Reading practice

MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE — WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE Registration opens Monday, January 12 at 9:00 a.m. online and in person. Programs run from February 2 to March 27. This winter we are offering three new programs. “Cooking on a Budget” meets every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30. The fee is $60 for all eight weeks, and all ingredients are included. “Beginner Yoga” runs Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00; the fee is $45, and participants should bring their own mat. Our most popular program, “Conversation Circles,” is free of charge and meets Friday afternoons from 2:00 to 3:30 to help newcomers practise English. Please note: all programs require a minimum of six participants. If a program does not reach six registrations by January 26, it will be cancelled and fees refunded in full. To register, visit our front desk or call 416-555-0192. The centre is closed on public holidays.

THE LITTLE FREE PANTRY ON QUEEN STREET On a quiet corner of Queen Street in Toronto, a small wooden box is changing how neighbours think about food. The Little Free Pantry, built by retired carpenter Alan Desai, works on a simple idea: take what you need, leave what you can. Alan built the first pantry in 2023 using leftover wood from his garage. He stocks it each morning with bread, canned soup, and fresh fruit from a local grocer that donates unsold items. Anyone can take food — no questions asked, no forms to fill in. “Nobody should feel embarrassed about being hungry,” Alan says. The idea has spread quickly. There are now eleven pantries across the neighbourhood, and local schools have started food drives to keep them stocked. Last winter, during a heavy snowstorm, volunteers checked the pantries twice a day to make sure they stayed full. Not everyone is convinced, though. Some residents worry the pantries attract litter. Alan disagrees: “In two years, we've had almost no problems. People respect the pantries because they belong to everyone.”