Vannah moved to Canada two years ago. At the time, she was unsure, shy, and unfamiliar with her new community. She hardly knew anyone in her new country. Volunteering with House of Friendship made all the difference for Vannah. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful friends,” she says. For Vannah, her role at the Emergency […]
“I wanted them to get to know me, outside of my uniform,” says Jesse. “And I wanted to get to know them, too.” Jesse used to be a security guard in downtown Kitchener and often interacted with people experiencing homelessness. He decided he wanted to develop new relationships with them. And so, he began volunteering […]
Hockey Helps the Homeless Waterloo Region is continuing to face off against homelessness! In spite of the pandemic, this volunteer committee achieved a record year and will be sharing the proceeds from this year’s virtual Hockey Helps the Homeless Canada Life Cup – an amazing $322,000 – with Waterloo Region’s shelters, including House of Friendship! […]
It’s often said that food brings people together. Shared meals encourage connection, spark conversation, and foster togetherness. But what about those struggling to put food on the table? As a chef, Karen understands the importance of sharing a meal with friends and family. When she packs hampers for people in need, she puts careful thought […]
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’s been two months since a fire at our Shelter program took place in the Tower at the Inn of Waterloo. We’re grateful for the incredible show of support from Waterloo Region during this challenging time and want to take the time to provide a community update. Right after the Shelter fire, the program experienced […]
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 […]
For many community members, the Neighbourhood Food Program distributes more than just food. They provide connection, a sense of belonging, and lots of smiles. “One participant came up to me recently,” shares Rudi, the Neighbourhood Food Supervisor, “and told me ‘the reason we still come here is for the smiles’.” Despite the safety restrictions in […]
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