More than a shelter

February 2009 35 Waller St. Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G4 | Tel. 613-234-1144 | Fax. 613-234-2813 • www.ottawamission.com

The economic downturn and winter weather mean that more people living in our community are in need. The number of men, women and children who lack the basic necessities of life is rising.

In tough financial times nothing is more important than a warm meal and place to sleep!

For as little as $2.29, you can give someone the security of knowing where their next meal will come from. Your support means that someone in crisis will stay safe and warm through our harsh, Canadian nights.

Thank you for offering hope – one warm meal or place to sleep at a time.

In this issue…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. Love your neighbour as yourself.” – Jesus

Where They Are Now – Catching Up With Grads . . . .2

Christmas Dinner Dishes Up Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/5

Sharing The Warmth In Tough Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

For just 2.29, you can support someone through tough, financial times by giving the gift of a meal.

2For more information go to: www.ottawamission.com

The Best Gift

For four weeks, I watched Paul trudge past my office door. Paul was attending the Stabilization program, the first formal step of our drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. The first weeks are difficult and I knew that Paul was having a tough time.Early in December, I placed a sign on my door that said: Free Christmas cards and stamps - Let someone know that you are alright. The next day Paul came in and looked through the card selection. He chose a card depicting the nativity because it reminded him of the family that he had left. He had

not contacted them for four years. Paul knew that they were worried but he was too ashamed to go back. He took the first step and sent a Christmas card to his ninety year old mother.Christmas was only two weeks away when some phone cards were donated to The Mission. Paul picked up a card and phoned home on Christmas Day. His family was delighted to hear his voice. His mom came on the phone and said that this was the best gift of all.On New Year’s Day, Paul’s family sent him money to return home. As I watched him leave for the bus station, I was reminded of the story of the lost sheep in the book of Luke. I can imagine Paul’s family waiting at the bus stop and rejoicing that their lost ‘sheep’ returned home.Paul was the best Christmas gift for his family. Now, Paul is going into a treatment program in his hometown where he will be supported by his family.Thank you for supporting the people who come to The Mission. Your gifts help people find their way.Have a blessed and healthy New Year.

Diane MorrisonExecutive Director, The Ottawa Mission

“No one chooses to need help so if you can

help you should.” – Christmas Dinner “Celebrity” Server Terry Marcotte,

CTV Ottawa Sports Director

The Ottawa Mission reflects Jesus’ love in serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, shelter, clothing and skills and offers faith and hope for building a wholesome future.

The Ottawa Mission 35 Waller St. Ottawa ON K1N 7G4www.ottawamission.com Email: info@ottawamission.com

Programs and Services Emergency Food, Shelter, Clothing Day, Evening and Residential Addiction Treatment Programs Employment, Education, and Housing Services Primary Care Medical Clinic Dental Services Computer Lab Chaplaincy Support Hospice

Volunteer Board Of DirectorsRob Nelson, President Jack Murta, Vice-President David Spillenaar, Treasurer Paul McKechnie, Past President Patricia Younger, Secretary Rev. Anthony Bailey, David Kilgour, Kathleen Lauder, Tim Priddle, Rob Sheffield, Patrick SlackPublication Mail Agreement No. 40007592Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:35 Waller St. Ottawa ON K1N 7G4Charitable Registration Number 10815 0509 RR0001

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To donate go to: www.ottawamission.com3

Since the Stepping Stones Learning Centre opened at The Ottawa Mission in December 2006, fourteen people have graduated with their secondary school diplomas. On November 19, 2008 four more people added their names to the list. Ottawa 67’s athletic trainer Brian Patafie was among those applauding the success of our graduates.Patafie was emotional as he stood behind the podium at The Ottawa Mission’s Stepping Stones graduation. “I have spent time with Stanley Cup Champions and I know what it takes to be there. I thought that they were the greatest. But the Lord told me something when I walked in today –You are the greatest!” exclaimed Patafie.The Stepping Stones Learning Centre helps people obtain their secondary school diplomas or meet other learning goals like improving reading, computer and language skills. In 2008, one-hundred and seventy people worked toward meeting their educational goals thanks to the Learning Centre and its qualified, on-site teacher.

Stepping into a Better Life

Where They Are NowCatching Up with a Couple of Grads

Phil: Lifehouse Graduate“I turned to drugs when I was 12 years old when my older sister gave it to me. When my parents died, I became addicted to cocaine. For ten years, I was in trouble. I wanted to die.” That was life as Phil describes it before he enrolled in the Lifehouse addiction treatment program. Now, four years after successfully completing the five-month Lifehouse program, Phil says he’s “paying it forward.” Phil currently works in a Jericho Road Christian Ministries group home where he lives with and cares for formerly homeless residents suffering from mental illness. “The Lord is good in my life” says Phil. “The Lord brought me to Lifehouse and my life started to change. It’s the best program in the city and I would recommend it to anyone.”

Morley: Food Services Training GraduateSome people learn about The Mission’s unique training programs when they stay in the shelter. But many of the Mission’s education and training programs can be accessed by people living in the community. Social service agencies help The Mission reach out to people in need, regardless of where they live. Morley first heard about The Mission’s Food Services training program through an aboriginal employment agency. “I knew that they helped find jobs and when they told me about The Mission’s program, I thought that it would give me skills to enter the workforce. It turned out to be a really good experience,” says Morley. Morley graduated in 2006, and has been working as a cook at the Carleton Lodge long-term care facility in Ottawa for the last two years.

Two years ago, Phil and Morley graduated from two key programs at The Ottawa Mission – the Lifehouse Addiction treatment program and the Food Services Training program. Here’s where they are now.

Daniel graduates with his high school diploma through the Stepping Stones Learning Centre

�For more information go to: www.ottawamission.com

FOOD In a culinary Q&A, Chef Ric Watson dishes on the joys and challenges of running one of the most productive kitchens in the Nation’s Capital.Q: Serving 1100 meals a day must

take an extraordinary amount of planning and preparation. What are some of the challenges?

A: Coordinating a menu based on donations is unique because we never know what’s coming in. This morning, the Ottawa Food Bank called to say that they are donating produce, but they could have been donating chicken. Making so many meals each day means that we have to be very prepared. Working with donations means that we have to be very flexible. Being both prepared and flexible can be challenging.

Q: Where does the food you serve come from?

A: The food we serve is donated from the community and from the Ottawa Food Bank. We also receive funding from Social Services. We rely heavily on individual donors and volunteers.

Q: How many staff and volunteers work in the kitchen?

A: The ratio is 1/3 staff to 2/3’s volunteers. We couldn’t offer the food services that we do without volunteers.

Q: 38 people have graduated from the Food Services Training program (a six-month program that teaches cooking skills to those relying on social assistance). 80% have found employment upon graduation. You must be proud of the stats. Is there one success story that really touched you?

A: A young woman came to us from a low-income family. She was still living with her parents and wasn’t working but her goal was to go to college. She worked really hard to get through our course and did well. When she graduated, she was determined to take the two-year Culinary Management course at Algonquin College. We helped her and she is close to graduating now. She has already had job offers. Her success makes me feel successful.

Q: Meals are tailored to meet people’s needs at The Mission. Can you tell me about some of the creative food services you offer?

A: We have a bagged lunch program to make sure residents who are working or going to school have food to take with them. We have a late meal program for people working past the dinner hour. We have a grocery bag program that provides three days worth of non-perishable food to people living in the community. We also serve 400 special “sit-down and be served” Tuesday morning breakfasts to men, women, children and working people living in the community who can’t afford to go out for breakfast This program is close to my heart.

Q: Do you have a “food philosophy” in relation to the people you serve?

A: I believe that it is important to serve good quality food. A healthy body means a healthy mind. People not only feel better physically, but feel better about themselves when they are fed good food. What you serve people is a reflection of how you feel about them. If you give people slop on a plate, they think that that’s all they deserve. Our meals are top-notch because we want to feed people’s body and spirit. I make it part of my daily routine to serve lunch so I don’t forget why I’m here.

Mission Chef Ric Watson

Sharing the Warmth in Tough TimesIn 1906, tough economic times prompted Ottawa businessmen and church leaders to open the Union Mission For Men. Then, the goal was to offer food, shelter and clothing to those in need.

Today, The Ottawa Mission provides successful employment, education, housing and addiction treatment programs, yet we are as committed as ever to ensuring that no one in our community is hungry or cold. Here’s a closer look at the three essentials and how we offer them.

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Bob receives a fresh, clean shirt from Mission staff in The Mission’s clothing room

To donate go to: www.ottawamission.com5

CLOTHING Imagine braving the snow without boots. Imagine going to a job interview without proper dress attire. From socks to suits, The Ottawa Mission’s clothing services offers those who are struggling a new look and sometimes a new lease on life. This year, 94 new boots and 64 new coats were given to people in need in addition to countless, gently-used outerwear.

Jennifer Crawford, the Assistant Manager of Client Services, describes a recent encounter with a homeless man who came to The Mission wearing only one shoe. “The man had broken his foot and it was in a cast. Living on the street, it was too difficult to carry around his other

shoe so he had to leave it behind. But when he got his cast off, he didn’t have a shoe and he walked to The Mission with one bare foot. When we gave him a pair of boots, he was so thankful. He looked at the boots with a big smile and said ‘Wow! They’re waterproof too!’”

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SHELTER The Ottawa Mission saves lives. Every night, over 200 people have a clean, warm and safe place to sleep thanks to the generous support of people who care. “The Mission’s policy is not to turn anyone away. We won’t send people into the cold,” says Joey Clare, the Manager of Front Line Services, adding that if the shelter is full, referrals to other shelters are made. Clare has been welcoming people in from the cold for over five years and says that it can be tough to accommodate the diverse needs of those who rely on the shelter system. “We serve people who have a variety of challenges. Many have been hurt by life” says Clare, “but the work can be rewarding too.” Clare says that many clients are grateful. “The Front Desk staff received Christmas cards from some of the clients this year. It’s really nice when someone who has very little goes out of their way to say thank-you.”

The Ottawa Mission extends a hand to people in need, offering them a safe and warm place to sleep

Sharing the Warmth in Tough Times2

�For more information go to: www.ottawamission.com

While a snowstorm and the transit strike loomed over The Mission’s Annual Christmas dinner, neither the storm nor the strike cast a shadow on the enthusiasm of the diners and volunteers who weathered the

challenges to celebrate the season. “I white-knuckled it in and I’m not sure if I’ll get out, but I would have come if I had to walk,” says a volunteer. “I wouldn’t miss Christmas dinner at The Mission.”“It was unfortunate that everyone who wanted to attend couldn’t but it was a good day nonetheless,” says Diane Morrison, The Mission’s Executive Director. “No one was rushed, the volunteers seemed really happy to be at the Mission, the media pitched in and served meals, the mayor and police came and joined in the celebration and the men and women –our guests—felt loved and cherished.”Challenging conditions offered new opportunities for outreach. For the first time, The Mission offered “take out” Christmas meals, delivering meals to residents in a low-income housing project who were unable to attend due to challenging conditions. “It’s important that people get to enjoy Christmas dinner and since they couldn’t come to us, we did our best to go to them” says Ric Watson, The Mission’s Chef.

Ottawa Police Chief Vernon White pours beverages at Christmas Dinner

Spreading the Christmas CheerHow a Couple of Businesses Inspired their Community to Give Supper With The SenatorsJoanne and Bassel Khalil, owners of Napoli’s Café in Stittsville decided to “give back to the community” by hosting a charity dinner with a classic Canadian twist. Bassel, who is personal friends with Ottawa Senators players Chris Neil, Mike Fisher and Christoph Schubert invited one-hundred and twenty patrons to meet and have their photos taken with the teammates over dinner and auction a jersey and other items. “We support The Ottawa Mission and just thought it would be a nice way for our business to give over Christmas,” says Bassel.

Burgers and BinsOn December 11, The Mission issued a desperate call for winter coats and boots. Within a couple of hours, Ion Aimers, owner of “The WORKS Gourmet Burger Bistros” responded to the media release by contacting The Mission and offering to place collection bins in the restaurant chain’s five locations. The following day, four Fratelli restaurant locations opened their doors to house donation boxes and Cartier Supply & Rentals donated 20 large wardrobe boxes to act as collection bins. Thanks to tremendous community support approximately 350 winter coats were donated.

Christmas Dinner Dishes Up Joy

Executive Director Diane Morrison collects donated winter wear from WORKS

owner Ion Aimers

Napoli’s Café owners and staff serve Christmas dinner

� To donate go to: www.ottawamission.com

Faith in FocusThe Importance of TrustFor those who are homeless, there are moments when the hardships of life seem more than they can bear. Moments when no matter how hard they try to get ahead, they cannot keep up with the demands that life makes from them. It is in the moment when failure seems to be the only thing left to them, that Jesus becomes most present.Jesus said, “Do not be troubled. But trust in God and trust also in me.” (Jn 14:1) When we depart from this trust in God we feel afraid because we believe we are alone to deal with our problems. Peace returns when we remember that

we cannot save ourselves from the difficulties that life brings, but God can. And God will save us, if we are willing to place our trust in Him. With the Spirit of God’s love guiding us, we

are moved to reach out and help each other. In this way, God reaches out in a very tangible way to make all our lives better.We at the Mission are very grateful to you, our faithful donors. For you have continually been moved by this spirit of trust and compassion and through this you have, in partnership with God, changed lives for the better.In this New Year, may our trust, faith and partnership with God continue to grow and bring blessing to all those in need. Rev. Laird Eddy

Service with a SmileOttawa Mission Dental Clinic Restores ConfidenceDr. Tom Harle has no doubt that the Spirit works in mysterious ways. In 2006, Dr. Harle had just returned from a trip to North Korea with “Health Team International,” a group of health care professionals who share their expertise in impoverished places across the globe and was recounting his trip with a client in his Ottawa-based office. When the client commented that there were dental needs “right here at home,” Harle says he felt called by the Spirit to

respond. “I felt very convicted that if I could travel half way around the world to provide dental services, I could travel half way across my own city,” says Harle.What Harle didn’t know was that while he was planning a dental clinic to serve Ottawa’s poor, the Ottawa Mission was putting plans in place to open a primary care clinic that would include a dental clinic. “What was so remarkable was that The Mission was planning to open a dental clinic, had a room and everything, but just didn’t know how they were going to staff it. And here I was independently coming up with a plan. The hand of God was definitely working.”Since the dental clinic opened in 2007, over 1800 homeless patients have received dental care from the volunteer-run clinic. Presently, 34 dentists, 14 dental hygienists and 14 dental assistants volunteer their services to serve those in need. “Many of our patients suffer from general neglect. It’s like what we see in third world countries. But when they leave, they are very appreciative, surprised even.“ Although Harle’s team relieves pain, he says that restoring people’s smile restores their confidence too. “When patients leave, they present themselves with more dignity and respect. That’s gratifying.”

The Reverend Laird EddyDirector of Mission Services

Over 1800 patients have

received dental care at the

Mission’s Dental Clinic

Our partners in the dental community can turn a $10 donation into $80 worth of dental services. Give The Gift Of A Smile! Designate your gift “Dental Donation”

For more information or to donate go to: www.ottawamission.com

Before addiction took hold of Michael’s life, he was enrolled in The Ottawa School of Art in the Portfolio Development certificate program. A devotee of wildlife drawing and a fan of Robert Bateman, Michael says that painting relaxes him and has a “calming influence” on his life.

In a recent Mission-sponsored art contest, Michael took home the top prize –donated gift certificates to an art-supply store—for a beautifully detailed painting of a wolf.

Currently enrolled in the Lifehouse addiction program (a five-month, residential treatment program), Michael says he is learning a lot about himself. “I have learned a lot about where I came from and how my childhood relates to the problems I have today in the Lifehouse program. I know myself better now.”

One of Michael’s goals is to resurrect his art career.”I would like to explore fashion design and am interested in silk screening. With the help of the Lifehouse program, I’m slowly getting back to where I left off and am achieving my goals” says Michael.

Touching Thousands Of LivesThe Ottawa Mission reaches out to thousands of people in need. These numbers represent the lives we changed with your help in 2008.

Michael Michael Mission Arts

Leave a Legacy of HopeBy naming The Ottawa Mission in your Will, you can create a lasting legacy by offering faith and hope to the homeless for generations to come. To make a legacy gift, please contact Samantha Laprade at 613-234-1144 Ext. 302 or slaprade@ottawamission.com

“We are committed to The Ottawa Mission. We are rewarded by helping the hungry, the poor and the lost for generations to come.” – Hariot and Ross Munro

# of Meals Served Per Day

# of People Cared for in their Final Days

# of Visits to our Client Services Centre Each Day

# of People learning in our Stepping Stones Learning Centre

# of Visits to the Primary Care Clinic

# of People housed in the community

# of Addictions Program Participants

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