OTF Grant is Cooking Up Some Good News for Abrigo

Life and Hope Seniors Program is Getting a New Kitchen

The seniors in Abrigo’s wonderfully dynamic Life and Hope program will soon be the owners of a new kitchen thanks to a grant of $110,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

Since the seniors program moved into Abrigo current location at 1645 Dufferin Street, the one component missing (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) was the regular ability to create and cook meals for the clients in attendance. Since mid-March 2020, the Life and Hope group has suspended in-person gatherings for the safety and well being of all participants staff and volunteers.

On any give weekday session prior to COVID, 60 to 100 individuals typically attending the program. The requirements to feed that many people regularly meant turning to external vendors for food. Although we don’t expect that to completely end, the ability to cook on a stove or bake something for the first time will certainly reduce the program’s food costs and allow our wonderful volunteers to expand their culinary skills.

In addition to a new kitchen, the OTF grant provided for additional safety measures to be installed at Abrigo. New fire doors and new staircases out of the building and down to the ground will help keep everyone safe in case of an emergency.

“We are absolutely delighted to have the Ontario Trillium Foundation support this project,” says Ed Graca, Abrigo’s Executive Director. “This is something our clients have been wanting for the longest time. Now that this project is almost done, it almost seems unreal. Our seniors are going to be so happy to have the new kitchen ready and open upon their return. Hopefully that can happen in the fall. Please get your vaccine everyone!”