Together, we can move mountains. When the weather turns bleak, and the air is frigid, we often dwell on the challenges and hurdles in our path. But at this time of year, I also like to remind myself of the blessings that make the work we do in helping others possible. I am grateful that over the last few months, Our Place and our partners (Island Health, BC Housing, Ministry of Housing, City of Victoria, VicPD, fellow not-for-profits) have worked so diligently to move people off Pandora and indoors. Without this continuing effort, at least 60 people wouldn’t have had a warm, dry and safe bed to spend the night this winter.
Yes, there is still work to be done and challenges to overcome, but that shouldn’t take away from the success
I am grateful for our donors, big and small, as every dollar means another hot meal is served, a warm shower is offered, clothing is provided, and just as importantly, care and compassion are shown. This year might be one of our most challenging yet as so many of our donations arrive via mail and we have a mail strike. This is very worrying for us as the lion’s share of the donations to help those we serve come in during December. We are getting the word out to our donors about the ease of our online donation portal (ourplacesociety. com/donate) and in-person donations at 1027 Pandora (9 to 5 weekdays) and 919 Pandora (24/7). I am grateful for our non-financial donors, too. At this time of year, we often get school groups, families, and faith groups gathering up warm clothing, socks, underwear, boots, and more to donate to those who have so little that every change in weather is another obstacle to survival.
I am grateful to the Our Place clients or family members as we prefer to call them who remind us every day what our mission truly is. Yes, we see despair and heartbreak, but we also get the opportunity to make someone smile as they savour a hot meal made with love from our kitchen. We get to talk to people about their lives, to help them with their struggles, and for moments in time, allow them to forget their pain.
our donors know how much they’re appreciated, to our financial team who keep us all on track and able to best serve the most vulnerable; from how our department managers support and champion their staff, to how our directors balance tight budgets with one eye on the present and the other in the wouldn’t-it-belovely-if future.
And I am especially grateful for the Our Place staff who consistently go above and beyond to make a difference in people’s lives. This is not an ordinary job. Our frontline workers arrive each morning armed with compassion and a determination to help.
This year, I am also especially thankful for the hard work that has gone into our new long-term therapeutic recovery treatment program for women facing the challenges of addiction. It will be quite the Christmas present when we open our doors to this first-ofits-kind facility on Vancouver Island. And that is something that not only couldn’t have happened without all the people mentioned above, but is a blessing to the whole community.
You see that care in every department. From the way our Facilities team keeps our buildings so clean to how our Community Centre workers greet every person as they enter the building; from how our Housing and Shelter workers make every resident feel valued to how our Kitchen crew create a varied and healthy menu seven days a week; from our fundraising team who make
It truly is remarkable.
Alone, we are powerless; together, we can move mountains. Julian Daly CEO, Our Place Society
To donate to Our Place Society, please visit us at ourplacesociety.com/donate, call 250-940-5060, or email donors@ourplacesociety.com
INSIDE
We said earlier in the year that we would find, by the end of December, a pathway off Pandora for those living rough on the 900 block of Pandora Avenue. To help people there get on a pathway to a better, safer and healthier life. Many said that was overly ambitious but, working with partners, it looks like we will achieve that goal which is a wonderful thing.
that partners working together have been able to accomplish.