Children’s Storefront
The Children’s Storefront has been welcoming and supporting Toronto families since 1975. Located in downtown Toronto at 826 Bloor St. W., this tiny but mighty not-for-profit is one of the first child-parent centres in Ontario and has never charged for its programming.
For almost 50 years, parents, grandparents, caregivers and children have gathered at The Children’s Storefront to find support, form friendships, develop a strong sense of community, learn, and grow together. Our 50th anniversary year is in 2025.
The Children’s Storefront has a few unique features – including a strikingly large tree located in the book centre. The initial intention was to paint a tree on the wall, only to end up planting a real tree instead. This interactive addition provides a safe and engaging space for children to engage with their books with a bit of nature in the middle of the city.
The Children’s Storefront also boasts a Community Kitchen, which offers wholesome, low-cost lunches every day. The Storefront has a focus on food; although the kitchen has reduced its use since Covid-19 due to funding constraints, it remains impeccably clean and well-organized, with a collection of cookbooks brimming with recipes, and plays host to occasional potluck brunches, fundraising dinners, cooking bees, and cooking skills workshops.
The facility spans two floors, providing families with ample opportunities for both adults and children to engage. The sense of community and camaraderie that permeates the environment is evidence that families don’t come solely for their children; they also enjoy socializing over tea and fostering connections with other families and staff members. There are of course several activities for parents and caregivers to participate in with their children, and a diverse array of toys and books available. The staff put a strong emphasis on building strong community relationships, exemplifying effective family support.
The organization has a strong commitment to supporting Indigenous folks, families from the LGBTQ2S+ community, and newcomers. The Children’s Storefront often showcases books recently banned by some school boards in Ontario and beyond. These address topics such as transgender and non-binary identities in families. The organization emphasizes the importance of making these books readily available to foster learning and understanding.
Although the Children’s Storefront runs on a small budget, with only two full-time staff, they get by with a little help from their friends – including their volunteer board of directors and generous donations from its community.
The Children’s Storefront looks forward to another 50 years of meeting its mission of being accessible to all families with young children in the Annex/Seaton Village Community.
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