“Creating and fostering community where it would otherwise not exist.”

The Waterloo Wayside Centre supports and builds community by providing safe places and opportunities to share and connect. In sharing our experiences and gifts with each other, we can meet our immediate physical needs for food and shelter and our long-term need to live independently while contributing and belonging to a loving, forgiving and inclusive community.

Our programs

For the marginalized

For Seniors

Wayside offers for Seniors including:

• Chair Yoga (Wednesday mornings)

For Youth

Prior to the pandemic, Wayside offered youth programming including after school tutoring and community music. These programs have not resumed.

Become a Volunteer

Bridgeport Café, Sharewear, Food Bag Program, and many of our other programs would not exist if not for the support of our wonderful volunteers.  It is thanks to them that we are able to continue our initiative of fostering community for those who need it most.

We have many opportunities to get involved and are always looking for people from all ages and backgrounds to help us with our community initiative.  If you have a free schedule or only certain hours to commit,  let us know and we can always find a volunteer opportunity for you!  You can email us, give us a call, or drop by the centre to discuss available opportunities. Please contact Linda Oliver (info@waterloowayside.org or 519-886-1471) if you are interested in volunteering.

Bridgeport Café

One of the Wayside Centre’s biggest programs is the Bridgeport Café, an afternoon drop in program for anyone looking for food or fellowship.  The Café is volunteer run and led and is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.  The Café offers guests an assortment of hot and cold food and drinks.  Board games, cards and movies are available for guests to spend time together.  Other forms of programming including music and art are offered at the Café based on the interests and availability of the volunteers.

Bridgeport Café volunteer roles include:

• Café Opener: The Opener arrives 30-60 minutes before the Café opens to prepare or help prepare hot food to be ready at 1:00pm when the Café opens. As well, the Opener sets up the tables and chairs and any other things for that day. The opener stays until 2:00pm.
• Café Host: The Café Host should have strong interpersonal skills with an ability to support people of different socio-economic levels and cultural backgrounds.  Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills would be an asset in this position.
• Café Cook: Create simple but nutritious hot meals using the food available from the Food Bank. Meals usually consist of sandwiches, soups, salads, etc.
• Café Closer: The Closer is at the Café from 2:00pm to 4:30pm and responsible for cleaning up the kitchen, putting out the garbage, putting away the tables chairs and miscellaneous cleanup of the Fellowship Hall.

Sharewear

Sharewear roles include:

• Clothing Sorter: Sorters sort clothes according to size and style.
• Clothing Repair: Some donated items require minor repair before they are distributed. Some clients may have a favourite article of clothing that needs repair.
• Clothing Distribution: During Café hours, work with clients to find clothes that suit their needs.

Food Bag Program

Together with the Food Bank of Waterloo, we hold a Food Bag Program at Emmanuel United Church located on 22 Bridgeport Road West, Waterloo every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm. We distribute a supply of fresh and prepared food that are nutritious and healthy. If you are interested in volunteering from 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Thursday, we are always appreciative of the extra help with handing out food!

Food Bag Program roles include:

• Food delivery and sorting: Sorters prepare donated food for distribution. This may include loading food into the church, or decanting bulk food into smaller portions for distribution.
• Food bag setup: Setting up tables and setting out food.
• Registration: During food bag distribution, register clients in the Food Bank database
• Program closer: Putting tables and returning everything to storage.

Donate

Your gift allows us to continue our support in providing free programs for the youth, senior, and marginalized communities. Donations will receive a tax receipt. Donations may either be made directly to Waterloo Wayside, care of Emmanuel United Church, or through CanadaHelps.

Your donation supports The Waterloo Wayside Centre’s work in fostering and creating community for the youth, senior, and the marginalized of the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

Our Partners