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Community Organizations

The Optimist Club of Brooklin, Ontario

The Optimist Club of Brooklin, Ontario (Optimist International club #47025, chartered September 28, 1987) is a volunteer service club providing service, recognition and guidance to children and youth in the Brooklin area of Whitby. Members of all ages volunteer to run youth programs including the Junior Optimist Club, annual post-secondary bursaries, an oratorical public-speaking scholarship contest, youth dances and community events such as Breakfast with Santa and the Easter Eggs-travaganza. The club meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Brooklin Community Centre & Library, 8 Vipond Road.

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Charities

The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre

The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre is a registered charity and drop-in centre in Oshawa serving homeless, hurting and hungry youth aged 24 and under since 1999. Beyond basics — breakfast and lunch, showers, laundry, clothing and personal hygiene products, plus housing help — the charity describes itself as a community where young people find belonging and renewed hope. Its published statistics for January to August 2026 show 369 unique youth served, 19,249 meals and snacks served, and 9,638 recorded programme interactions; in 2025 it served 575 different youth and 27,443 meals. The centre is open weekdays 9am–3:30pm and can be reached on 905-404-2420.

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Food Banks

The Salvation Army Oshawa Community & Family Services

The Salvation Army's Community & Family Services office at 45 King Street East, Oshawa, runs a food bank for low-income residents of Oshawa and Port Perry. The food bank operates by appointment only (booked through the organisation's website or by phone on 905-723-7422) and provides non-perishable and fresh food items as available; identification for every household member is required at intake. The location also runs a thrift store, a Christmas hamper programme, summer camps and children's programming, a free tax clinic, and counselling and life-skills classes. Food donations can be dropped off at 45 King St E at Albert St, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 12 noon.

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Faith Communities

The Salvation Army Oshawa Community Church

The Salvation Army Oshawa Community Church, also known as the Oshawa Temple Corps, has been an active church family in Oshawa for more than 140 years. Sunday worship is held at 11am, in person and streamed online, blending the Salvation Army's brass band and choir traditions with contemporary teaching. As a corps of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, it shares the mission of sharing the love of Jesus Christ, meeting human needs and being a transforming influence in the community. Its ministry extends through Community and Family Services, a food bank and a thrift store, alongside youth music programmes such as the Temple Band and Singing Company.

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Reusable grocery bags lined up on tables inside the Salvation Army Whitby food bank room, each filled with donated groceries such as cereal boxes, pasta and canned goods.

Food Banks

The Salvation Army Whitby Community & Family Services

The Salvation Army's Whitby Community Church runs community and family services from 710 McQuay Blvd in Whitby, including a food bank program supporting individuals and families facing food insecurity. The Ontario Health atHome service directory lists food bank hours as Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00-11:00am and 12:30-3:00pm; the food bank intake line is 905-430-3454. Other services on site include a thrift store with affordable clothing and household goods, the Pathway of Hope program helping families build long-term stability, the Cafe Connection drop-in, monthly family fun nights, and seasonal Christmas hamper and gift-card programs. The organization reports 296 volunteers contributing 3,856 volunteer hours in 2025.

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Faith Communities

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Trinity Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian congregation at 333 Rossland Road West in Oshawa, formed from the amalgamation of Knox, St. Luke's and St. Paul's Presbyterian Churches. Its motto is building faith, nurturing community and serving Oshawa. Sunday worship is held at 10:30am, in person and online, blending familiar traditions with contemporary elements; Sunday School for children and a nursery are available. Midweek life includes Tuesday and Thursday Bible study, a youth group, choir, ladies' guild, craft group and prayer shawl ministry. The church runs a Food Cupboard with Feed the Need in Durham, serving the community on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 10am to 12pm, and is a registered Canadian charity.

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Faith Communities

Trinity United Church

A United Church of Canada congregation in downtown Cannington that describes itself as inter-generational and community-based. It holds weekly Sunday worship at 9:30 am plus choir, book club, United Church Women activities and joint services with partner churches in the United Community Ministry, and regularly opens its doors for local community events, memorial and funeral services.

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Cultural Associations

Ukrainian Cultural Centre Dnipro

The Ukrainian Cultural Centre Dnipro is a Ukrainian community hall on Dnipro Boulevard in Oshawa. The centre hosts Ukrainian cultural gatherings — it has served as a venue for events such as the travelling Holodomor exhibit — and its hall is used for community functions and celebrations.

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Volunteer Organizations

Victim Services of Durham Region

Victim Services of Durham Region (VSDR) is a registered charity (charitable business #890809767RR0001) founded in 1997 and based in Whitby. It provides free, confidential crisis response, intervention and prevention services immediately following a crime or sudden tragedy, on call 24/7 in response to police requests. Trained crisis intervention counsellors and volunteer responders help victims on-site or by phone, connecting them with longer-term resources and supports. VSDR also delivers prevention and education programs, including human trafficking and healthy-relationship workshops in schools and training for service providers. Contact: (905) 721-4226 or 1-888-579-1520 ext. 3400, victimservices@drps.ca.

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Settlement Services

Welcome Centre Immigrant Services - Oshawa/Clarington

Welcome Centre Immigrant Services – Oshawa/Clarington is a one-stop hub bringing settlement and community services together under one roof. Managed through a partnership between Community Development Council Durham and the Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre, it offers newcomers, immigrants and refugees orientation, referrals, language assessment and employment-related support, including co-located services such as Achēv language assessment and accreditation information sessions. The Oshawa/Clarington centre is located in the Midtown Mall area on John Street West.

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Faith Communities

Westminster United Church

Westminster United Church is an affirming United Church of Canada community in Whitby whose motto is 'Be Welcomed, Be Nourished, Belong.' Its official site states: 'We worship together in person and online every Sunday at 10:30am,' with services also live-streamed. The church presents itself as an affirming community of faith where everyone is invited to come as they are; published offerings include a nursery and Sunday School, community life groups, children and youth activities, outreach initiatives and The Pantry Food Bank. The site describes the church as located at the corner of Rossland and Garrard in Whitby and publishes telephone 905-723-6442.

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Faith Communities

Whitby Baptist Church

Whitby Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation in Whitby. Its official site states: 'We meet every Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:15 am for Worship,' describing family-friendly, intergenerational services that include hymns and worship songs, children's time, prayer, the reading of scripture and a weekly message, with Kidz Zone children's worship and a nursery. Weekly events published on the site include Monday 6:30 pm AA and Thursday 9:00 am-11:30 am Food Bank. Office hours are published as Tuesday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm, and the published telephone number is 905-668-9711. The church building is described as equipped with an elevator and an air-conditioned worship centre.

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