The ING Direct Cafe is the most unusual bank you’ll ever visit. Gone are the lines and tellers (all banking is done online or through ABMs). Instead, benches are set up to sip coffee, couches line the walls, and workspaces are available for entrepreneurs and business meetings. The windows are currently decorated with brightly coloured murals, created by some of the students involved in this year’s Tokens 4 Change. Senior Retail Experience Associate, Joan Milway tells us that this is the second year ING Direct (which will be changing its name to Tangerine later this year) has been the central hub for Tokens 4 Change. All profit from the cafe for the month of February will also be donated to Youth Without Shelter. It isn’t a bank branch at all really, more like a coffee shop with an air of banking about it.
Volunteers meet at the ING Direct Cafe
Inside, Development Manager Judy Leroux wrangles some of her 450 volunteers, and readies them for the afternoon. Many have already dispersed to TTC stations across the city, eager to raise money for a worthy cause. Actor, Ennis Esmer kicks off the event, while some of the shelter’s former residents share their stories. Performances by the volunteers get their energy up before they take to the streets.
It’s amazing to see so many young people working together, and Naomi Tessler (Artistic Coordinator and founder of Branch Out Theatre) could not be prouder as she shuttles pizza to the volunteer stations. Tokens 4 Change spends the year visiting schools and educating young people about homelessness and Youth Without Shelter. Many of their volunteers come from these workshops. The numbers don’t lie. 350 students from 20 different schools participated in the day’s event. I’d call that a success. So would many of the volunteers.
Havergal drama students take the stage
“Youth Without Shelter came to talk to our school,” explains Elizabeth Tennyson and Maddy Archer, grade 12 drama students from Havergal College, and Tokens 4 Change volunteers. “They gave us a new perspective and taught us about the issue of homelessness. The idea of the hidden homeless.”
Their teacher, Risa Morris, is proud of their accomplishments. “Havergal’s mission is to prepare young women to make a difference for good in the world. We were the first school involved. My class has volunteered three out of four years with Tokens 4 Change. It’s not as easy as they thought it would be, but when kids are passionate about the cause they will do everything they can for it.”
Blyth Academy shows off their artistic skills
While Havergal College performs their theatre piece on the third floor, the grade 9 and 10 students of Blyth Academy create an elaborate mural on the second. Singer and guitarist Melinda Suarez, a busker originally from Chicago, gets into the spirit while serenading the food-court and handing out CDs. “Our youngest volunteers are grade 6 students from Upper Canada College,” explains Poonam Saini from Youth Without Shelter. “We’re youth helping youth. We’re raising awareness and breaking the stereotypes of youth homelessness.”
Melinda Suarez puts her talent to good use
As the day goes on, tokens and change drops into buckets and the people of Toronto learn a little bit more about the issues that face a hidden portion of society. All of it will go to the five programs offered by Youth Without Shelter. This shelter alone houses over 1000 youth between the ages 16-24 every year and creates an environment where they have the best chance to succeed.
“Tokens can be a barrier,” reminds Judy Leroux, as she welcomes another volunteer.
The students who came out to support Tokens 4 Change know this and are doing their part to make Toronto a better city. These young people are the ones who will, in the future, have the power and means to create change. Are you one of them?
