Update
More than a shelter
35 Waller St.
ottawa
THE
m ss on
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G4 / Tel. 613-234-1144 / Fax. 613-234-2813 www.ottawamission.com
Feb. 2010
Champion The Homeless By Giving The Gift Of A Meal
We all need someone who believes in us,
whose belief helps us realize our dreams.
We all need a champion.
Homeless people living in our
community especially need someone
to champion them.
Will you be their champion?
Thousands of people begin to turn their
lives around with a meal at The Ottawa
Mission. For many homeless people, a
meal leads to life-changing education
and job-training programs.
For just $2.29, you
can give a warm,
healthy meal and a
fresh start to
someone in need.
“I don’t know what I’d do without The Ottawa Mission.
I am so thankful for every meal I receive.” -Fern
Choose To Be Someone’s Champion
- Give A Meal Today!
The Ottawa Mission - Championing The Homeless Since 1906
Peter Is Living Proof That Your
Gifts Make Dreams Come True
Peter didn’t want to enrol in
The Ottawa Mission’s
LifeHouse Addiction Treatment program. “I was in a dark
tunnel and I didn’t know what
to expect in the program,” says
Peter who struggled with
addiction for years. But after
a lot of encouragement from
his brother and sisters, Peter
agreed to try LifeHouse.
“It was one of the best
decisions I ever made,”
says Peter. “I thought
that it was the end of the
road for me. But it was
anything but that. It was
the beginning of a whole
new road,” reflects Peter.
Now, Peter is not only clean
and sober, he has returned to
school. “Becoming a
respiratory therapist was a goal
I once had years ago,” says the
college student. “I thought it
was a goal I would never
attain. Now it’s happening. It’s
a dream come true.”
Peter graduated from the LifeHouse Addiction Treatment program and is now attending
College. This family photo was taken following his graduation ceremony from LifeHouse.
Peter’s family, who have always been
there to support him, are relieved that
his life has turned around. “Peter is
such a great guy, “ said a family
member. “Now a world of possibilities
is open to him. We are so grateful.”
“Addiction often affects the entire
family,” says Maarit Ikavalko,
Manager of Addiction Services at The
Ottawa Mission. “When we help even
one person like Peter, we are making a
positive difference in a lot of lives.”
For $2.29, you can buy...
or
1 cup of coffee
Serving Our Community For Over A Century
2 packs of gum
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Getting A Job Was Wolfgang’s Goal.
Now he has one thanks to you!
Less than a decade ago, Wolfgang was told that he
probably wouldn’t walk again. He spent a year in the
hospital with a severe spinal injury, lost his livelihood
and had a nervous breakdown.
“After my injury, I had to find a way to pick myself
up out of the hole I had fallen into. I needed a job and
knew that with my back, I would never work in
construction again. I liked to cook, but didn’t have
anything on paper that said I could,” says Wolfgang.
Today, Wolfgang is able to walk, has graduated from
The Ottawa Mission’s 6-month Food Services Training
program and has a job he describes as “perfect.”
Wolfgang is working in a continuing care centre for
seniors as a chef and dietary aid.
“I’ve had a really tough life, a childhood that was
horrible. But I’ve always wanted to be able to give
back and now I can in the work that I’m doing,” says
Wolfgang.
“The Ottawa Mission gave me a second
chance. Words can’t express how grateful I
am. If I could, I’d give everyone who
supports The Mission a big hug and say
‘This is who I was and this is who I am
thanks to you.’”
Wolfgang graduated from The Food Services Training
program and now has a great job.
A warm, healthy meal
and a new beginning.
or
Please give generously!
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Change A Life Today! To donate go to www.ottawamission.com
Your Generosity Gave James The
Tools He Needed To Succeed
“The Ottawa Mission treated me like
family. They were really supportive. I
learned so much and felt really
comfortable,” said James the day he
graduated from The Ottawa Mission’s
6-month Maintenance Training
program.
Now James is receiving help from The Ottawa Mission’s
Stepping Stones Learning Centre to complete the courses
he needs to go to College. He dreams of becoming a
building and construction technician one day.
“The Maintenance Training program not only gives
people skills in plumbing, electrical, woodworking, locksmithing, drywall and painting, it gives them the
confidence that they need to move forward in life.
Whatever our graduates choose to do -go into the
workforce or go back to school- we want them to have
the tools they need to succeed,” says Josh Cinnamon, the
Maintenance Manager at The Ottawa Mission.
So far, four people have graduated from the Maintenance
Training program and two people are currently enrolled.
Participants of the program acquire skills to become building superintendants or focus on a trade.
James graduated from The Maintenance Training
program and is now completing college requirements in
The Ottawa Mission’s Stepping Stones Learning Centre.
Cinnamon hopes that as the program builds momentum,
relationships with companies will develop so that
graduates have more opportunities to gain work experience. “We are trying to build relationships with local
businesses who have a heart for giving people a new start
in life,” says Cinnamon.
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a
man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.”
-author unknown
Help the homeless feed themselves, go to: www.ottawamission.com
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Faith In Focus
I Don’t Deserve This
Rev. Laird Eddy, Director Of Mission Services
Maybe she was embarrassed. Maybe she
was afraid. Perhaps she felt undeserving.
Whatever the reason, she came up in secret
behind Jesus to touch his cloak so that she
could be healed. Afterwards, she immediately tried to disappear into the crowd before
anyone noticed what she had done.
The Gospel writer Mark tells us that Jesus
stopped and called to her. Jesus told her that
her faith in God brought the healing she had
been looking for. (Mark 5:21)
In my work at The Ottawa Mission, I often
encounter people who feel embarrassed,
afraid and undeserving. They feel embarrassed that they have ended up having to
depend on others for everything. They feel
afraid that no one will help them. They feel
undeserving because they know they have
sometimes made bad choices in their lives.
Which one of us hasn’t?
When I speak to them about faith, many
feel that the bad choices they have made
disqualifies them from God’s help. They feel
undeserving of the grace Jesus offers.
But the truth is, one does not need to feel
“deserving” in order to receive God’s grace.
Grace comes in a moment of faith, when we
reach out for God’s help in spite of our
feelings of fear, loneliness and embarrassment. We reach out and Jesus responds with
the grace that allows us to change our lives
and begin again.
You, our donors, help make this
ministry of grace possible to all the
people who walk through our doors.
With your help, we are able to offer people a
second chance - a chance to turn their lives
around and learn about the love that God has
for each one of us. On their behalf, I would
like to say thank you for the second chance
you offer them.
“Being around The Ottawa Mission on a regular basis plus working for two hours a week in
the kitchen, I now know a number of people who live there.
And what I have found is this: That they are really no different than I am! In fact, if I spend
time with business executives, Members of Parliament, community leaders or the poor,
I come away sensing that we are all very much the same: just imperfect, struggling children
of God.
If we see someone in need, we must always try to reach out
with a helping hand. Even a smile or kind greeting can go a
long way. When we show kindness to those in need, whoever
they are, we are saying: ‘I am not above you; I am with you.’”
- Jack Murta, Ottawa Mission Board Member and Volunteer
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Ottawa Mission Board Member Jack
Murta (left) volunteers in the kitchen.
Learn more about The Ottawa Mission! Go to: www.ottawamission.com
Extraordinary Children Champion
The Homeless!
“Standing out here today, people are
freezing and they have coats,”
commented twelve year old Notre
Dame student Stephanie Roberts.
“There are people on the streets that
don’t have a coat and they don’t have
a home.”
Roberts was one of hundreds of students from five
Broadview Avenue schools -Nepean High School,
Broadview Public, Hillel Academy, Yitzhak Rabin High
School and Notre Dame High School- who donated over
1,268 items of clothing for the homeless last November.
Area students display clothing they gathered for the homeless.
“When you get young people who want to contribute, you
can’t stop them,” says Ross Munro, a former teacher and
Ottawa Mission volunteer who spearheaded the drive.
“From sock drives to skating parties to spaghetti dinners,
the generosity of young people living in our community is
inspiring” says Claudia Ramirez, Senior Manager of
Development at The Ottawa Mission. “Some children
even donate their birthday money to help...it’s
remarkable!”
The McDougall family hosts a skating party in their community every year and donates clothing and toiletries that
families bring to the event. This year, over 125 people
attended. “With the desire to give back to the community, the idea for the skating party was born,” says Kristy
McDougall. “Our children are learning important lessons
about being a part of the community and not taking the
things that we have for granted.”
The McDougall family (here with Diane Morrison on the far right)
hosts an annual skating party in their neighbourhood to benefit
The Ottawa Mission.
Are you looking for ways to inspire your
family, school or community
to help the homeless?
Read inspiring stories about how people of all ages have joined together
to help the homeless at
To give a gift to someone in need, call 613-234-1155
www.ottawamission.com
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Volunteer Corner
Spend Family Day At The Ottawa Mission!
Wondering how to celebrate Family Day
this year? Why not bring your family to
volunteer at The Ottawa Mission?
From 1-3pm on February 15, The
Ottawa Mission is opening its doors to
families who want to help by making
sandwiches.
It’s simple! Bring sandwich items to The
Ottawa Mission and spend the afternoon
putting them together. Or, make sandwiches at home and bring your
family along to drop them off.
“Volunteering at The
Ottawa Mission is a
wonderful way for parents to
instill the value of
giving in their children, says
Meghan Bartolo,
Manager of Volunteer
Services.
If you already have plans for Family
Day, and would like to volunteer another time, you are welcome to come
to The Ottawa Mission on Saturdays or
Sundays from 12:30-2:30 to make and
donate sandwiches with your family.
The Ottawa Mission
35 Waller St. Ottawa ON K1N 7G4
Email: [email protected]
www.ottawamission.com
The Ottawa Mission reflects
Jesus’ love in serving the
homeless, the hungry and the lost
by providing food, shelter,
clothing and skills and offers faith
and hope for building a wholesome
future.
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Families make and donate sandwiches at The Ottawa Mission every weekend.
Make Family Day a Caring Day
Lend a hand at The Ottawa Mission!
February 15 from 1-3pm.
Spots are limited so register soon!
Register by e-mail:
[email protected]
Programs and Services
Board Of Directors
• Emergency Food, Shelter, Clothing
• Day, Evening and Residential Addiction
Treatment programs
• Employment, Education and Housing
Services
• Primary Care Medical Clinic
• Dental Services
• Computer Lab
• Chaplaincy Support
• Hospice
Rob Nelson, President
Jack Murta, Vice-President
David Spillenaar, Treasurer
Paul McKechnie, Past President
Patricia Younger, Secretary
Rev. Anthony Bailey, David Kilgour,
Kathleen Lauder, Tim Priddle,
Rob Sheffield, Gilles Larochelle, Jennifer Parr
Publication Mail Agreement No. 400007592
Charitable Registration No. 10815 0509 RR0001
To make a difference through volunteering, go to: www.ottawamission.com
From The Director’s Desk...
Going Home
by Diane Morrison, Executive Director
The word “home” has always brought back
memories of my childhood home, a farm
house in rural Quebec. We were not wealthy
and the work was hard but, as children, we
always knew that we had a safe, warm place
to live.
In the past twenty years, I have met many
people at The Ottawa Mission whose home
was not a secure and welcoming place. Their
homes were often in turmoil. Absent or overworked parents, drug addiction, foster care,
and lack of financial means often results in
a chaotic childhood that turns into a chaotic
adult life.
“Home” is at the top of the wish list for people
who stay at The Ottawa Mission. There is a
shortage of affordable housing in our city.
Home for the over 300 people that our housing
workers moved out of The Mission last year
was usually a room in a rooming house.
The Ottawa Mission is taking steps to help
find a better solution to the housing situation.
We have now leased two second stage homes
which will house eleven men who have graduated from our addiction treatment programs.
The men will live in these houses, with
support, for up to 18 months before they move
on to permanent housing and hopefully,
employment.
An apartment building in the west end will
provide apartments for 18 people who are
ready to live independently in the community.
On-site supports will help people achieve their
goals.
We feel that a secure home brings stability,
opportunity and quality of life. Having a home
is the foundation of success.
Everyone needs a place to call home.
Everyone needs the opportunity to live their
best life.
Thank you for supporting the people who
need a helping hand. You help The Ottawa
Mission reach out to those in need. You are
their champions!
“The people who are served at The Ottawa
You can offer faith and hope to the
homeless for generations to come by
giving a legacy gift to The Ottawa Mission.
To learn more about how your legacy gift will make a difference,
please contact Samantha at 613-234-1155 ext. 426
or e-mail [email protected].
ottawa
m ss on
THE
Photo compliments of Valberg Imaging
Mission have so little -I know that when I give
I am giving hope for the future.” -Paul Walsh