Access Alliance COVID-19 Response, 2019 – 2022
We are keeping our doors open to deliver essential services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Please see our program calendar for more information about how to access our food and other programs as well as new online services.
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COVID-19 Free Testing Centres
If you feel any symptoms or believe you have been exposed to COVID- 19, please get tested at one of the City of Toronto’s Assessment Centres. Appointments are required.
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How to get your COVID-19 vaccine certificate in Ontario
Please see our step-by-step guide for help completing the forms to get your COVID-19 vaccine certificate.
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Food With Dignity Programs
COVID-19 has exacerbated food insecurity for many people who already face multiple barriers to accessing healthy food. Our pandemic relief efforts focus on helping those in need access healthy, nutritious food and cooked meals.
Priority Referrals
Food-insecure clients are given same-day or next-day appointments to learn about, register, and receive emergency food from our own and other local emergency food programs. For more information or to make an appointment, call our main number at 416-324-8677.
Hot meal takeout and delivery
Dining programs at our east and west locations now produce about 500 hot meals per week for curbside pickup or contact-free delivery. Please see our program calendar for times and location information.
Monthly Food Hampers
From April to August, we are providing food-insecure households with food hampers filled with nutritious and versatile food items (while supplies last). For more information, call our main number at 416-324-8677.
Good Food Box Program
We continue to distribute Good Food Boxes from Food Share for those who are enrolled in the program.
Grocery Store Gift Cards
To date, we’ve raised almost $30,000 to put toward grocery store gift cards which we distribute to clients who can do their own grocery shopping and cook independently but require financial assistance. We continue to do fundraising for this important initiative. To donate, please click here.
Financial Awareness and Income Support
Food security often boils down to income security. Our staff help clients navigate complicated government pandemic benefit programs by providing simplified pertinent information, income tax filing support, and when needed, translations of materials into clients’ languages. For more information or to make an appointment, contact our main number at 416-324-8677.
Hidden Smiles Community Masks Project
This project mobilized eight newcomer seamstresses to produce more than 2000 quality cloth masks. The masks are distributed to clients through our programs and partner organizations – in particular, through seven community health centers that partner with Access Alliance in the provision of primary care.
Connect with Dignity
We distributed 50 free brand new cellphones with a free data plan to clients who were struggling to be connected to virtual services due to a lack of Internet and equipment. We will continue to support efforts to connect people to services and information.
AccessFresh Balcony Food Garden
We are distributing 400 AccessFresh growing kits to low-income residents living in high-rise buildings to help them supplement their food supply and promote wellness and active living. The kits contain everything needed to grow vegetables and herbs for those who don’t have access to a garden. For more information, call our main number at 416-324-8677.
Extended hours of the Non Insured Walk In Clinic
Residents of the city with precarious immigration status may be particularly affected by service closures during the pandemic. In response, we have kept our Non Insured Walk In Clinic open and extended our hours to accommodate more patients who would otherwise have no access to primary care. Find more information about visiting our Non Insured Walk In Clinic.
Online Multilingual COVID Information Library
Access Alliance Language Services has compiled health service information, including COVID-19 related information, in multiple languages, in an open-access online library to support health providers in accessing information for their clients. The Library serves as a collaborative, centralized, and accessible repository of translated materials and multilingual websites relating to health and community care and support.
There are two ways to access it:
- Provider interface: www.rionetworkonline.ca (click on #C4CC button for guest access to the library)
- Mobile-friendly version: www.rionetworkonline.ca/library (after going to the site on a mobile device, save it to your home screen and it behaves like an app).
Other resources
COVID-19 resource list for families. Toronto Children’s Services, December 2020.
Our pandemic relief efforts are funded by:
The Government of Canada, Community Food Centres Canada, United Way Greater Toronto, Toronto Community Foundation, Daily Bread Food Bank, Tweed Collective, Canadian Association of Community Health Centres, Ontario Health.
Donation and In-kind support provided by:
Telus, City of Toronto, FoodShare, Second Harvest as well as private donations.