Hospice Toronto Meal Delivery Feeds More Than Just Bellies in COVID-19
Support, Connection Essential to End of Life Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, August 13, 2020 -- A crisis like COVID-19 challenges communities at every level. From the struggles of physical distancing to loss of income, isolation, and detachment from the social networks that provide care, people can often find themselves in need of more support, just as it becomes harder to find.
To meet this issue head on, the government announced the Ontario Community Support Program in April, a nearly $11M fund distributed by the Ontario Community Support Association to help community support organizations deliver meals, medicine, and more to community members who need it the most.
For Hospice Toronto, an urban, in-home hospice palliative care program, the emergency funding has meant the ability to partner with a caterer to bring nourishing fresh and frozen meals directly to their most vulnerable community members: people with terminal illness who’ve chosen to die at home.
For people already facing unthinkable challenges, a lovingly prepared meal is the gift of one less thing to worry about.
As those in the Community Support sector know well, funding isn’t everything; the success of these programs also relies on people. At Hospice Toronto, as elsewhere across the province, staff are stepping in to replace volunteers-- many over 70 years old-- who’ve been forced to stay home and isolate themselves. For Teri Henderson, the Director of Clinical Services for Hospice Toronto, the opportunity to deliver meals to community members during COVID-19 has been incredibly meaningful.
“I've been in this field for a long time and I was really struck by the absolute gratitude people had that we were able to bring food into their homes,” she says, noting that this appreciation has translated into neighbour referrals for the program and as a result, the high-density vertical villages that many of their clients call home, are transforming into communities.
Teri is grateful for what the funding has allowed them to accomplish, saying, “If in one small way we can feed people emotionally or physically -- it’s been a gift.”
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About OCSA
Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario.
For more information, visit www.ocsa.on.ca
and https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets.
For interviews and information requests please contact:
Sandra Kahale – Media Coordinator
Ontario Community Support Association
647-997-1800
About Hospice Toronto
Hospice Toronto is dedicated to providing the highest quality of palliative care. Team based and person-centred, Hospice Toronto supports quality of life, empowered decision making and self determination for people navigating life's greatest challenge.
For more information, visit https://hospicetoronto.ca.
Dena Maule – Media Contact
Chief Executive Officer, Hospice Toronto
416.364.1666 ext. 225
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Ontario, March 27, 2026 — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) welcomes the Ontario government’s continued investment in home care and community support services as part of the 2026 provincial budget. Building on recent commitments, this investment signals a sustained shift toward strengthening care in the home and community as a central pillar of Ontario’s health system. As demand continues to grow—driven by an aging population, increasing caregiver strain, and sustained pressure across hospitals and long-term care—expanding access to care outside of institutions is critical to improving system flow and long term sustainability. “We are listening closely to what Ontarians are telling us—and so is the government,” said Lori Holloway, CEO of OCSA. “People want to receive care at home and in their communities, surrounded by the people and supports that matter most. This investment reflects that reality and moves us further toward a system designed around where people actually want and need care.” Home care and community support services each play distinct but complementary roles. Home care provides essential clinical and personal care in the home, while community support services focus on prevention, independence, and quality of life through programs such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day programs, and caregiver respite. Together, they form the foundation of a modern, community-based care system that helps people remain at home longer while reducing avoidable hospital use and delaying or preventing long-term care placement. This level of sustained investment has the potential to significantly expand access to care at home, strengthen community capacity, and improve outcomes for individuals and families across the province—while supporting a more balanced and sustainable health system overall. OCSA is committed to working with government and system partners to ensure these investments translate into real improvements in access, stronger community supports, and measurable impact for Ontarians. About OCSA The Ontario Community Support Association represents more than 200 not-for-profit organizations providing home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members deliver essential services that help people live independently, age at home, and reduce pressure on hospitals and long-term care. For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca
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