plates along in a line. After getting a plateful, everyone stuck around chatting and enjoying an array of dishes. It was sweet to witness new people meeting our long time Dale friends and to see deeper connections being made. 

It’s exciting to move forward into new things for The Dale in addition to old things coming back! I’m looking forward to continuing once a month potlucks and enjoying meals together. 

Unified Prayer

“When one of us cries, we all cry, when one of us laughs, we all laugh,” said one of our core community members during his prayer on Sunday. He roughly quoted Romans 12:15 that reads, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” That prayer, and the prayers of others before and after him, reflected how much love we have for one another in the room. A newer friend who started coming to our Dale Sunday service at the beginning of 2022 (and rarely missed a Sunday since) shared with tears to the congregation how this year hasn’t started off well. After a moment of silence, people in the pews leaped into prayer without a moment to waste. 

Every Sunday service The Dale does prayer in a communal mannor, with an open room for sharing requests and all are welcome to pray aloud. This is something I’ve always appreciated since coming to The Dale because church truly feels like a space to come with all you are carrying- a space to give it to the Lord. This time it felt extra special to hear our friend share so honestly and to see community take action so quickly. It felt almost sacred, with God’s hand at work.

National Housing Day Rally

I have never been to a rally before. I’ve always seen them from afar and stood with the crowd in my heart but never with my presence. I’m not completely sure why not, I think it’s a mixture of not having the opportunity and a personal fear of disturbing peace. I’ll be honest I was a bit nervous when I heard about the rally coming up on November 22, but knew it was something I am passionate about and wanted to be a part of with my presence. 

On that surprisingly sunny Tuesday, The Dale team and I went down to David Crombie Park to participate in both the lunch and rally. Straight away we saw some friends we knew, both from other organizations and friends from our Parkdale community. Some sweet music was playing in the background while we ate, performed by a long time friend from Parkdale whose band plays at our (now) annual Spirits in the Sky memorial. The crowd grew as it came time to officially begin. 

The event opened with a beautiful indigenous ceremonial drumming and prayer. Then individuals came up one by one speaking on the injustice of housing and the demand for the city to take action on the lack of housing options needed. Some even shared personal stories about how difficult it has been. The crowd cheered on the speakers and raised their signs. I felt heavy hearing some of the facts as it reminded me of experiences at The Dale. The Dale team and some friends stood together as we listened and cheered. 

At the end of the day it felt important to gather like that as a community. It’s been frustrating and hard to witness the housing crisis in the city since joining The Dale. Both working in Parkdale and moving to the city myself, has opened my eyes to this injustice that only seems to be getting worse. Many at the rally pointed out the fact that this is a “life or death” situation, especially as winter comes and as the hotel shelter programs begin to close. I’m glad that there are so many that came out and were there to take action. This day made me grateful for this community, the way they support one other, and came out to show that. It was an honour to be a part of, not only to bring my presence but to stand with my community!

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