INSIDE THIS ISSUE ß Meet Travis - a tenant at

Cool Aid’s Swift House

ß Serve breakfast at Rock Bay Landing shelter

ß Thanksgiving and Homecoming celebrations

People of Cool AidFALL 2019 NEWSLETTER

Helping Others to a Better Life

Sunlight slips through the shades and spills on top of an assortment of bowling trophies. Embossed wood plaques line the floors, and a variety of multicoloured sports awards decorate the walls.

“This is what it means for me to be at Cool Aid Society,” says Travis, 41, showing off his memorabilia. His smile softens as he flips through the pages of his Grade 7 yearbook.

“I was homeless a couple of years ago and having this dwelling has been so much better,” Travis says.

With his chin held high, Travis stands tall inside his home at Cool Aid’s Swift House, pointing to his two provincial championship basketball jackets that hang from the wall. He still enjoys playing regularly.

“Now that I’m here, I want to keep this. I’m really glad to be here. This is a good living situation for me. It hasn’t been easy being a person with disabilities, people look at you differently,” Travis says. “But I’m outgoing, and I want to show others about the quality of my life.”After being stricken with disabilities in his early twenties, Travis has been mending himself since living in Cool Aid supportive housing. “I’ve excelled this last year and have been healing.”

“I play a lot of basketball,” he says. “I’ve learned that

whatever you make of your day is how you’re going to get it. So you’ve got to work hard and heal up every day and see what you can do better tomorrow.” Travis’s smile widens.

“It’s important for me to spend time in public … it’s good for camaraderie, and it’s a lot of fun to show people highlights.” Travis points to his two provincial gold medalist bowling awards–highlights from 1993 and 1994.

“Now my highlight of the day is waking up every morning to breakfast, coffee and a snack,” Travis says. He stretches his arms wide, describing the variety of baked goods Starbucks donates each morning. “My favourite is the oatbar. It’s like having a bowl of porridge in the morning.”

Travis’s eyes fill with gratitude acknowledging the generosity within the community. “We have a colourful array of people that live here and everyone is getting help.”

“I hope people think about the lives of the ones they are helping,” says Travis. “The lives we live is because there are people who are helping others.”

Travis showing us the free programs made available to Cool Aid clients, including learning how to cook.

A Home of Memories

Travis excelled in many sports, including winning two provincial gold medals in bowling in the early 90’s.

Fall 2019 Newsletter Victoria Cool Aid Society

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When someone has spent the night in a homeless shelter, waking up to a hot breakfast, served by compassionate people, can make a world of difference, and could be just the start they need to get through another day. While covering the basics, our funding does not pay for a hot breakfast every day.

That’s why Cool Aid is pleased to launch Donate a Hot Breakfast – an opportunity for you and your friends, colleagues or family to buy and serve breakfast to the 100 people staying at Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter.

Breakfast is prepared by the Cool Aid kitchen and your group of 5 or 6 people will arrive at 7 am to get ready and serve. The cost is $350 which covers breakfast for 100 people. You will be issued a charitable donation receipt. We will also take your group photo.

To learn more or book your breakfast, contact Lori: langelini@CoolAid.org or 250-414-4799

Serve Breakfast at Rock Bay Landing

CEO’S MESSAGEAs Thanksgiving approaches and we consider all that is positive in our lives, it is important to remember the struggles of other people living in our community – without homes, without family, without money.

There are many ways we can share our thankfulness for our good fortune with others, including volunteering, donating and showing our kindness to those living without homes and in extreme poverty.

Gifts from our supporters allow Cool Aid to do much more than government funding alone. Your gifts allow us to provide special meals at Thanksgiving to our clients, extend dental care to people in need, teach people how to cook, help men and women find work and volunteer opportunities, and help build new lives in new apartments.

Please consider a donation today, and consider joining us for Homecoming, Cool Aid’s annual fundraiser, in May 2020.

Your support is changing lives. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you so much.

Gratefully,

Kathy Stinson, CEO

Victoria Cool Aid Society Fall 2019 Newsletter

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THANKSGIVING DINNERThose of us with homes and incomes look forward to our annual Thanksgiving feast. With your help, Cool Aid will bring that experience to the people we serve who are homeless or living in poverty. Can you help fund the feast? Just $5.28 pays for one turkey dinner with all the fixings. CoolAid.org/donate

VOLUNTEER AT COOL AID ß Help at Sandy Merriman House women’s shelter

ß Volunteer at Rock Bay Landing shelter ß Coach and mentor at the Downtown Community Centre

ß See all opportunities at: CoolAid.org/volunteer

MONTHLY DONORS HELP ALL YEAR ROUNDWe’re extremely grateful for the committed group of supporters who donate monthly to Cool Aid. As a monthly donor, you help provide life-changing programs and support for people in need all year round. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making an ongoing difference in our community with a monthly gift to Cool Aid. Your donation is made automatically each month so that your neighbours in need can count on your support—regardless of the season.

For more information contact Lori Angelini at langelini@CoolAid.org or 250-414-4799

HOMECOMING GALA RAISED $164,000 200 of Cool Aid’s closest friends enjoyed a gala night at Ship Point last May, and together raised a record $164,000 to help people who are marginalized in our community! They also had a whale of a good time.

Thanks to all and a special thanks to our Honourary Event Chair Andrew Beckerman and our valued event partners: TL Housing Solutions, Bottle Depot, Canpro Construction, Concert Properties, Jawl Bundon, TD Bank Group, Butler Concrete & Aggregate, Megson FitzPatrick, Peninsula Co-op, Galaxy Motors, Baker and Osland, Roll.Focus.Productions, Whole Foods Market, Number TEN Architectural Group, Innov8 Digital Solutions and our generous In Kind Sponsors and Auction donors.

CoolAid.org/homecoming

ANNUAL HOUSING STATS

729 adults housed and sheltered on winter nights

167 more apartments

being developed

The hotly anticipated live auction has everyone’s attention.

Enjoying delicious nibbles and drinks in the “dining room.”

565 people permanently housed