The Children's Storefront Needs Help Now!

The Children's Storefront new location is opening soon. Right now, volunteers are needed to help move things out of storage and into the new space on Bloor St. West.
"This is the last push and we really need your help both for cleaning next Tuesday/Wednesday and also for moving on the 15th."

Drop them an email if you're available.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Children's Storefront Book-Raiser at the Toronto Women's Bookstore

A message from The Children's Storefront:
"Many of you have asked whether we need books to replace our treasury of books lost in the fire last year. The answer is yes and now we have a great way for you to help us do so.
The Toronto Women's Bookstore will be hosting a Book-Raiser for The Children's Storefront on Saturday, December 4.
Finish your holiday shopping and purchase books for our new location.
10 am - 6 pm
Please join us for refreshments from 4PM to 6PM."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Children's Storefront Fundraiser Tuesday

This just rolled into my Facebook inbox...

"Please join us for this fun and exciting fundraiser for The Children's Storefront.
Afternoon Drop-In 4-6:30 PM - Rockabilly Ruby & Bellwoods Trinity + Airbrush Tattoos by Alana Motta

Buffet Dinner 5-6:30PM

Evening All Star Performances and Auction 7-10 PM, including performances by Abigail Lapell, Russell Leon, Related, and Bobby Motta.
Auction items donated by Baby Belly Casting, Random House, Penguin and many more."

It all takes place Tues. Nov. 23rd at The Tranzac in our area on Brunswick Ave.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Garage & Bake Sale To Benefit The Children's Storefront

Okay... unfortunately, I was given wrong information and there's no rummage drop off at St. Alban's this week and my original post, which is below, is correct.
But it's not too late! You can bring rummage directly to the sale site on the day of the sale (Saturday, Dec. 19th) beginning at 9 am.
Sorry for all of the confusion.
VR
Mark December 19th on your calendar: from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm there will be a massive garage and bake sale at Scadding Court Community Centre with proceeds benefitting The Children's Storefront.
Spread the word and if you want to donate items to sell, here's the scoop:
"If you have baked goodies to donate, just bring them down. We are collecting used toys and books for the sale in early December, Tuesday through Thursday, at our temporary location, the St Albans Boys and Girls Club, on Palmerston Avenue, one block south of Dupont.
So from Dec 1-3 and 8-10, you can leave things off at St. Albans, from 9 am until 2 pm."
Get rooting through those toy boxes and closets!
Cheers,
Vanessa

Four Simple Ways To Help The Children's Storefront

I try not to repeat myself too much on this Blog.

However, I want to emphasize something, so I'm going to break my own rule... the burned-down Children's Storefront on Bathurst was a lifesaver in so many ways for so many people.
It is one of those community -- well, actually city -- treasures that simply cannot be lost to us. And right now there are four oh-so-simple ways to help rebuilding efforts.

1) Visit the Aviva Community Fund webpage and vote for the Children's Storefront. All you have to do is register, visit once a day, click a button and you're done. Could it be simpler?

2) Attend the November 24th fundraiser at the Tranzac club. There will be family friendly programming from 1 pm to 5 pm and a concert in the evening from 7 pm to 10 pm for the 19+ crowd. In addition there will be a silent auction. Even if you don't stay long, just go.

3) Attend Nia Dance & Donate November 25th from 7 pm to 9 pm, 1443 Bathurst Street. "Whether you’re a seasoned mover, or a veteran couch potato, you are welcome to join us for an evening dedicated to dance, play and raising money to support the future of The Children’s Storefront. Suggested minimum donation of $25. "

4) Donate money online.

Thank you,

Vanessa

Many Ways To Help The Children's Storefront Rebuild

Not suprisingly, our lovely community has rallied to the aid of the Children's Storefront, which experienced a devastating fire recently.
For starters, the storefront is operating at St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club on Palmerston Avenue from 9:30 am -2 pm Monday to Friday (but closed this Friday, November 13th. The website for the Children's Storefront has slightly different hours. These ones I have posted are correct as of yesterday.)
As well, The Children's Storefront Benefit Show is slated to run from 1 pm to 10 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 24th at the Tranzac Club, 282 Brunswick Ave. Here are the details about the benefit, taken from the Facebook page devoted to it:
"Please join us for an all day fundraising event for the Children’s Storefront’s new home. There will be an afternoon drop in (1-5 pm), buffet (5:30-6:30) and an evening all star concert (7:30-10:00).
Please check in often for more details as they become available."
If you can't make the Tranzac fundraiser, perhaps you can enjoy Nia during An Evening To Dance and Donate, which also has a Facebook page set up.
Here are the details:
"Join Lainie Magidsohn, Martha Randall, and other Toronto area teachers for an evening of Nia dedicated to the relocation and rebuilding efforts of The Children's Storefront.
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: 1443 Bathurst St, just south of St Clair (use side entrance)."
Another way to help is to send along a donation next week:
"From Tuesday, November 17 through Thursday, November 19, The Children's Storefront will be holding a toy and book drive at St. Alban's.
We will be accepting puzzles, infant toys, dress up clothes and books. All items must be clean, in good to excellent condition and labelled and packaged (in boxes or bags). We cannot accept stuffed animals.
If you'd like to offer to help at the benefit, or in any other way, drop an email to the group.
Vanessa
PS Now you also can support The Children's Storefront's bid for funding from the Aviva Community Fund.

Woman Died In Children's Storefront Fire

Tragically, a 50-year-old woman died as a result of the fire early Hallowe'en morning at the Children's Storefront on Bathurst Street.
Sad.
Vanessa

Children's Storefront Gathering Wednesday At Dufferin Grove

A neighbour, Andrew, emailed to report that he saw the building that housed the Children's Storefront being torn down.
So sad.
But the spirit of the local family gathering place continues to soldier on. For example, families are inivited to meet tomorrow at the Dufferin Grove Park Rinkhouse.
Here are the details from the Facebook page:
"Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00pm
Location: Dufferin Grove Park Rinkhouse
While we find temporary and then more permanent space, Dufferin Grove Park has kindly offered its rink house space to us for Wednesday, November 4th.
Please come join us there from 9 until 3 (just like the Storefront hours). There will be space for babies and toys and books. Your toys and books are welcome.
Please direct your questions to childrensstorefront@gmail.com."

In addition, a website devoted to the situation is up and running and "there will be a a public meeting held at St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club (843 Palmerston Avenue) on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 7 pm to allow participants in our community to help start the rebuilding process."
Vanessa

The Children's Storefront Needs A New Home

Since posting Saturday about an unknown fire on Bathurst south of Dupont, I've learned that it was the building that housed The Children's Storefront that burned down and that a firefighter was injured while fighting the blaze.
Sad, sad news.
As a mother new to the neighbourhood with two young children I spent countless hours at the storefront with my kids in tow. The kids played, I chatted with other parents and volunteers and any necessary parenting resources were at my fingertips.
It was a special, happy, nuturing place and it helped to keep me on track as I struggled to raise two active children who were born less than 14 months apart.
And mine is just one of the countless stories about the Storefront, which has been operating for decades. This Toronto Star story sums it up nicely.
On the bright side, I'm happy to discover that talk of rebuilding has begun already. There is a Facebook page entitled The Children's Storefront Needs A New Home.
I'm hopeful that this neighbourhood institution will continue on, though in a new form, and continue its vital work. If you're not a Facebook member and you want to help, try sending an email.
Vanessa
NB Since posting this, someone asked me about the state of the very active and much-loved Annex Art Centre, which is just south of the Children's Storefront. I just had a face-to-face chat with Nusa and the Annex Art Centre is open for business as usual. It appears that most businesses are though, as of this morning, a stretch of Bathurst is still blocked off to cars, which might make access difficult.
I also posted an article online at the Examiner.com.