Above and Beyond

How to help in a more significant way:

The RFTS families express profound gratitude for the support they receive from KCS families during this time of year. The needs of the RFTS families extend beyond nourishment, encompassing critical requests that could significantly enhance their quality of life. These include essentials like mattresses, beds, pots and pans, and stoves, along with educational tools like laptops and access to TTC passes. Furthermore, support for tutors and the opportunity for extra-curricular activities would make a substantial impact. If you are interested in contributing any of these items or services, please reach out to Tania Da Fonseca at [email protected]. Your generosity can truly make a difference in the lives of these families.
While these gifts are exciting to give, we also need to remember that food is the primary focus for these families who are struggling.  If you would like to contribute to a week or month’s worth of food for a family, please let us know.

 

Family #2 

Above and Beyond Request: Extra-curricular activities
Child: 1 non-binary teen (16)

At the age of 9, they embarked on a new journey as a refugee in Canada, adjusting to a completely different life. Additionally and tragically, this teen has been greatly impacted by years of abuse and neglect. The challenges of COVID-19 have also exacerbated their isolation, and they continue to struggle academically and socially at school.  Access to resources such as enrolling them in extracurricular classes and exposing them to positive social experiences are essential to their healing.

 

Family #6

Above and Beyond Requests: Triple Stacked twin metal bed, 3 twin mattresses
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Daughter (14), Son (5), Daughter (5), Daughter (3)

In addition to her three children, this single mother also takes care of her adopted nephew, who is facing his own set of challenges due to his mother's mental health issues. This compassionate act reflects the family's commitment to providing a stable and loving home or those in need. 

 

Family #9

Above and Beyond Requests: Tutoring, Bikes for kids -  53 inches, 47 inches, 43 inches, New stove 
Parents: Father and Mother
Children: Son (10), Daughter (8), Daughter (5)

“... my children are ALWAYS hungry.”

Adding to their difficulties, one of their children faces a vision challenge, requiring extra attention and care. The two older children also struggle with multiple learning disabilities, causing them to fall behind in school. Financial constraints have made it impossible to afford the tutoring they desperately need.

Their living arrangements are far from ideal. The stove in their home is in disrepair, with only one burner working. This hampers their ability to prepare food properly, and the children go to bed hungry regularly.

 

Family #10 

Above and Beyond Requests: Laptop, Rent, Tuition fees for Mom 
Parent: Mother
Child: Daughter (4)

She pays rent with her VISA and can not afford to pay her visa or sometimes food. On some days she goes without eating to feed her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum. They are struggling with food insecurity, housing insecurity, and extreme poverty. 

Despite the obstacles, she has not given up on her dreams. With an educational psychology degree and a bachelor's in education and arts, she previously taught English in a Nigerian high school and worked as a guidance counsellor for two years. However, due to equivalency standards, she is unable to work in the same line of work that her education supports. She is currently enrolled in school with the help of OSAP and loans, pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse. 

 

Family #11

Above and Beyond Requests: Laptop
Parent: Single Mother
Child: Son (9)

This family has faced significant challenges due to the young boy's medical issues, which often require him to be admitted to Sick Kids, causing him to miss a substantial amount of school. As a result, he has fallen behind, and the mother can not afford a laptop to support his educational needs. She found it somewhat overwhelming and could not bring herself to request a brand-new laptop for her son's educational needs, opting instead for a refurbished one.   

In addition, she struggles with worrying about how to get her child to the hospital, so Presto Passes for the TTC and Uber gift cards would be a lifeline for her.

 

Family #12

Above and Beyond Requests: Theater tickets for the family to attend a Holiday Show, martial arts lessons.

Parent: Single mother
Children: Son (Transgender male, 10), Daughter (2)

This family faces significant challenges in their life journey. The sudden and tragic death of their father in October 2018 resulted in a single-parent household, where their mother carries the weight of responsibility for the family.

The 10-year-old is a transgender male with a deep passion for theater and creative expression.

 

Family #13

Above and Beyond Requests: Full set of pots and pans, microwave 

Parent: Single Mother
Children: Son (16), Daughter (15), Son (9)

“Food is the main concern for the family…and has become a barrier for children to attend school as they do not have food to pack for lunches.”

This family has faced unimaginable hardship, with the mother enduring a lifetime of suffering and abuse. They currently live in a home plagued by leaks and mold issues, which has forced the mother and her two youngest sons to sleep in the living room on mattresses on the floor. Their living situation is further complicated by the imminent threat of "renoviction," leaving them without stable housing.