Back-to-School Giveaway proves power of community in Toronto

On Saturday, August 30^th, 2025, the Toronto Cares Initiative hosted its annual Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway near Winona Road and Oakwood Avenue. Families from across the Oakwood-Vaughan area gathered for more than just backpacks and pencils.

Founded in 2020 by Sarah E. Robinson, the Toronto Cares Initiative has become a lifeline for: low-income, unhoused, and vulnerable residents. What started with one woman’s outreach on social media has grown into a registered charity serving more than 30,000 families. Today, the organization provides: food, clothing, school supplies, and emotional support for those most affected by poverty. Its work has earned national recognition, including finalist nominations at the 2023 Charity Village Conference Awards for its diversity and equity leadership.

The success of this year’s giveaway came from the dedication of volunteers, local leaders, and sponsors who rallied quickly to meet the back-to-school demand. The event echoed the charity’s mission to, “Provide vital resources for the: mind, body, and spirit to Torontonians with disabilities, mental health challenges, and seniors.”

Among the champions of the day was Dr. Jill Andrew, former Ontario NDP MPP for Toronto–St. Paul’s. Andrew is also co-founder of Body Confidence Canada, an award-winning educator, and a long-time community advocate. She canvassed local apartment buildings herself, handing out flyers and inviting families face-to-face.

“Having served my community of Toronto–St. Paul’s for two terms, one of the most rewarding programs I led was our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway,” Andrew explained. “Our events created a safe space where neighbours could: gather, share food, play, and also discuss solutions to the challenges we face.”

While children received: backpacks, notebooks, and supplies, the event was about more than material goods. Families connected, conversations flowed, and urgent issues came to the forefront: cuts to education, rising food insecurity, and Toronto’s worsening housing crisis.

Andrew pointed out that: professionals, healthcare workers, and even children now rely on food banks. “Until we address the root causes of class disparity and systemic injustice, I will continue to show up and support where and how I can.”

Although Andrew lost her provincial seat in 2024, her commitment to Toronto–St. Paul’s has not wavered. This year she partnered directly with Sarah Robinson to ensure the Oakwood-Vaughan event reached as many families as possible.

“I called Sarah Robinson, Executive Director of Toronto Cares Initiative, and asked if she would help us make our back-to-school supplies giveaway possible for kids and families in our Oakwood-Vaughan community,” Andrew shared. “She said yes without hesitation. Her organization has been helping tens of thousands across the city since 2020. I am truly grateful to Sarah and her all-volunteer team for their advocacy and their heartwork.”

By the end of the day, every single backpack and bundle of supplies had been given away. Parents expressed gratitude, children left smiling, and the Toronto Cares Initiative further cemented its role as a pillar of community care.

Still, both Robinson and Andrew acknowledge that giveaways and food drives are temporary solutions. They envision a future where families no longer depend on stopgap measures, but instead thrive in a system that meets their needs.

Until then, events like the Back-to-School Giveaway remain vital touchpoints, reminders that when communities come together, they can: ease hardship, spark joy, and demand change.

Anyone interested in supporting the Toronto Cares Initiative can visit www.toronto-cares.ca