Ways You Can Help Barrie Out of the Cold

Help by Delivering the Laundry to Royal Victoria Hospital

All overnight guests with BOOTC are provided with one blanket. Our blankets are laundered daily and we are very fortunate to have the help of the laundry staff at Royal Victoria Hospital. Volunteers doing the "laundry shift" for BOOTC collect the used blankets at 8 AM each morning. The blankets are put into garbage bags by the early morning shift. The volunteer counts the number of soiled blankets being dropped off and picks up the same number of clean blankets for delivery back to the church in time for the next shift. On the weekend, as the shifts run from one day to the next, blankets must be delivered back on the same day they are picked up. If you would like to help deliver and pick up our blankets at Royal Victoria Hospital, please email us with your name, telephone number, days you are available and how many times per month you would like to do this. Alternatively, you may telephone us at (705) 331-1396.

Help by Becoming a Regular, Star or Spare Volunteer

Volunteers are placed on shifts as vacancies occur. Please scroll down this page for a full description of each shift. Some volunteers have been involved with the program since its inception in 1998. but at the beginning of each season, there are usually vacancies on all the shifts. The two earlier shifts fill up quite quickly but we always have a special need for volunteers who can assist us on the overnight or early morning shift. If there are no vacancies on the shift/church you request, we recommend that you either choose another shift or location or help us as a volunteer "spare". You can learn more about being a spare here.

Help by Becoming a Mealmaker

Individual Meal Makers As an individual meal maker, you would be assigned to a team to help prepare food for your team for the duration of the season. You may be asked to donate a casserole, salad or dessert (10 servings) once a month. The team leader organizes the menu for the meal and requests different items from the mealmakers. If you prefer to donate a salad or dessert rather than a main course item, this can be arranged. We never ask you to prepare something that is difficult for you to make. All team members are provided their six dates at the beginning of the season. The day of the week you are available to provide food will determine the church location. The meal is served at 6 p.m. so it is necessary for food to be delivered to the church between 5 and 5:30 PM. PLEASE NOTE: All food which is to be served hot must be delivered hot.

Groups of Meal Makers If you belong to a larger group from a church or other organization, you may opt to provide all of the food for the meal, part of the meal, or a certain number of casseroles or desserts. Alternatively, you may be interested in providing food only once during the season. Your group would be assigned to one of our teams and the contact person for your group would make arrangements with the team leader to bring the appropriate number of servings once a month.  The church location would be determined by the day of the week your group is available to help.

Help by Making a Monetary Donation

Barrie Out of the Cold is a charitable organization and it operates solely on the generosity of it supporters. As a volunteer organization Barrie Out of the Cold receives the professional support of the David Busby Street Centre as well as other social agencies within the City of Barrie. Like other non-funded organizations, we rely on donations from companies, individuals and church groups. Please give consideration to adopting BOOTC as one of your charities of choice.
Cheques should be made out to: Barrie Out of the Cold and mailed to:

Barrie Out of the Cold
Box 27071
Barrie, Ontario L4M 6K4
You may also make a monetary donation using a credit card. Please Click here to process your donation now.

Help by Donating Food or Clothing

Think of the needs of Barrie Out of the Cold as the needs of an unusually large family. What it takes to run a household, so too are the needs of BOOTC. Our shopping list changes according to need so please contact us if you would like to help by supplying food, fruit, beverages, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, etc.

We do not have sufficient space to store quantities of clothing, but do provide some warm clothing in emergencies. Items like ski jackets (clean and in good condition), waterproof ski pants, winter boots and shoes are always welcome. If we can't store these items, we pass them on to the David Busby Street Center. We maintain a stock of socks and new underwear as these items are constantly in demand.

BOOTC can benefit from corporate bulk price discounts and/or donations with respect to the food and clothing items mentioned above. Please Contact Us if you require guidance as to what is urgently needed.