SAHRA eBlast – April 17, 2020

Reminder – SAHRA’s 2020 Survey – submit by April 19th

We ‘delivered’ the Winter Newsletter via eBlast on March 26 – we hope you enjoyed reading it.  We also asked you to respond to the Survey by April 19.  We received a substantial number of responses so far but would also appreciate your input.

There are 2 ways to participate in the Survey:

NOTE: The ONLINE and PRINTED surveys are identical.  Please complete one or the other, but NOT BOTH!

COVID-19 Website Page

In an effort to keep our Members informed on COVID-19, we are communicating via our eBlasts.  We have now created a dedicated Page under Information on our Website for these posts.  You can access the link/button to COVID-19 Information for COVID-19 articles  at sahratoronto.com/.  This will take you directly to the Information/COVID-19 page.

Community Response


5 things we/you can do to make a positive difference in your community while we deal with COVID-19.  SAHRA is offering to be a communications hub for those in need.  If you are isolated or quarantined and need help – whether for groceries, prescriptions, pet food or even just a friendly phone call, please contact us.  We will match the need up with residents you are offering to help, free of charge.  Email us at [email protected].

Do you know of anyone who needs help?  Perhaps a senior or an apartment dweller in our area, impacted by the pandemic restrictions?  If so, please let us know and we will arrange for the appropriate support.

Are you willing/able to Volunteer to help us help our residents?  If so, please email us at [email protected] indicating the type of help you can offer.

Good Neighbour Project

Are you someone who is in isolation, elderly, a single parent, a person living with a disability and you require delivery assistance for supplies and groceries with no one to help? A task force of volunteers with the Good Neighbour Project are on standby to offer you assistance. Please call 647-873-2230 between 8:00am-8:00pm daily.

Toronto The Good: TPL Partners with Food Bank

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) has partnered with the North York Harvest Food Bank, Daily Bread Food Bank and Second Harvest to set up food bank distribution from library branches across the city to provide alternate service locations for existing food banks that are now closed. Since the implementation of measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 transmission, there has been a dramatic decrease in access to food banks, with over a third closing in recent weeks. TPL’s efforts are in support of the City’s broader work on food security for Toronto’s vulnerable residents (Source: TPL).

If you are in need of support, you can read more information, including hours and addresses of the food bank locations, at 211Toronto.ca, as well as the City’s COVID-19 response website here

211 Toronto

211 Toronto connects people living in the GTA to over 4,000 programs and social services such as financial help, employment services, mental health, home care, housing, shelters, food and childcare. It offers a 24/7confidential service in 150 languages, including online, text (21166) and chat services.

SPRINT Senior Care Programs / Need for Volunteers and Donations

SPRINT is continuing the essential Meals on Wheels (MOW) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hot and frozen meals are delivered to seniors’ doors 7 days a week for a low cost.  MOW volunteers also perform security checks when delivering meals, to ensure seniors’ safety.Volunteers are the foundation this program – due to the impact of COVID-19, we anticipate being in need of more volunteers to help us deliver Meals on Wheels.

SPRINT is now offering a Grocery Delivery Service for seniors who are not able to shop or do not feel safe leaving their homes.  If you or someone you know needs such a service, call 416-481-0669 Ext. 1225.

SPRINT is also making Security and Wellness Checks – volunteers phone isolated seniors in the community as a security check as well as an opportunity for socialization.

SPRINT needs donations of non-perishable food and other essential items.  They also need volunteers to sort and package items for the seniors.
Items can be dropped off at 140 Merton St (2nd floor) Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Most-needed non-perishable food items:  Apple sauce, Tuna or canned meat, Dry or canned beans, peas and lentils, Cereal, Crackers, Soft granola bars, Ovaltine, Ensure, Boost, Canned soup and stews, Peanut butter and jams, Instant oatmeal, Juice boxes, Coffee and teas, Pudding, Nuts and dried fruit, Canned evaporated milk, Macaroni and cheese.

Most-needed personal care items: Incontinence products (size M, L and XL), Shampoo, Hand soap, Body wash/bar soap, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Mouthwash, Toilet paper, Tissues.

If you or someone you know needs such a service, please make contact with SPRINT at 416-481-0669 Ext. 1225.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can help, please contact the Volunteer Services and Human Resources Department at 416-481-0669, ext. 8723, or [email protected]. Visit www.sprintseniorcare.org to learn more about SPRINT’S services and programs.

BPRO Community Business Initiative

The Bedford Park Residents Organization has compiled lists of Restaurants, Local Businesses and Basic Needs Retailers that are open in our neighbourhood during COVID-19.  Please “shop locally” to support these stores.  The lists will be updated as additions/updates are submitted so please review this link from time to time.
www.bprotoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/April-2020-Special-Community-Edition.pdf

COVID-19:  City of Toronto launches new DonateTO: COVID-19 portal to support pandemic relief efforts 

(City of Toronto News Release Apr 15 2020)

Mayor John Tory announced the launch of the City’s DonateTO: COVID-19 portal which allows businesses and residents to make donations of products, services and funds in support of the City’s pandemic relief efforts. The City of Toronto is working hard to support everyone impacted by COVID-19 and there are many ways the community can support the relief efforts, including donations of personal protective equipment, other goods and services, food and financial gifts. All donations help the City, in coordination with our community partners to enhance much needed services and supports, especially for the most vulnerable and those who support them.

Residents and business wanting to help support the City’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts can visit www.toronto.ca/covid-19 to make their gift or find out more about volunteer opportunities.

Residents, business and academic institutions have already reached out to the City asking how they can help support Toronto’s front-line efforts. Over the last few weeks donations valued at more than $1.5 million have been received, including Hudson’s Bay’s donation of 2,117 units of cookware, dinnerware, towels and bed linens and mattresses with a value of $335,000 and Sleep Country Canada’s donation of more than $150,000 worth of mattresses, adjustable bases, bed frames, sheets, pillows and mattress protectors, both donated to the City’s Rapid Rehousing Shelter project. Additionally, personal care products and cleaning products for vulnerable residents valued at $330,000 from GlobalMedic in partnership with Procter & Gamble and more than 50,000 masks from Dr. Wong and the Stop Covid-19 volunteer group have also been received. The City’s Donation Coordination Task Force, led by the Toronto Office of Partnerships working closely with Emergency Operations Centre and Purchasing and Materials Management Division, will manage and allocate all donations under the guidance and direction of the City’s Senior Leadership Team. Any questions about donations can be directed to [email protected].

City of Toronto supports launch of Distantly.ca to help main street businesses

(City of Toronto News Release Apr 14 2020)

Mayor John Tory highlighted the launch of an online donation platform that allows community members to make direct donations to small businesses to help lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This platform allows customers to continue to support local main street businesses impacted by non-essential closures, such as coffee shops, restaurants and hair salons. Local businesses can visit distantly.ca/  to set up their free account today or contact their local Business Improvement Association for assistance. Toronto residents who are able, can make a secure online donation to their favourite local business. These contributions will help to alleviate expenses, such as rent and payroll.

Updates for affected City Services and Facilities

This City webpage www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/affected-city-services/lists the changes in their services and facilities brought about by COVID-19.  Note that the city is asking that all personal hygiene/sanitary products, including tissues, wipes, masks and gloves be disposed of in the Garbage (Grey Bin) in a sealed plastic bag, and not the green bin.

If masks and gloves have been discarded on your street, please pick them up with great care and dispose of them in the Garbage in a sealed plastic bag.

The collection of yard waste has been extended until Fri, May 1 on the regular day for your garbage (Grey Bin) pickup.  After this, the City will assess if it can continue to provide the service.

Please note the following for yard waste: Use a YARD WASTE bag if possible.  Otherwise a rigid open-top container can be used.

COVID-19 MPP Robin Martin Update April 16

View the latest Update at sahratoronto.com/2020/04/16/mpp-robin-martin-april-16-covid-19-update/

Provides information on:
Province Extends State of Emergency Until May 12th
COVID-19 Action Plan: Long Term Care Homes
Ontario Significantly Expands Hospital Capacity
Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers
Emergency Financial Support for Ontarians
Regulatory Changes Open the Door for Auto Insurance Rebates
Schools will Remain Closed past May 4th
Pandemic Threat Response (PANTHR) Health Data Platform
Update for Travellers Entering Canada
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) / Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
All Parks Canada venues are now closed

COVID-19:  Reminder – Donation Bins

The City has appealed to all Residents to NOT drop off donations to bins located in the Neighbourhood as the organizations are not able to pick up from the bins.  Anything left at the bin sites will end up having to be garbaged.  Please set your donations aside – they will be very much appreciated once regular pickup can start again. In the meantime, fines will be enforced by the City if items are left at the bin sites.

COVID–19:  Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam Updates Apr 11 2020

An alarming new regulation was introduced this week which may have significant impacts on when construction can occur in the city, which will allow residential developers — those still oddly considered “essential” — to work outside the City’s noise by-law between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week. It was announced on Thursday that the Province of Ontario was seeking to provide noise exemptions to essential construction projects to allow for 24/7 construction work for projects such as medical facilities and other related services to help speed up the response to COVID-19. The Province also announced that ALL construction that did not meet that criteria to be permitted to work between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week.

From the beginning, when the Province released their list of essential workplaces that could remain operating during this pandemic, many questions were raised about why residential construction sites were considered an “essential service.” A public health rationale has never been provided. Following the initial list of essential services released, the Province ordered residential construction projects that had not received an above-grade building permit to stop. The rationale that those projects with an above-grade building permit should be deemed essential and those without it be non-essential, has not been clarified. Under the City’s noise by-law, construction equipment can only operate Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No construction noise is permitted on Sundays and statutory holidays.

If you hear a residential construction site beginning work before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., Monday to Friday and before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on Saturdays, or at any time on Sundays or on holidays, I urge you to contact the Province’s hotline at 1-888-444-3659 between the proper hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and ask why the Province has deemed residential construction essential, and why the Province is permitting this noisy work to occur more frequently, especially if you are expected to stay in your home. You can also contact Premier Doug Ford at [email protected] and his legislative office at (416) 325-1941 to lodge your complaint. My friend and colleague Josh Matlow has also started an open letter, requesting that the Province of Ontario provide the public with a rationale for Limitation 2 to Ontario Regulation 130/20 of the City of Toronto Act concerning construction by-laws. You can view and sign the letter online.

Proper Disposal of Doggie Poop Bags

A friendly reminder – doggie poop bags are to be deposited in your GREEN BIN.  They are not to be put in with YARD WASTE.

Fairlawn Annual Book Sale Postponed

The organizers have announced that the Fairlawn Annual Book Sale which was scheduled for April 23 to 25 will be postponed until further notice.

Better Living Website COVID-19 Updates

Better Living  Health and Community Services is actively updating their website to provide you with access to reputable sources of information and reference sources on COVID-19.  You can access their website here: mybetterliving.ca/covid-19-resource-page/