75St. Felix CentreAnnual Report 2012

Celebrating 75 Years of Ministry by The Felician Sisters

2012 was a milestone year for St. Felix Centre in many ways. In January the Women's Wellness program began in earnest. In April a congregate meal program was introduced at 2195 Jane Street marking the first time St. Felix Centre has ever taken its remarkable spirit 'on the road'. In June the Felician Sisters vacated the convent house to allocate its use to a transitional residence for women.

As the year comes to a close we reflect on all that has been achieved over the past twelve months and indeed over the past seven decades. And, as always, a picture paints a thousand words in this short retrospective of yesterday and today at St. Felix Centre...

St. Felix Centre -

In July "Mary Angela's Closet" was opened for business - a clothing bank and nearly new store. By the autumn seven women had moved into the peace-ful haven of St. Felix House seeking a fresh start in life. In October we celebrated 75 years of care and compassion since the Sisters moved to Toronto to begin their ministry in Canada.

where everyone is a neighbour!

where everyone is a neighbour!

Bill of sale for house - 15,000 CAD, Toronto 1938

now and then...St. Felix Centre -

When the Felician Sisters came to Toronto in 1937 they began their ministry by serving theimmigrants from Poland. They responded to their needs by visiting the sick, providing health clinics, teaching catechetics and ESL classes, providing care for the children, through day care and before and after school programs, and taking care of anything else that needed to be done.

As the years passed the sisters were ever open to respond to current needs. They built a day care centre on their property at 25 Augusta Avenue and it continued to serve the children of the area right into the early nineties. Then the needs in the area changed again. Thus, gradually the Sr. Felix Center was born in the former day care centre. And last year it has expanded its ministry to women in need. To do so the sisters were able to move from their convent and provide the space for the women.

None of the above would have occurred without the steady support of the people around us, who gave of their time, money and prayerful support. We are grateful to each and everyone and continue to keep them before the Lord in our prayer.

Message from Sister Celestine:

Care and compassion have been the cornerstone of St. Felix Centre from the first days the Sisters began their children’s program in the building “behind the house”in the1940’s.

Care, Compassion, Community!

From the wartime children of this downtown neighbourhood to the homeless men and women and inner city kids of today, St. Felix Centre has always been a place where love and acceptance are offered in full measure.

For 75 years St. Felix Centre has been a place of children’s laughter, learning, quiet times and riotous ones...

Suffer the little children to come unto me...Matthew 19:14

Afternoons at St. Felix Centre are busy. And noisy. And wonderful!

There is nothing more basic than feeding hungry mouths. The Sisters always did what they could for anyone who came to the convent needing food and for many many years they gave out soup and sandwiches from the convent. In 1991, one of the Sisters wrote in a brief history, "we gave out 380 sandwiches from the back door". In 2012 the kitchen of St. Felix served 28,500 meals to 1,600 adults and 11,700 snacks for children and youth.

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink...

Matthew (25:35)

The dining room of St. Felix Centre has hosted every kind of meal you can imagine. Originally used for children in the Sisters Day Nursery, today over a thousand people will eat there in a year. More importantly they'll enjoy the warm welcome and friendly feeling that St. Felix Centre is famous for.

St. Felix Centre offers many programs to adults who come through our doors: ESL, computer coaching, a clothing bank, a drop in program for women. Over the years so

many hours of time and care have been given by the Sisters, the staff and the more than 400 volunteers who contribute their time and hearts to helping others.

Let each of you look not only to your interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

A 2012 snapshot of programs and services of St. Felix Centre:

In total St. Felix Centre provided servise

to 1,600 individualsin 2012

St. Felix House: transitional housing for 8 women

average of 100 people per day, 16,139 lunches servedAdult Lunch Program:

Evening Meal Program: Mon- Thurs, 60 per day, 8,289 meals served

Meal Outreach: Community supper provided Tuesday evenings at 2195 Jane Street, 1142 meals served to 180 people

Friday Night Youth Drop In - games, food, hanging out, fun. Average attendance of 40

Women's Wellness Program - 110 participants in afternoon program of exercise, cooking, friendship and support

After School Program - 60 children registered, 50% non-English speaking, programming includes home work help, children’s library, phys-ed, daily snack

ELS classes - ten children, thirteen adults enroll in one to one tutoring

Math Tutoring - Sister Blaise provides enhanced teaching support to 15 children

Computer Coaching - 35 people access one to one guidance on computer use

Art Program for Adults - twelve homeless adults get together weekly to paint and draw

Clothing Bank - 386 homeless receive clothes and personal items; 348 people “buy” gently used items during the year

Volunteer Program - 410 active volunteers in 2012 contribute 39,000 hours of work for an economic value of $438,750

Meal Outreach... We are now serving meals from our own kitchen to the less fortunate in an apartment building in the north end of the City of Toronto. This new project provides an entree into a different method of reaching people who are limited in their abilities to “get out into the community” through the provision of hot food and caring volunteers.

St. Felix House... Over the past two years, and cul-minating in 2012, two separate groups of women - and a few good men - led by SFC Executive Director Paddy Bowen, launched an ambitious and much needed project to help women in need - women who need a helping hand to improve their lives, escape abuse or re-build after addictions, as well as other obstacles they face. The Felician Sisters of Toronto - have generously donated their Century old Convent to house “women in transition”, the City of Toronto, through its homelessness partnership strategy, has provided a generous grant to renovate this incredible house and then a few great women stepped up - designed, decorated and furnished eight bedrooms in the new “St. Felix House”(transitional program for women starting over) Project. By the end of 2012 we will have nine women in residence and the ongoing renovations

New projects up and running!

A.- J. McKechnie

will provide another five rooms by March - with more great women to complete the transformation. This is a marvelous accomplishment by all. On behalf of the Board of Direc-tors - thank you for your interest and dedication. Words are hardly enough - and their are still hurdles to leap - but we are on our way - and we will continue to make a difference in the lives of women for years to come.

With Gratitude. We are grateful for our 400 registered volunteers who serve help in the kitchen - serve meals, assist in all of our programs and serve in myriad ways. You are all greatly appreciated. You are the heart and soul of St. Felix Centre. We are grateful for the continued support of Daily Bread and Second Harvest for their support, the generosity of corporate donors and foundations and for our individual donors without whom, our ability to serve would be impos-sible. Finally, thank you to our benefactors and largest donor The Felician Sisters who founded St. Felix Centre 75 Years ago and who continue their generous and constant support and involvement on a daily basis. Happy 75th Anniversary caring in serving the people of the City of Toronto.

Message from the Chair of the Board: St. Felix Social Ministries has been a very busy place this year and many wonderful things continue to happen. Staff and volunteers have worked hard to continue to make St. Felix Centre a vital part of the neighbourhoods we serve. This group of dedicated people ensure that the food we serve, the programs we deliver and the care we provide to the less fortunate and marginalized is done so at the highest possible level.

Special thanks to special individuals and organizations!

These Individuals and organizations gave more than $1000 to the work of St. Felix Centre in 2012. This is in addition to more than 150 other donors who gave smaller but just as gratefully received amounts.

A.-J. McKechnie & Bill BroughtonAird & Berlis LLP – T. Foran, R. DolanAndrea ArnottAndrea FedererAnne & Neil ConwayBCG PartnersC. Antoniades & R. Mohammed Cadillac FairviewCardinal’s Dinner FundCatholic CharitiesCoca-Cola Refreshments CanadaDaily Bread & Sue Cox FundDavid & Faye PodruznyDeirdre Bowen-DiNoviDon Wright & Leslie PringleDr. Edward & Mrs. Stella Rzadki Ed Harris

Glenn WayGreen Shield CanadaHome DepotJean & Robin McGillisJean BowenJill Harvey & Paul ParsonsJill Lewis & Charlotte CapombassisJoe Dimassimo & Linda ShickJudith Moses Kate Thornely-HallKim GernhaelderKnights of Columbus Council #7689Mary Margaret & Gary KoreenMcCarthy TetraultMichelle WayMunich RE – Jane K. ConnollyNaomi Harris & Boulaye Traore & Family

Nestlé Canada Inc. RBC Dominion Securities – A. Hoffer & B. Springer Robert & Edna PodruznySean Foran Shane & Iris BartrawSharron & Heather MollenhauerSheryl Kennedy & Bill Fleury Sissy FedererSisters of ProvidenceSt. Michael’s College SchoolState Street FinancialThe John C. & Sally Horsfall Eaton Foundation Toronto Partners for Student NutritionToskan Casale FoundationThe Paloma Foundation

Homelessness Partnering Strategy Fund, City of Toronto Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion & Sport - Healthy Communities Fund

St. Felix CentreAdministration

Mark BlackstoneSean ForanPaul HyungSister Shelley Marie JeffreyJean McGillisSister Mary Francesca Buczkowski

2011-2012 Board of Directors:A.-J. McKechnieSister MaryAnne OlekszykBeverley RebelloRichard SalmonDavid Ward

2012 St. Felix Centre Staff:

Paddy Bowen,Iris Bartraw, Jennifer McMullan, Elisabeth Leroux, Ben Hur, Sharon Hinks, Heidi Krieger, Brian Harris, Rose Brewer, Tatyana Parfenyuk, and of course…Bella the Dog

In this picture:

Not pictured:

Jayson San Miguel, Pung Foo Low, Rashin Lamouchi,Stephanie Challis

St. Felix Social Ministries OutreachStatement of Operations and Net Assests

Operating Expenses374,181

99,27519,88215,82519,21814,64317,24322,553

582,820

267,29487,69513,49316,38619,68411,53922,984

---439,075

FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2012

Operating Revenue 2012 2011

Donation from the Felician Sisters Donation from the Felician Sisters for St. Felix House Fundraising revenue Unrestricted donations from individuals Unrestricted donations from corporations Donations from other registered charities Grants and restricted donations Legacies & bequests Program fees Interest income and realized gains

228,000 --- 41,657 50,238 20,400 14,065

63,096 37,312 13,832 859 469,459

228,00010,60239,99665,96660,783

11,067156,399

4,960 13,3911,622

592,785

Salaries and benefits Professional fees Program expenses Repairs and maintenance Utilities and telecommunications Office and general expenses Fundraising St. Felix House expenses

Excess of operating revenue over operating expenses

6,991 (12,709)

Amortization of funds received for capital purchases (note 4) Amortization of capital assets (note 3)

10,317(12,425)

Excess of revenue over expensesNet assets at the beginning of the yearNet assets at the end of the year

4,247$190,902$195,149

28,276$162,626$190,902

9,965 30,384

75The Annual Report 2012 was prepared by Paddy Bowen, the Executive Director and designed by Inga Foltz.

The vintage picturesare kindly provided by the Ministry of Felician Sisters. Contemporary photography by St. Felix Centre team and by Inga Foltz.