The Scott Mission
 | |
| Founded | 1941 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Morris and Annie Zeidman |
| Type | Christian non-denominational charity for the homeless |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 43°39′31″N 79°24′02″W / 43.658616°N 79.400693°WCoordinates: 43°39′31″N 79°24′02″W / 43.658616°N 79.400693°W |
Employees | 160 full-time and part-time staff |
| Website |
www |
The Scott Mission is a Christian non-denominational charity organization in Ontario, Canada, providing services to poor, homeless and vulnerable people.[1] The mission is based in downtown Toronto and aims to offer practical, emotional, and spiritual support for thousands of people each year.
Morris Zeidman, an ordained Presbyterian minister who was born in Częstochowa, Poland and converted to Christianity from Judaism,[2] founded The Scott Mission with his wife Anne in 1941.[3] It was their belief that the hunger of the soul needed to be addressed as well as the hunger of the physical body.[4]
Services
The Scott Mission has two locations in Toronto. At 502 Spadina Avenue,[5] the Mission offers hot meals, free bag lunches, overnight shelter for 45-50 men each night, shower and laundry facilities, a food and clothing bank, Bible study groups and fellowship activities. The Mission opened the O'Connor Family Centre in May of 2013, at 1550 O'Connor Drive, designed to serve families in the east end of Toronto. They offer a Christian Childcare Centre, food and clothing bank, youth programs and a variety of resources for families.
The Mission also has a lodge in Collingwood, Ontario that is used as a retreat centre away from the city. The Lodge is located on 113 acres (46 ha) on the Blue Mountain overlooking Georgian Bay, and was a gift to the Mission in honour of founder Rev. Morris Zeidman.
The group owns a 100-acre (40 ha) campground in Caledon, Ontario, about a 45-minute drive north of Toronto. In the summer, around 600 children and youth from low-income neighbourhoods attend The Scott Mission's camp.
Funding
The Mission spends about $8,000,000 per year, including capital projects. This covers the cost for 160 full-time and part-time staff plus all of the costs associated with providing services for tens of thousands of needy people every year.[6]
The Mission is funded through three main sources: donations from private individuals, businesses and foundations; bequest income; and investment income. Less than 10 per cent of the Mission’s revenues come from government.[6]
Statistics
In 2012, The Scott Mission:
- served 99,427 hot meals to homeless and groceries for those in need
- 34,439 men, women and children received clothing
- gave free groceries to 17,100 families
- gave new toys to 2,157 children this Christmas
- provided 18,200 bed-nights to homeless men
- hosted 561 children and youth at the Caledon summer camp
- gave 2,741 families a Christmas grocery gift card
- provided an after-school program for children and youth in Lawrence Heights
See also
References
- ↑ Shah, Maryam (2012-10-08). "Thanksgiving at Scott Mission". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
- ↑ Kayfetz, Ben (1972-05-12). "Will the true story of Kensington Market ever come to light?". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
- ↑ "Our History". The Scott Mission. 1945-10-17. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
- ↑ "Our Mission". The Scott Mission. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
- ↑ "502 Spadina Avenue". Google Maps.
- 1 2 "Frequently Asked Questions". The Scott Mission. Retrieved 2014-01-03.