Mike Kirkup likes to solve problems. Mike came to Waterloo Region as a University of Waterloo computer science student in 1996 and has spent his entire career working in the tech community, including Research in Motion, as well as his current role as Chief Technology Officer at EnPowered. And through all of these years, there […]
House of Friendship has always been part of Ferne Burkhardt’s story, all the way back to her childhood. “I remember my mother using big, glass jars to can things from our garden to take to House of Friendship,” said Ferne. “And she and other people from my church occasionally went there to help.” Having recently […]
A key priority for House of Friendship’s ShelterCare program is to provide a sense of community and belonging for participants. One way this is happening is through recreational programming. On any given day, participants can choose from art and craft activities, a games night, or even bingo. There is even a pet therapy dog who […]
Karina and her husband Jose came to Canada in search of a better life for their children, Elian (11) and Isaac (9). They just didn’t realize how expensive everything would be. While Jose had a good job at a landscaping company, everything in Canada cost more than their home country of Mexico – from housing […]
Tony Bender has a long history with house of Friendship. Over the years, Tony has done everything from creating recreational programs at our former Shelter, to running a busy Emergency Food Hamper program. And while Tony’s career at House of Friendship spanned nearly four decades, it all started very humbly – as a volunteer for […]
This September, we had a party at Sunnydale Community Centre in Waterloo, celebrating the 25 years of community and connection that you’ve made possible, through your faithful support. Linda Kruger, who worked at Sunnydale for many years and was there when it first started in 1999, shared how Sunnydale has served not only as a place […]
Do you remember how hard you have to work to stay warm on the coldest days of winter? John does, because he lived in his car. John had a routine. He would light candles, put foam around every window, to keep the heat in, and then wear a snowsuit to bed. Even with all this […]
For Mike and Kelly Peasgood, homelessness and addiction aren’t abstract issues. They are realities. Mike’s sister lost her husband to suicide, after a long struggle with alcohol use. It came as a shock to the rest of the family, since his struggles had always been hidden. “I guess he was a closet alcoholic,” said Mike. […]
Margie Warren knows how lucky she is. “I grew up with everything I needed,” said Margie. “I had food and shelter, the love of my family, educational opportunities, and I knew I belonged.” Growing up, Margie was sheltered from a lot of the struggles that so many people face. “I knew there were poor people, […]
On any given Monday evening at ShelterCare, there’s a good chance you’ll see smiles on the faces of both program participants and staff. That’s because Scrappy the Dog comes by for a visit during the art drop-in program. The pet therapy dog is a big hit with participants, and must make his rounds before he’s […]
