Stories to Share

Reducing Barriers to Addiction Treatment

Posted on: June 18th, 2021

A partnership between the Region of Waterloo, Sanguen Health Services, Stonehenge Therapeutic Services, and House of Friendship will make it easier for those struggling with addiction to get the help they need. In May, House of Friendship’s Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic (RAAM) began providing service one day a week at Kitchener’s Consumption and Treatment […]

Tech for Good is Changing the Odds

Posted on: June 16th, 2021

A meeting of minds has led to a creative collaboration that is changing the odds for children in Waterloo Region. At House of Friendship’s virtual Annual General Meeting on June 15, Sandy Currie and Tobi Day-Hamilton shared the story of how Google, Launch Waterloo and House of Friendship came together to provide STEAM (Science, Technology, […]

Buhr Legacy of Friendship 2021

Posted on: June 16th, 2021

This year’s Buhr Legacy of Fellowship, presented at the Annual General Meeting on June 15, honours employee groups of local tech companies who are supporting the mission of House of Friendship to make this a better community for everyone, living out our values of compassion, inclusion, justice, dignity and hope in very practical ways. Watch […]

Mourning the Loss of 215 Children

Posted on: June 3rd, 2021

We are deeply saddened to learn of the remains of 215 children found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School last week, uncovered by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation’s investigation. We recognize that local Indigenous communities are mourning this loss and are impacted by the ongoing harm of colonization and intergenerational trauma.  With 139 […]

Celebrating Eid with Our Muslim Friends

Posted on: May 10th, 2021

It’s a special time of the year for our Muslim neighbours – and for the first time, House of Friendship’s Neighbourhood Food program is celebrating with them. Eid al-Fitr is a time when Muslims break their fast of Ramadan with a special meal. This pilot project at the Neighbourhood Food Program is supporting those who […]

Friendship at the Heart of Volunteering

Posted on: April 24th, 2021

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 […]

Volunteers Make an Impact at the Emergency Shelter

Posted on: April 23rd, 2021

“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 Raises $322,000

Posted on: April 22nd, 2021

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! […]

Food Hampers Bring People Together

Posted on: April 22nd, 2021

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 […]

Volunteers Lend Helping Hand for Shelter Program

Posted on: April 21st, 2021

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 […]

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