Chris Glover MPP, Spadina–Fort York

Government of Ontario
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Mutual Aid & Resources

  • Asian Unification Project: Targets Asian people who are disabled, immunocompromised, or 50+. Individuals can request grocery delivery or errand running.
  • The Bright Spot: An online community where older adults can shine, offering everything from exercise classes and small online group discussions to trivia nights and mindfulness tutorials – all free of charge. Offered by the YMCA of Greater Toronto.
  • Canadian Muslim Response Network: Anyone in need across Toronto can request emergency kits including non-perishable food items, and essential hygiene and cleaning products.
  • Canadian Cancer Society Information Helpline: For people with cancer, caregivers, families and friends, and healthcare professionals. 1-888-939-3333 (TTY 1-866-786-3934) CancerConnection.ca is an online community where people with cancer and their loved ones can share their experiences and build supportive relationships. Webinars on COVID-19 for cancer patients providing expert input on some central issues affecting people living with cancer and their caregivers.
  • Caregiving Communities gives people who need help an easy way to find it in your community. This can include finding help with grocery or medication pick-up and delivery, friendly phone calls and mental health support.
  • CareMongering-TO: Community Response to COVID19. Can request or offer aid (including grocery delivery and other resources) by posting in the Facebook group, filling in a Google form (to offer aid), or filling in a spreadsheet (to request aid).
  • College-Montrose Children's Place: Offers free resources for children ages 0-6, their parents and caregivers 416-845-7223
  • COVID-19 Resource Map: This tool has up-to-date service listings across Toronto, including food banks, meal delivery programs, community health services and more. Additional layers and details are being updated daily by 211 Toronto.
  • COVIDhelpTO: Helps frontline workers answer their clients’ most basic questions around financial and housing support. Content in 14 languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, French, Gujarati, Korean, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
  • COVIDTO GlideApp: An all-in-one community resource that is updated by volunteers.
  • Diabetes Canada offers webinars with information about government supports and how people with diabetes can access care during the pandemic. Materials are offered in the following languages: Punjabi; Cantonese; Italian; Urdu. 
  • DonateTO: The City launched this online portal, making it easy for businesses and residents to make direct donations of products, services, and funds in support of the City’s relief efforts.
  • Friendly Neighbour Hotline (UHN Open Lab): Toronto seniors who live in low-income housing can request grocery and supply aid. Torontonians can volunteer after a vetting process and online training. 1-855-581-9580 (Hotline Phone Number)
  • GDNA Help/Give Forum: Community residents can ask for help and other residents can offer assistance. 
  • Good Neighbour Project: GTA-wide, Facebook-based network of community members willing to assist with supply and grocery delivery to those with disabilities, compromised immune systems, accessibility barriers, and the elderly. Requests for aid can be made by calling the helpline (647-873-2230) or sending an email.
  • Queen West Resilience Gardens and Recipe Books: With the many challenges brought on by COVID-19, the Queen West BIA has created Resilience Gardens and Recipe Books for households to grow some food at home. Sign up for your FREE kit.
  • ShopHERE: Connects volunteers in Toronto’s technology sector with business owners who need e-commerce training and support in digital marketing and shipping. Tech companies and professionals who’d like to offer guidance can sign up online. To qualify for the program, a business must have fewer than 10 employees, or fewer than 25 employees if a restaurant or bar; pay commercial property taxes, and not be a chain or franchise. Eligible businesses and artists must be located in the City of Toronto.
  • Social Planning Toronto designed the COVIDhelpTO website to help front-line workers answer their clients’ most basic questions around financial and housing supports announced over the past few months. The English content has now been translated into 14 languages.
  • Spark Ontario is a free, bilingual online platform that connects not-for-profit organizations with potential volunteers.
  • Steps to Justice gives answers to more than 80 legal questions, including questions about emergency benefits assistance, Employment Insurance, being evicted for non-payment of rent, and what to do about urgent family law problems with the courts.
  • The 519 (Community Centre serving the LGBTQ2S community): Free takeaway meals, 7 days a week 1 pm and 4 pm, Monday to Friday 12:30 pm, 12:30 pm Saturday and Sunday. Location: In front of the Fabarnak Cafe, 519 Church St.
  • Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre: Bagged meals available for pick-up only at the side door. Weekdays: Breakfast: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM; Lunch: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM; Dinner: 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM. Weekends: Breakfast: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM; Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Sunday 12:00 - 12:30 PM). Location: 439 Dundas St. E. at Parliament
  • West Neighbourhood House: Help with grocery and pharmacy pickup, friendly calls, social support, information and referral, and other needs emerging in the community. Sign up to volunteer or request help at westnh.org/help. Email [email protected] or call 416-532-4828.

Health and Medical Information

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), please start by visiting the Ministry of Health website and taking their self-assessment, and then if necessary, contact Telehealth Ontario. This may be a helpful link - Do I have COVID-19, the flu, or a cold?

If you’ve travelled, please self-isolate and monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) for 14 days after you arrive back in Canada. Information about self-isolation is available from Public Health Ontario and other sources. As always, for the most accurate and latest health updates, please refer to the following public health authorities:

Mental Health Supports

Need immediate help?

  • If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.  
  • If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

General Mental Health and Well-Being Resources

Covid-19 Specific Resources:

Resources for Students

Resources for Caregivers

Health Workforce Portal

The Ontario government has launched a new Health Workforce Matching Portal that will enable retired or non-active health care professionals, internationally educated health care professionals, students, and volunteers with health care experience to join the province's response to COVID-19. The portal will efficiently match the availability and skillsets of frontline health care workers to the employers in need of assistance to perform a variety of public health functions, such as case and contact management.

Additional Resources

An infographic describing how those with diabetes can best prepare during the COVID-19 disruption

  • Heart and Stroke: Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Slurred speech, Time to Call 911. Learn more here.

  • #HowsMyFlattening: A centralized data analytics and visualization hub monitoring Ontario's response to COVID-1
  • Consumers can report price gouging by filing a complaint at 1-800-889-9768 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, or by filing a report online. 
  • 211 is a free helpline that connects Ontarians to community and social services in your area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages.
  • The Ontario Federation of Labour has a worker resource page and an info sheet on how to file a complaint against an employer who is using reprisals
  • Click here for the updated Employment Standards legislation changed to reflect COVID-19 and other FAQs on staying home from work. Remember, employers cannot require employees to provide medical notes to prove they are eligible for the leave.
  • The Ontario Human Rights’ Commission has released a policy statement on COVID-19
  • Here are guidelines from the Ministry of Labour on how to refuse unsafe work
  • Ontario's Non-Profit Network has provided resources for organizations to adapt due to COVID-19
  • The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses has a number of resources for small businesses to provide advice in relation to COVID-19
  • WalkRollMap is a new crowdsourcing tool designed to increase safe and accessible walking and rolling in the community. The website allows you to use a map to pinpoint barriers that make certain areas difficult to access, such as uneven pavement or unplowed snow. You are also able to report what might be missing, such as a bench or a washroom. Mappers can also report if they’ve been hit while walking or rolling, had a near miss or a fall.
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