How do you feed 140 men accessing a shelter thirty minutes away in the midst of a global pandemic? Sandra, the Food Services Co-ordinator, and her kitchen staff, had to ask themselves this tough question. They were accustomed to feeding 45 people at the Emergency Shelter on Charles Street. But throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the […]
Wayne joins the main Zoom call and watches students of all ages flicker to life on his screen. He is a virtual tutor with the Sunnydale Community Centre. The program, called Homework Club, used to take place in person, but moved online at the beginning of the pandemic. Each student is paired up with their […]
Katy Robinson has made charitable giving a priority – and it was a lot easier than she thought it would be. The 27-year-old became inspired to give after hearing a sermon from her pastor that pointed out there is never a good time to start giving. As an engineer who works in construction in downtown […]
It took a simple conversation between neighbours to create a new program at Sunnydale Community Centre – one that is bringing the community a little bit closer. Since last summer, a group of non-Arabic speaking community members have been taking the time to learn Arabic. The best part? It’s being taught by their neighbours. The […]
Mya used to find it difficult to speak up when she was in a group. A little bit shy and lacking in confidence, Mya would usually let others speak first. Not anymore. Mya, 17, isn’t afraid to take on leadership roles and community projects – thanks to the encouragement she’s received along the way. Your […]
You played a vital role in the fight against hunger by helping struggling families and individuals across the community, since the need for food has not gone away. This year – more than ever – you demonstrated how our community is stronger together. Thank you to all the grocery stores, volunteers, faith communities, businesses, […]
House of Friendship’s February Potato Blitz is moving online! This year’s virtual campaign will provide families and individuals in need with nutritious food. Although this annual event looks different than previous years, you can still walk alongside your neighbours in their time of need. Hunger in our community has not gone away. Your caring support […]
Mark has a long history of struggling with homelessness. “The first time I stayed at the House of Friendship was 1985. I’ve been in and out of the shelter life ever since.” He had made some progress back in 1999, getting support to find housing. He moved to London, and was beginning a new life […]
Waterloo Region, we are so incredibly grateful for your support in a challenging year, that we had to take the time to say “thanks!” We hope that you are inspired by the difference your support has made in 2020, and we look forward to brighter and better things in 2021.
For Dulce, being able to stay connected during COVID-19 has been a lifeline for her family. Dulce, a wife and mother of two young children, moved to Canada two years ago from Mexico, and was just starting to get to know people in the Kingsdale community by volunteering at the Neighbourhood Food Distribution program. “That […]
