LEND YOUR ENERGY
Worried about an overdose of seasonal turkey, latkes and libations? It’s time to turn that festive angst into generous deeds. Help the Toronto Green Community raise funds through gift-wrapping eco-style at stores until December 24 (416-781-7663). Willing wrappers are also needed at JVS, an agency serving newcomers and the unemployed (416-787-1151 ext 375). Flex your nurturing muscles at Serving Charity’s soup kitchen at the El Mocambo December 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 and 31 (464 Spadina, abbas@servingcharity.com). Second Harvest seeks people to help social agencies and shelters get their turkeys, December 13 and 14 (jenniferm@secondharvest.ca). Join the sharing frenzy at Community Centre 55 (97 Main), December 18 to 24, when volunteers pack and deliver food and toy hampers to 600 families (416-691-1113 ext 224).
SHOPPING WITH JUSTICE
Check out the cool gifts on offer from the city’s non-profits and spend your cash in a community-lovin’ way. How about an artisanal bread basket ($28-$100) from St. John’s Bakery (153 Broadview, 416-850-7413), a biz providing training for the poor? Or artwork and crafts from the Meeting Place (588 Queen West, 416-504-4275), supporting St. Christopher House. Give the gift of home cooking: a collection of one-hour recipes ($10) from the Barbra Schlifer Clinic (489 College, 416-323-9149 ext 237) or Tasting Diversity, a cookbook of multiculti recipes from the Working Women Community Centre (533A Gladstone, 416-532-2824). Indulge your art appetite at Inspirations Studio (416-367-2728), a micro-biz for low-income women. They’ll be selling at Blue Banana Market (250 Augusta). Or snap up creations at the Lesbian Bi Gay Trans Youth Hotline’s art auction tonight (Thursday, December 11, 8 pm) at the Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas West, 416-977-9955). Free.
