Posted by ken on January 5, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Very different indeed. A bit hard to process for some, so let’s paint a picture of the reality of kids on the street. Many issues certainly, here are a few:
Physical Abuse: most kids are fleeing domestic violence. Hard as street life is, it’s viewed as better than ‘home’.
Substance Abuse: if it hasn’t already started, it comes into the picture big time when the kids hit the streets. It begins as self-medication to try to deal with pain of whatever they are facing. Then it turns into a physiological thing and then the kids need to maintain so as not to go into withdrawal.
All alone: Even though they hang out in larger groups for safety, each of these ‘tough kids’ is just a kid, like the kid across the street from you, who has HAD to put on an image in order to survive. It is a mask, necessary for survival. No support, no one to help, none. None.
Violence: is a part of it all, along with ‘survival tactics’ that are less than pretty: prostitution, drug use with needles and prescriptions and whatever else comes to hand, even running drugs for the ‘boss’ man.
We deal with these issues, portrayed through kids who mostly never had a fair chance because of their background. So we love on them, encourage them in the smallest things you can imagine, build self-esteem whenever we can, and really, just try to hang on to them.
Statistics report that there are a few levels of socio-economic backgrounds of kids on the streets, but guess what? The pimps, dealers and other exploiters, really do NOT care. They see a source of income, a piece of meat to ‘sell’, a means to their own selfish ends.
They come to us. They come every week. They have no other place to go that is positive, encouraging and supportive.
Yea, it’s hard work, and it really hurts sometimes, but we believe in these kids with all of our hearts.
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, General Poverty, Homelessness, Injustice, Justice, justice canada, mental health, mental illness, Passion for Youth art program, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, street youth art program, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, systemic poverty canada, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Recovery, Street Outreach, street youth outreach, walk the streets
Posted by ken on December 21, 2011 · 2 Comments
This is the eighth and final episode of “Rachel’s Gift”. Listen as Rachel finally reveals her “Gift”. Invite your friends to listen and ‘catch up’ on previous episodes. If you missed episodes go to ‘Recent Posts’ from November 28 (right hand column).
Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s Rachel:
Thanks for your support for our Passion 4 Youth Art program this Christmas. Help us continue this life-changing program. Designate a donation today! Just click the ‘Donate’ button. Thanks for your special gift!
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Christmas, christmas cheer, Christmas giving, christmas on the streets, christmas spirit, creative arts, Dignity, Drop In Services, gift of christmas, homeless christmas, Homelessness, meaning of christmas, Miracle on the Streets, Passion for Youth art program, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Recovery, Respect, Street Outreach, Street Youth, street youth art program, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized · Tagged with art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, christmas gift, christmas poverty, christmas spirit, Dignity, gift of christmas, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness ottawa, Justice, Make a diference, Recovery, Respect, Street Youth, street youth outreach, walk the streets
Posted by ken on December 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment
“Rachel’s Gift is an 8 part series until December 23. Go to www.chri.ca for the audio backgrounders to Rachel’s stories.
This time when I got out of jail I couldn’t go to Ottawa – I was banned from Ottawa. You know, I wasn’t supposed to be in Ottawa, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go. So, I got caught in Ottawa in a rooming house because I was taking a shower there and was arrested for a breach of probation. I went back to jail for one month and then they released me in Ottawa (laughter). I couldn’t go to my mom’s house because her husband at the time was totally against me living there. I could see why.
I got out of jail and started doing the same things that I usually do. I was staying in a heated stairwell at Nepean and Bank – it was public property so they couldn’t arrest you, just tell you to get along. When you are in drugs, people only want you at your house when you had something for them, they say, ‘I would never see you out on the street.’ But when you were in need and you didn’t have any drugs, they would say, like, ‘We can’t have people staying at our house’.
There are some places to stay when you live on the streets, but you have to be careful. Staying in a shelter was much worse – in my eyes it was like the bottom… as long as I don’t have to go to a shelter, I hadn’t hit rock bottom.
I didn’t have a place anymore, and I found a website where you could and used that to meet guys for a date… So, I stayed on the streets or maybe in hotels sometimes. I don’t know, it just became a way of life, survival.
I basically sick and tired of doing drugs, like heroin… I just couldn’t do it anymore.
I ended up in a crack house downtown: people coming and going all the time; drugs in and out like crazy, and I was still using. I had started the methadone program, but was still using street drugs. Anytime I used anything other than opiates, it screwed up my methadone and I would get even sicker.
I guess I just hit rock bottom then. Doing things I would never do and being somebody that I totally never was. People totally lost respect for me. I would overhear people talking about me, and think, ‘Is that what they really think about me?’
I just took a look around one day. I was introduced to Jesus a few years ago. When I was in jail I accepted Jesus but I was doing my own thing. Then one day, looked around and said, “Oh God, I know that this is not what you have planned for me, I just know it isn’t.”
I walked out of that place and got a place with some girls, and it was a safe place.
Next Week: The story takes a significant turn for the better. Stay connected, you don’t want to miss this!
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Christmas, christmas on the streets, Dignity, General Poverty, gift of christmas, homeless christmas, Homelessness, Miracle on the Streets, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, systemic poverty canada, Uncategorized · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, break cycle poverty, christmas gift, christmas poverty, crystal meth, gift of christmas, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, jail time, justice system, living on the streets, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Street Youth, street youth outreach
Posted by ken on January 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment
A sunny bright first week of January and many greetings of “Happy New Year” were offered from our friends at the drop in. New Years is just so much better than Christmas.
In addition to the beautiful day, some of our folks were only just receiving their cheques from December (some glitch in the matrix of ODSP/OW) on this day, so it was doubly beautiful (maybe more).
Our numbers are down a bit because of the cheque thing (a typical first of the month pattern), but we have given up trying to estimate our effectiveness through the number of people served a meal. Instead we count the number of positive interactions our volunteers have with our street friends – more than ‘the Big three’ of news, weather and sports.
Downstairs, there’s a couple of euchre games on the go, people visiting with each other, relaxed, informal – a nice place to hang out.
Let’s ‘drop in’ on a few of my encounters with our friends:
I met Bill who is 19 years old and his sister Chaucery (or so I thought, until Bill told me it was his mom), and we chatted. Two years ago he ran from a fight only to have a severe stab wound in the skull: “See the mark?” he says as he points to the top of his head. We talked of a few things, but he told me he didn’t want to talk about his father, one time Chaucery’s partner. Then, after about twenty minutes, he brought up the topic of his father, and how he had been so severely mistreated. Usually, among people who have been mistreated as children it is their fathers who have been the primary causes of abuse. He didn’t want to talk about it, but then he did. He had been diagnosed with some condition of mental illness (before the knife wound and somehow associated with his father), he explained, and lives with his mom. Their hydro had been cut off, and it was a good thing I wasn’t part of the blanket-blank agency, or they would have some choice words for me. They were going to make it, the mom said, because hydro was not their heat source, and their landlord had allowed them to have an extension cord running to a power outlet in the hall. “We have lots to be thankful for,” Bill reminded his mom.
On the way to the coffee urn, Wayne came in and asked if he could have a hamper to take home with him (before the appointed time for hampers) because the service technician was coming to his new place to hook up a phone that afternoon. Wayne has undergone a remarkable recovery from alcohol, drugs and the street scene. He has been clean for over a year now, and has every intention of continuing to improve his life. After many, many attempts to obtain housing, he now has a place of his own. I marvel at what he has accomplished against overwhelming odds, as well at his determination to keep on the ‘straight and narrow’.
Jelica, our managing director, put together a few groceries, while Wayne showed us pictures of his two daughters and grandchildren. “Wow”, I said, admiring the photographs and smiling, “You don’t look it, but you truly are a rich man.” He quickly nodded assent and told a condensed version of the powerful reconciliation he recently had with one of his daughters – after being estranged from her for many, many years.
“Thank you so very much for the food,” he said, and put the pictures carefully in the front part of his knapsack, and the groceries in the back. “I’m off to catch the 12:10 bus.”
As he climbed the stairs out of the building, my eyes met Jelicas’, and there was a simultaneous sigh of gratitude and wonder at this example of a transformed life. More than words are needed to grasp the deep significance of what was happening all around us.
It’s all a gift from God, and gifts of God.
These kinds of encounters happen all the time, each one purposefully and intrinsically orchestrated by our Heavenly Father: each one a display of His splendor . Mother Theresa coined it well when she said, “We see Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.”
You should find out how you could be a part of this somehow. Happy New Years!
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Christmas, Dignity, Drop In Services, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, Injustice, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, mental health, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, christmas gift, criminal justice system, Dignity, drop in, drop in service, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Housing in Ontario, Justice, living on the streets, Make a diference, mental health, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Recovery, Respect, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Volunteer, Volunteering, walk the streets
Posted by ken on December 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Merry Christmas! Just a quick note today, on the eve of Christmas eve, to invite you to do a last minute gift purchase - for someone experiencing homelessness – for someone you don’t even know. Click on the banner above for more info.
AND, if you would visit www.chri.ca, you can listen to the podcast of the interview I did with the Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson. This is not a political maneuvering or ‘nail him to the post’ interview, but an opportunity to hear our Mayor’s heart regarding the less fortunate in our city: how at an early age, he learned to care, what he is doing now, and some ideas how citizens of Ottawa (and beyond) can become involved.
Take opportunity today and make a donation. We’ll be sure it gets to where it’s needed most!
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, Biblical, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Christmas, christmas cheer, Christmas giving, christmas on the streets, christmas spirit, Dignity, Drop In Services, Events, General Poverty, gift of christmas, homeless christmas, Homelessness, Housing, Injustice, Justice, justice canada, meaning of christmas, mental health, mental illness, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with ABCD, Addictions, Alcoholism, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, christmas poverty, Dignity, drop in, drop in service, gift of christmas, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, street work, Street Youth, street youth outreach, Volunteer, Volunteering, walk the streets
Posted by ken on November 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The evening the kids have been preparing for had finally arrived. It was time for the ‘Passion for Youth’ art show at Dominion Chalmers. There was sufficient space for each artist to choose five pieces of their work to show, and it was a challenge for some to decide. Hustle, bustle, the staging of sofas and tables from the art room on the second floor, the preparation of the interactive art table where guests could be creative, coffee, tea and snacks set near the entrance all combined to accelerate the excitement and anticipation.
In the end, all was readied. The stage was set, the players were ready, last minute adjustments to the easels were complete, the live entertainment arrived ( Max and August), and the mood was set.
Guests enjoyed the ambiance, the artists and the art work. Ahh, the art work. For some of our guests, the time had finally come when the art work that was ‘for display only’ at our auction, was finally available for bidding. There were pieces of art work that captured hours and hours of devotion, had become a labour of love, and were now revealed to the public.
But there was something here far greater than what initially captured the senses. There was a clear demonstration of a Master Artist at work with figures of moving clay.
The real demonstration of art was that of the artists themselves.
Initially, many of these youth never had any idea that they could create anything beautiful at all. The images of childhood that are so familiar to us were either non-existent or so overshadowed with such painful memories that it would have been better not to have had them at all. Years of repeated abuse served to reinforce their belief and image they would never amount to anything. They were told as young children that they were losers, worthless and discarded and treated as less than animals. They had eaten from the garbage bins, slept in the bins or wherever they could, experienced cold and discomfort that are beyond description. They were survivors, despite it all.
Tonight was different. People they didn’t even know told them over and over again, that they had created something beautiful. So beautiful in fact that they would like to buy the items and remember the artists. The youth were the ones encouraging the younger guests and showing them how to hold a paint brush, how to mix the colors, how to ‘let themselves go’ and be creative. Photos were taken. The young artists were congratulated for work well done, praised for their choices of color or texture, and one small bit at a time, I believe some changes began to occur.
Maybe the voices of the past were wrong. Maybe I’m not useless, after all, someone likes what I have created. Maybe there is something good about me. Maybe this is not the end. Maybe, just maybe, I can do something good. Maybe there is something good about me.
That was the real exhibition of art. It wasn’t the paint on the canvas, or the music that filled the air: it was living, breathing, young people experiencing hope and a promise for the future. And, maybe, just maybe, that might be enough to change a life.
Filed under ABCD, About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Assets Based Community Development, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, Events, General Poverty, Homelessness, Justice, justice canada, mental health, Miracle on the Streets, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Social, Street Outreach, Street Youth, Street Youth in Canada, Street Youth Ottawa, Uncategorized, Volunteer Ottawa, Volunteering · Tagged with ABCD, Addictions, art therapy, Assets Based Community Development, biblical justice, break cycle poverty, Dignity, drop in, drop in service, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, injustice Canada, Justice, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, street work, Street Youth, street youth outreach, Volunteer, Volunteering, walk the streets
Posted by ken on November 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Christmas on the street is not a happy time. In fact, it is a period of time in the street community that weighs heavily on our street friends. Memories of what once was but will never be; images of turkey dinners replaced with plastic utensils and Styrofoam plates: good memories belong only to Christmas past, for some it’s reliving the nightmare of drunkenness and abuse.
It should have come as no surprise to me when this week I asked different friends at the drop in to tell me of what a ‘best Christmas’ might look like. I was gathering information for upcoming promotional materials, hoping to let my readers gain a better picture of how it really is on the streets.
Some would not participate: memories too difficult to recollect; sounds unlike Christmas bells fill their minds and hearts; many commenting that they didn’t believe in Christmas – the hype, the rush, the crowds – but mostly not wanting to articulate the loneliness and emptiness that so many feel so deeply.
Some did respond. Greg said his best Christmas was last year. Why? “Because I was breathing.” What would make up his ‘best Christmas’? “This one, if I am breathing.” Anything to look forward to in the New Year? “Yes,” he responded, “breathing.” It’s really more than a trite same answer to my questions, but an acknowledgement that folks on the street really do live one moment to the next. Nothing is certain for the future, no guarantees from anyone, any expectations long dashed on the rocks of reality, and hope has long vanished into the silent night.
I think that people have thought and felt this way before. Many have just given up, and live one day – no, one moment to the next.
This is how many people who call the streets their home feel and think. It’s a dark world. We have the privilege and opportunity to enter this world, when invited, and bring another message.
I think it may have been like this so many years ago, when a voice resounded in the heavens, “Hey, unto you a son has been given.”
Filed under Christmas, Uncategorized · Tagged with drop in, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Housing in Ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, Make a diference, mental health, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, Recovery, Respect, social justice, Street Outreach, Street Youth
Posted by ken on October 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Gary came down the stairs at the drop in, saw me and said, “I haven’t got your money yet. I know it’s been three years. I’m working on it.” Gary has been involved in a court case where his landlord stole things from his apartment before kicking him out. Gary really likes what we do at OIM, so much so that he has committed some of the money from the settlement to helping the poor. My protests that this is not necessary do not make any difference.
We sat down and talked for quite some time. He told me that the first time his father gave him a black eye he was six years old. He never could measure up to his father’s expectations, and would expect a beating when he brought home a less than perfect report card. He wet the bed every night, and every morning he would pay for it.
He ran away from home twelve times before he actually succeeded in making a breakaway when he was fifteen years old. He never went back.
Odd jobs in many different places over his sixty-two years, but he never settled down for a long time in any one place. He stopped drinking a year ago. No programs, he just quit.
He said his father was a very successful man from all appearances. No-one knew how he treated his family, and in those days, it was a well guarded secret. A leader in his labour union and in the community, he was well respected and seen as a pillar in the community.
Gary told me he spoke with his father before his dad died. He did what he could to make things right. In one conversation, his father wondered why his children didn’t call him. “Well dad, you need to remember that you beat them almost every day,” Gary replied, “You can’t really expect much after doing that for so many years. Plus, we all remember how mom was beat.”
It’s remarkable how my friend has survived these many years. He holds no ill will towards his dad, he has forgiven him. Now, instead he helps other street friends when he can and is well respected. In fact, one of our street friends came over while we were talking and asked for some advice. In his own gentle way, Gary turned his attention to his friend’s inquiry and did his best to help.
It was time for him to go to an appointment, and we bid each other farewell.
This story is unique to Gary, but not uncommon in the street community. Young children suffer all manner of abuse at home, are forced to leave – fearing for their lives, descend into the pit of addictions and find themselves on the street.
Thankfully Gary found a way out before it consumed him, and now has chosen to give back. And, in his current maltreatment by his landlord, is standing up for his rights and justice.
I marvel at Gary’s and others’ fortitude, resiliency and determination. I’m not sure I would fare so well.
Filed under About OIM, Addictions, Alcoholism, Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Drop In Services, General Poverty, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Canada, Housing Ontario, Housing Ottawa, Injustice, injustice Ontario, Justice, justice canada, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Recovery, Respect, Uncategorized · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, break cycle poverty, criminal justice system, Dignity, drop in, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Housing in Ontario, Housing in Ottawa, injustice Canada, injustice Ontario, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, Recovery, Respect, social justice
Posted by ken on October 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Returning to the office in the early evening to gather some materials I had forgotten, I discovered the first of the evening outreach workers at the back preparing for the night.
Each weeknight teams of trained volunteers prepare knapsacks full of sandwiches, drink boxes, personal care items and other ‘treats’ which might be available, in preparation for their venture into the downtown core. These items are important in that they are ‘immediate felt need’ items, but are more important as they serve as the means to make initial connections with people on the streets. We use them as tools to introduce ourselves to our friends, and they also help us continue relationships with those whom we have already met. It means something to us to be able to provide a sandwich, snack and juice box to someone who has not eaten for some time.
Hamish was in the back store room area of the office, considering and selecting things to put in the outreach bags which bear the OIM logo. Here was a faithful worker who was moved with compassion to those who are in need.
It wasn’t always like that for Hamish. There was a time, he told me, that he ‘just walked around them’ on the sidewalk, and not give them a second thought.
Now he seeks them out and is compelled to help in any way he can.
With his eyes moist with tears, he told me about the disparagement of giving some of these same supplies to two of our street friends, while at the same time noticing people less than thirty feet away, sipping wine and enjoying the very best of Ottawa’s cuisine and night life. ‘It just isn’t right’, he told me.
He never thought he would be doing this; never thought about those on the streets at all until he came ‘just to see’ what was happening at our Urban Intervention Training. As he came to a deeper understanding of some of the stories of our street friends, his heart was touched and he knew he would have to do something.
His life has been changed, enriched and blessed as he reaches out to those who call the streets their home. He never expected to be an outreach worker, but he is thankful that he has opportunity to do something for those who are without.
What about you? Ready for some change in your life?
Filed under Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Homelessness, Justice, justice canada, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Respect, Uncategorized · Tagged with Addictions, Alcoholism, break cycle poverty, Dignity, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Justice, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, Respect, Street Outreach, street work, Volunteer, walk the streets
Posted by ken on October 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Just after the Thanksgiving holiday. Wednesday drop in. Friend after friend came up to me and spoke with me very candidly about how much they appreciated what we were doing at the drop in.
Billy Bob told me that last week, he was given six eggs! What a blessing for him! He said he budgeted the eggs on a daily basis and they lasted all week. He couldn’t believe that we would give out fresh eggs. While he was speaking I was thinking about his complimenting us when, about two and a half months ago, we were able to include a pound of ground beef with the food hampers. He recounted to me on several occasions since then, on how he had measured the amounts very carefully, and had fresh hamburger for the entire week. THEN, Billy Bob reminded me of the same thing I was thinking – and again, how very much he appreciated this.
Jeremy walked by, stopped, turned around and told me how much he appreciated all we did at the drop in: the friendly volunteers, the hot meal, haircuts… everything was so great. He lowered his voice and quietly said, “This is one of my favourite places.”
Susan came up to me directly and thanked me profusely for having so many fresh vegetables to hand out: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers (donated by a local produce store and distributed to our guys the next day). She said this was the only place to come and get some fresh vegetables – which she could not afford on her limited budget.
I went upstairs and sat and talked to Brent while he got his feet washed (we do this regularly: soak, massage, rub with lotion and ‘clean sock’ those guests who enjoy this service) and visited. I noticed the volunteer massage his feet and also the shin and calf, up to the knee. “What’s this new service?” I queried. Brent quickly explained this extra service was such a blessing, since he was diabetic and had poor circulation in his legs. The caregiver smiled and said, “I do this for Brent each time he comes.”
While she was giving this explanation, Peg came up to me, dressed in loose fitting sweat pants and sweater. “LOOK! LOOK at my back. SEE? See? My spine is straight” she exclaimed. I looked as hard as I could, but I really could not see anything. “See?” she asked as she directed my attention to the lower part of her back with her hand, “See? It’s straight! Just after two treatments with Dr. Payne!”
“Oh, so you have been to visit our chiropractor?” I asked. “You are feeling much better, are you?”
“Oh yes! ALL my pain is gone and my back is straight now. Can you see it? It’s straight,” again directing my vision with a sweep of her hand up and down her lower back.
Our friends/guests who come to receive our services are so very thankful and grateful for these seemingly small bits and pieces of service that we are able to provide.
It’s such a small thing for us, but such a great gift to them!
At Thanksgiving and throughout the year, we are thankful TOGETHER for the many gifts we are able to receive and enjoy!
Filed under Breaking the cycle of poverty, Dignity, Homelessness, Personal Experiences, Poverty, Poverty in Canada, Respect, Uncategorized · Tagged with break cycle poverty, Dignity, drop in, help the poor, Homelessness, homelessness canada, homelessness ontario, homelessness ottawa, Justice, living on the streets, Make a diference, poverty Canada, poverty ontario, poverty ottawa, street work, Volunteer, Volunteering
