My Sisters' Place

02/02/2026

My Sisters’ Place:

Thanks to a healthy supply of donated oatmeal, Diana pulled out the crockpot and prepared a delicious, cozy breakfast to welcome women as they arrive on this cold, February morning.

Frozen blueberries and brown sugar mixed in and it’s a bowl full of goodness receiving rave reviews.

Thanks also to Dan who stopped by with his partner on Friday with a generous donation from Skip Express Lane. We’re already looking forward to a delicious meal that includes ribs!

02/01/2026

London Coffee House:

Friends, a reminder that our London Coffee House family has extended their hours until February 9th to support our community members through extreme cold temperatures.

This is a gem of a program in the Hamilton Road neighborhood where individuals can receive in the moment support for mental health and addiction as well as access to laundry machines, emergency clothing, snacks, hygiene products and a place to meet and build connection.

You need only enter through the doors to feel the strong sense of community between staff, volunteers and participants.

If you can help with any of the items listed, please stop by 371 Hamilton Rd (at Redan) 9:30-4:30 daily until February 9th. After February 9th 9:30-1:30.

01/30/2026

My Sisters’ Place: (long post ahead!)

December 1st of 2025 we expanded our services to include overnight resting spaces for unsheltered women.

Here is a snapshot from a recent night in the resting spaces:

Pictured here: staff member Nikki as we prepared to open for the night. She is seen next to one of the additional cots that was added to temporarily increase capacity during frigid temperatures. As women file in, there is a palpable sense of relief that they have a safe, warm place for the night. Everyone is greeted and offered hot tea or coffee. Some women wanted to chat, and shared with this writer how much they appreciate the compassionate staff (including security staff) and having this space. Some women are quiet and withdrawn, focused on putting bags down, taking off multiple layers of clothing and getting settled in for the night.

We had just received a donation of Mac ‘n Cheese cups and soup cups (thank you .mamasim) and they are offered to women as one woman is recounting a situation that meant her missing dinner.

Who is using the space? Ages and circumstances vary. On this particular night two women using wheelchairs joined us. (Imagine navigating snowy sidewalks in a wheelchair) A woman who identified herself as hearing impaired with vision loss talked about barriers to housing —but also that she is very hopeful she will soon be housed. On a different but recent night, a woman in her early 80s who is recently homeless came to resting spaces. According to staff there are often new faces.

Nikki says we are at capacity every night and one of the biggest hurdles is lots of women taking turns with a bathroom and shower. But, there is great cooperation and they make it work!

How can you help? Donations of:

Snow pants and long underwear
Warm, dry winter boots
Warm gloves / mittens
Phone charging cords
Cups of Mac n Cheese / Cup o’ Soup /Mr.Noodles etc
Grab n go snacks (yogurt, applesauce, fruit cups, cereal bars, soft granola bars).
Warm, winter socks
Hand warmers
Boot dryer
Blankets
Donations welcomed Mon-Fri 10-7, weekends 10:30-1:30 at 566 Dundas Street, side door.

01/30/2026

London Coffee House:

A huge shout out to the London Coffee House staff team who have cleared their schedules to be able to extend service hours at London Coffee House.

We will be open from 9:30-4:30 daily until February 9th —at which time we expect to have a break from the extreme cold.

Coffee House is a CMHA TV outreach program (part of Community Programs) and it is well loved by the community we serve. There is a steady stream of participants coming through the doors to warm up, enjoy a hot cup of coffee with something to eat, and access supports they need. In the moment help with mental health and addiction, access to laundry machines, emergency clothing and hygiene items are all important components of this program. The strong sense of community means individuals no longer feel isolated and their outcomes improve.

Would you like to help?
The Coffee house is in need of:
Snow pants (men and women)
Long underwear
Men’s belts
Nail clippers
Mittens and gloves
Warm winter coats
Warm, dry boots
Blankets
Hand warmers
Underwear (sizes S M L for men and women)

Cribbage Board
Skipbo card game
Paints & canvases
Markers / pencil crayons
Adult colouring books

Cup o’ Soup
Coffee / Sugar / Whitener
Tea
Hot chocolate

Donations welcome 9:30-4:30 now until February 9th. After February 9th 9:30-1:30

371 Hamilton Road (at Redan). Please come to the rear gate.

01/29/2026

My Sisters’ Place:

We are incredibly grateful to have friends who are always looking out for us.

Tabitha from La Noisette Bakery (now wholesale) checked in with us to see if we could use some coffee cups with lids and some hand sanitizer. Then a text from TL from Mamasim Meal Support Service asking what we need.

Cup o’ Soup, Mac ‘n Cheese cups and other heat and serve items are so appreciated by women accessing our overnight resting spaces. It’s hard to settle in for the night on an empty stomach.

Honey, maple syrup, hot chocolate (and marshmallows!) will be enjoyed with toast and bagels. We appreciate every item that comes through our doors and we sincerely appreciate friends who check in and ask how they can help. Thank you Tabitha and TL and thank you Costco Tom for always being so willing to help. We love local businesses who are so compassionate and community minded. ❤️

.mamasim

01/29/2026

Micro Enterprise:

We’re back! After a very busy 2025, the artisans took a break in January. The Coach House is back in action and Yolanda has some beautiful, hand made hearts hanging to get us thinking about Galentine’s / Valentine’s Day.

Drop by the Coach House any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 10-3.

We have a wide array of home and fashion decor items and Sheela and the artisans will be a great help with selection and custom orders.

01/27/2026

My Sisters’ Place: (from the kitchen)

Friends, winter is a busy time for us always but with these bitter, cold temperatures we are extra busy —and doing A LOT of laundry!

Diana (Kitchen Goddess) says we have lots of oatmeal that will be headed for the crockpot. We would so appreciate donations of anything and everything that can become an oatmeal topper or mixed in. (Cinnamon, frozen fruit etc)

*Carrie recently tried a ‘Diana Special’ bowl of oatmeal —cinnamon with peanut butter and absolutely loved it! . It’s a great way to start the day —with something hot and hearty. How do you like your oatmeal?

Our current kitchen wish list:
Honey
Maple syrup
Jams and jellies
Nutella / any spreads for toast and bagels.
Cup o’ Soup
Microwaveable Mac & Cheese
Heat and serve meals
Liquid laundry detergent

Thank you for all the ways you support us!

Donations are welcome weekdays from 10-4 & 4:30-7.
* please note we will be unable to accept donations Thursday from 1-5 pm.

01/25/2026

London Coffee House:

We are extending our heartfelt sympathy to Robert Sinden’s wife Ellenore, his family, friends and church community at Gateway.

Robert is described as a very kind man with a huge heart for people. Ellenore asked that food remaining after celebrating her beloved husband be sent to Coffee House as it would be in keeping with his generous heart —to support individuals who are struggling.

This was so thoughtful as is being enjoyed throughout our extended hours today. We are open until 4:30 pm. Come inside, get warm and have something to eat. We’re here to help.

To Ellenore and family, and our friends at Gateway Church please know this kindness is so appreciated and we are holding you in our hearts as you mourn the loss of Robert.

01/25/2026

My Sisters’ Place & London Coffee House:

We are beyond grateful to our friend Sue who arrived at the start of our overnight program with a generous donation to help us through bitterly cold temperatures.

This donation is from London District Labour Council and OPSEU/SEFPO Region 1 Area Council and Sue included some of her famous hand knit hats. Sue is not someone who sits with idle hands, they almost always have knitting needles in them. The hats she sells help to purchase needed items for programs like ours and she also donates many hats to be distributed to anyone who needs one.

Huge, huge thanks to the London District Labour Council and also to OPSEU/ SEFPO Region 1 Area 1. We are so grateful.

01/24/2026

This is a throwback to a very special moment at My Sisters’ Place. We miss Diane dearly. She was a woman with many gifts, including her embroidery artistry. We are reminded of the women who spend time with us is all capacities—volunteering, student placements, staff members and participants in our program. What a privilege it is to be a part of this community of women.

A special thank you to our staff team who are doing all they can to welcome as many women as possible into our space and out of the dangerously cold temperatures. Once again we’d like to thank everyone who had a hand in helping us get overnight resting spaces open.

Thanks also to our community partners who have extended hours and services because they care so deeply for those we all support. No one should be left in the cold.

Diane presenting Shirley "Grandma" with a beautiful skirt, and our Native Liason Reta.

01/24/2026

Hand stitched by one of our incredibly talented Sisters. Beautiful, beautiful work by Diane.

01/23/2026

London Coffee House:

Reminder:

We will be extending service hours Saturday and Sunday (January 24 & 25) due to extreme cold temperatures. We will be open 9:30-4:30 both days to offer reprieve from the cold.

If you would like to help, we would appreciate donations of coffee, sugar, coffee whitener / creamer, hot chocolate, muffins / pastries etc to be enjoyed with coffee or tea.

We are also in need of warm, dry winter boots—all sizes (men / women)
Warm hats, scarves, gloves
Hand / foot warmers
Blankets
Men’s belts
Heat and serve canned goods (pasta, beans, soups, stews)
Cup O’ Soup
Grab and go snacks

In addition, toiletries are always appreciated.

Donations welcome at 371 Hamilton Road (at Redan) 9:30-1:30 daily, and this weekend from 9:30-4:30.
Enter through the back gate.

A huge thanks to our very supportive community from everyone at the London Coffee House.