Serving Those Who Served

Over the last few months of summer, I have had the opportunity to serve in our Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support (IVOS) program as the Operation Safe Haven Outreach Worker. The focus of my role is to find homeless veterans and enable them to get housing and invite them to join our Wednesday lunch group. Since I am going back to school in the fall, we have a new person, Trent, stepping into this position. Below is just a little interview to help introduce Trent:

Lydia: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Trent: I’m an Australian veteran who served for 18 years in the Australian military.

Lydia: How did you find yourself in Canada?

Trent: I moved here for family.

Lydia: Why did you want to serve and work at OIM?

Trent: I heard about OIM through my church. Being a veteran myself, I see the issues, and I feel called to serve the veterans who are struggling. I was already looking for a place to serve as part of my school degree, so OIM seemed like a good fit.

Lydia: What are you most excited about stepping into this role?

Trent: Just being able to serve, learn, and grow in my own abilities.

Lydia: How can people serve veterans who they may know or see are struggling?

Trent: A lot of veterans feel isolated, so just by acknowledging them, acknowledging their service, their sacrifice, and what they did for their country - that can go a long way. And also refer them to help.

Lydia: What is one way we can be praying for you as you step into this role?

Trent: You can pray for a quick and smooth transition into the role.

I’m looking forward to seeing how God will use Operation Safe Haven to reach veterans whom we have not yet met! Through this outreach endeavour, we hope to reach veterans beyond our current network, inviting them out of isolation into community and hope: letting them know they are loved and appreciated. Our hope is that we help them not only become housed but also find purpose and meaning. Thank you for praying for our veterans and for the staff and volunteers at OIM as we seek to serve them!

~Lydia, Former Summer Student