How You Can Help
You can help Good Shepherd Ministries to feed, clothe, shelter and comfort those most in need.
You can help in a number of different ways:
- • monetary donations;
- • gifts of time;
- • goods and services;
- • Provide-A-Meal Program: how community groups can help;
- • third party fundraising events, e.g. concert, bake sale, dance-a-thon;
- • donating Shopper’s Drug Mart points;
- • organize a food, clothing or toiletry drive;
- • tell others about this vital work.
Good Shepherd Ministries abides by Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. We adhere to a Donor Charter of Rights and strict internal fundraising policies.
Good Shepherd Ministries does not trade or sell donor information.
You can find detailed financial information by visiting Canada Revenue Agency's Charities Listings and searching for Good Shepherd Refuge Social Ministries. You can also e-mail to request a copy of the most recent audited financial statements.
Download the Donor Charter of Rights
Download the Fundraising Policy
Charitable Business Number
89250 8169 RR0001
Make a Donation
Individual, corporate and group donations drive the development of programs and services offered to assist the homeless and disadvantaged in our City.
Community involvement – your involvement – makes it possible for us to seek long term solutions to the plight of the homeless while providing the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter.
Please help TODAY by making a contribution!
Giving Each Month
You can make a contribution monthly from your credit card or bank account. This method can be convenient for you, and you ensure a steady stream of funding for services.
Tribute Gifts (In Memory or In Honour)
Make a gift in memory of someone special or to honour someone you love. Celebrate a birthday, honour a graduation or bless a wedding, while helping those in need.
WORKPLACE
You and your colleagues can help the homeless by:
- • making a financial contribution;
- • contributing goods and services;
- • doubling your gift through your employer's matching gift program;
- • organizing an event like a food drive, casual day or bowl-a-thon;
- • attending or sponsoring one of our events;
- • making Good Shepherd your charity of choice for your workplace contributions.
Giving Your Points
Your donation provides points that can be redeemed for goods to be used for programs and services.
Wish List
Click here to open a printable version of our most urgent needs.
Create a Legacy
You can help to address homelessness and poverty now and in the future.
You can promote human dignity and help the homeless when you do your financial planning. Your choice can make a real difference to the lives of the homeless and disadvantaged – and can offer tax benefits as well.
Disclaimer: Information on legacy gifts is a guide and general in nature. It is not a substitute for professional legal or financial advice. Good Shepherd Ministries encourages all potential donors to seek independent legal and/or financial planning advice.
For more information please contact 416-869-3619 ext. 223.
Remember Our Work in Your WillCreate a future of hope and compassion.
Remember Our Work in Your Will
You can help tomorrow’s homeless men and women follow a path to a better life when you remember the work of Good Shepherd Ministries in your will. Bequests can be in the form of cash, securities, real estate, property or a percentage of your estate.
Naming Good Shepherd Ministries in your will is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact. Your bequest is not taxed and can reduce estate taxes and probate fees your estate will have to pay.
Residual bequest – designates all or a portion of whatever remains after all debts, taxes, expenses and other bequests have been paid
Specific bequest – designates a certain dollar amount or certain property
For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.
Gifts of SecuritiesDonate stock or securities and take advantage of tax benefits.
Gifts of Securities
You can donate appreciated securities and completely avoid the capital gains tax.
You can donate publicly traded shares, bonds, mutual funds, bills warrants and futures listed on the Canadian stock exchange (or a number of foreign stock exchanges).
Giving a gift of securities is as simple as your signature on our transfer form. Please note that in order to receive a tax receipt, the transfer form must be completed with your personal information.
Click here for the gift of securities transfer form.For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.
RRSP/RRIF FundsProvide security for those most in need.
RRSP/RRIF Funds
You can name Good Shepherd Ministries as the beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF).
This asset resides outside of the estate and therefore is not subject to probate fees. The charitable tax receipt received from making the gift may help to offset other taxes owing on the estate.
The gift is treated as a charitable donation in the year of death and is eligible for a tax credit on your final tax return or the one immediately preceding the final return.
All that is required to make this planned gift is to change the beneficiary information on the plan document and advise the institution holding the retirement account.
Multiple beneficiaries can be named: charitable organizations, family, and friends.
Should your spouse be the beneficiary of the plan, you may make a contingent beneficiary. The proceeds of the plan will only be directed to the charity following the death of the primary beneficiary.
For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.
Life InsuranceOffer a better life to the homeless and disadvantaged.
Life Insurance
You can transfer ownership and beneficiary status of an existing policy or new policy to Good Shepherd Ministries. You will receive an immediate tax receipt for the cash surrender value.
New Policy
You can take out a new policy and name Good Shepherd Ministries as both the owner and beneficiary. This entitles you to a tax receipt annually for any premiums you subsequently pay.
Existing Policy
If you have an existing policy that has outlived its original purpose for the protection of you or your family, you can donate it to Good Shepherd Ministries and provide hope for the homeless in the future.
Your tax receipt will be for the full cash surrender value of the policy. Many policies have enough in cash and dividends within them to pay the premiums without any more contributions required by you. If premiums are still owed, and if you continue to make the payments, Good Shepherd Ministries can issue you a tax receipt for them as well.
When Good Shepherd Ministries becomes the beneficiary, your estate will receive a tax receipt for the value of the policy which results in substantial tax savings for your estate. Your heirs will benefit.
For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.
PropertyTransform your possessions into compassionate care for those most in need.
Property
Before you can donate property (real estate, jewellery, art, etc.), a professional appraisal must be completed by a qualified third-party appraiser to determine the fair market value of the property.
Once the appraisal is complete, and the property legally transferred, a receipt for income tax purposes will be issued for the appraised value.
A donor can make- an irrevocable gift of property while retaining life interest (use and enjoyment for the remainder of the donor's life which is termed residual interest);
- donate it outright;
- place it in trust;
- gift it by will.
For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.
Volunteer
Good Shepherd Ministries values its volunteers. Without their assistance and dedication, the organization could not provide high quality services while meeting the rise in demand.
Good Shepherd Ministries’ volunteers come from all walks of life and represent a cross-cultural group of people. Volunteers are represented by community groups, faith based groups, retirees, businesses, school groups and individuals.
Volunteering at Good Shepherd Ministries is a way in which you can give back to your community. It is a perfect opportunity for students to complete their mandatory 40 hours of community service as well.
Last year Good Shepherd Ministries relied upon more than 8,000 volunteers to help deliver its services to the homeless and disadvantaged.
Opportunities and Contact Information
Dorm and Laundry AideShopping and Appointment Aide: St. Joseph's ResidenceClothing Room Attendant (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)Download a volunteer applicationDownload a volunteer brochureGood Shepherd Ministries adheres to a strict confidentiality code when dealing with your volunteer application. For more information please contact 416-869-3619 ext. 262 or volunteer@goodshepherd.ca.
Why Support Us?
"Your references were excellent,” said one of our new donors last year. He had been asking homeless men on the streets about the services offered by various agencies in Toronto.
If you want to promote human dignity and help the least fortunate members of our community, Good Shepherd Ministries is a good place to start.
Our clients and volunteers offer some of the best insights into how our work changes lives. Read their stories.
We are committed to using your resources, your time, your monetary contributions and your gifts of food, clothing and other supplies in the most effective way.
For more detailed financial information, please visit Canada Revenue Agency's Charities Listings and search for Good Shepherd Refuge Social Ministries.
Serve 451,214* meals free of charge (more than 1,200 meals per day) making our meal program the largest in Toronto;Provide safe, clean beds for 95 homeless men each night - 1,534 individuals sheltered last year;Distribute more than 88,000 items of clothing free of charge in a year;Operate a medical clinic that receives an estimated 3,786 visits annualy;Help 127 homeless men enter treatment for addictions through the DARE program;Provide the Resettlement/Housing Program, which helps on average 213 homeless men find housing;Provide supportive housing for 8 seniors with a history of homelessness;Provide supportive housing for 6 individuals living with HIV and AIDS; andWelcome more than 8,000 volunteers from across Canada and the United States to help fulfill our mission to serve the homeless and disadvantaged.*Statistics from 2016 calendar year.