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{mosimage}TORONTO  - It������Ƶapp been a Christmas tradition for the Flanagan family for the past 15 years: Selling Christmas trees for the Out of the Cold program.

Volunteer Sonny Flanagan says he and his family are raising funds for a much-needed program in the city.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Activists with Campaign Life Coalition were shocked to find themselves accused of playing pro-life politics with Christmas. All they wanted to do was honour an aging, beloved priest, said the head of Campaign Life������Ƶapp Gethsemene Ministries.

“I was quite surprised,” Suresh Dominic told The Catholic Register.

After written complaints reached Mayor David Miller������Ƶapp office, city officials asked Dominic to remove a sign from the back of the creche display in front of Old City Hall. The sign on a laminated 8X11 sheet of paper said the statues in the scene had been anonymously donated in honour of “pro-life hero Fr. Ted Colleton.”

{mosimage}TORONTO - Every night after 2 a.m., Abbas Jahangiri visits Toronto������Ƶapp “poorest of the poor,” delivering sandwiches, fruit, water and tea out of his Hummer, all packed by volunteers from .

Jahangiri������Ƶapp non-profit charity is a labour of love, inspired by the live music venue owner������Ƶapp devotion to Mother Teresa. He created it six years ago after making a personal vow of charity.

{mosimage}TORONTO - The Olympic flame is not the only torch making its way across Canada — the Torch of Life is also being welcomed in cities around the country.

The Torch of Life, which was blessed by the late Pope John Paul II, is part of SOS The America������Ƶapp seventh annual campaign organized by the charity Step By Step to raise awareness about organ donation.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Amanda Inglis and Milton Silcus say they’re getting their “daily bread” and spiritual nourishment at St. Patrick������Ƶapp Church������Ƶapp Out of the Cold program.

“St. Patrick������Ƶapp Church gives us some grounding and support,” Inglis, 40, said.

Inglis and Silcus are part of a growing trend at some Out of the Cold centres in the city. At least two Catholic-affiliated centres at St. Patrick������Ƶapp Church and the First Interfaith group at St. Matthew������Ƶapp United Church are reporting an increased demand for their services during the economic downturn.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Mary Hatch is comfortably retired from a career in banking that saw her take on various managerial roles. Her kids are in university and starting careers. She lives in one of Toronto������Ƶapp leafy old neighbourhoods where the houses sell for un-godly sums.

In the normal course of her day, or her year, Hatch������Ƶapp life would never intersect with the life of a single mother who can’t afford a bath mat or towels or a microwave. In Hatch������Ƶapp parish and neighbourhood mothers don’t fear Christmas because they have no chance of fulfilling Christmas wishes. In Hatch������Ƶapp world standardized sheets for a crib,  a winter coat from Wal-Mart or winter boots are basics, not Christmas gifts.

{mosimage}“It������Ƶapp a very exciting time in our work,” said Margaret Smith, a nurse, Creighton Model System practitioner and the centre������Ƶapp program director. “And we already have plans for future education programs in other areas of Ontario and Canada.”

As Toronto������Ƶapp Marguerite Bourgeoys Centre is the largest of its kind in Canada, practitioners in London, Ont., and Calgary have asked the centre to provide the training program locally, which the Toronto centre hopes to do in 2010 and 2011.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Community stakeholders converged at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church Nov. 24 to celebrate a large donation to the parish������Ƶapp planned Family Centre.

Peter Groccia, president of Precise Parklink, donated $4,000, 10 computers and 15 printers for the centre, which is currently under construction on church property and will provide a home to a multitude of community and after-school programs to help keep kids off the street after school and build community in the Jane and Finch area.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Village Mosaic has become the newest hot spot for senior residents of a southern Etobicoke neighbourhood to connect and have fun.

The centre, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph, was officially opened in the fall and already receives up to 300 visits monthly.

“The centre is just so warm and friendly and it doesn’t matter what race or religion you have,” said June Piitz, a visitor who also teaches line dancing at Village Mosaic.

{mosimage}TORONTO - June Dickenson knows exactly what ails her and precisely what keeps her life on track.

“Alzheimer������Ƶapp. I’ve had it for some time,” she told a visitor. “I couldn’t do without this guy.”

Dickenson������Ƶapp guy is Norm, her husband of 56 years.