It didn't take long for demand to be up at the Downtown Mission's new Food Bank and Clothing Centre.
It is located at 875 Ouellette Ave and offers more variety and food selections for people with allergies, different ethnic backgrounds and people with children.
It opened two weeks ago and already it is serving 800 people a week whereas the food bank was helping 1100 a month at its old location on Victoria Ave.
"We have areas for cooking demonstrations which we tried to do before but the limited space was difficult so we encourage people in need to come here and if you are not in need, come down anyway and drop stuff off," says Downtown Mission Chief Executive Officer Ron Dunn.
The shelves at the Downtown Mission Food Bank. November 2016. Photo by Teresinha Medeiros
He says there is always a need for food to stock the shelves especially items for children like cereals and peanut butter.
In addition to the food bank, there is a Do-Good-Deli, areas to help people develop some skills and on the fourth floor, there will be a shelter.
"There are about 50 people who are sleeping on mats on the floor at the mission and that is not acceptable to us and upstairs we will have beds and showers and everything will be accessible," says Dunn.
Chief Executive Director Ron Dunn shows off the area where the shelter for men will be located. November 25, 2016. Photo by Teresinha Medeiros
The new shelter will house up to 74 beds and space for men, women and youths to sleep.