Ieshia has been at Florence Booth House, a women’s shelter, for two weeks. “I went down to my lowest. I didn’t have a place to stay. I was on the street,” she says. “It was bad. Rough.” Somebody told her about the shelter. “Here I have a roof over my head, I have food to […]
More than a Hand Out Read More »
As we light the third of the four outer candles on our Advent wreath, we are reminded that Christmas is drawing nearer. The light of this third candle comes even closer to completely driving the darkness away. This third candle represents ‘joy’. The wreath we’re using for this advent series is a great picture to
Advent Week Three: Joy Read More »
Richard uses pen and ink to experiment with lines, form and shape at Gateway’s art night. “I used to do a lot of drawing and painting and I’m getting back into it. Art is a good therapy tool,” he says. “Things that are bothering me are excused from my mind while I concentrate on the
As we light the second of the four outer candles on our Advent wreath, we are reminded that as Christmas draws nearer, the light of this new candle drives darkness even further into the distance. This second candle is the ‘peace’ candle. It’s a strange time to dwell on peace with everything that is happening
Advent Week Two: Peace Read More »
As I mentioned in my previous message, I’ll be drawing your attention to the Advent wreath to help us track with the Advent season over the next four weeks. There is so much symbolism to this wreath; its circular shape is meant to represent God, the Creator and Preserver of all things. His love has
Advent Week One: Hope Read More »
It’s a little known fact that the Season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is actually the beginning of the Christian year; not the end. Some churches celebrate New Year’s Eve on November 30th in preparation for their New Year, beginning on December 1st. We’re almost at the end of the year
Sharmila Mohammed, a housing worker at Florence Booth House, meets with Julie. Along with helping women find housing, Mohammed provides community follow up. “I make sure they have a bed, dishes, clothes and furniture, so they don’t have an empty apartment,” she says. She also goes grocery shopping with them, and shows them where to
Martin checks Gateway’s lineup for the season opener of the Downtown East End Softball League, with teams from various shelters and drop-in centres. The team is made up of current and past residents, community members and staff. Martin has been Gateway’s team captain for eight years. He recently found permanent housing but still visits friends
Gateway’s Team Captain Read More »
Our Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone. The leftover turkey is eaten up. The family gatherings are a fading memory. For those of us with kids, Halloween preparations are underway. Before we know it we’ll be buckling down for Christmas preparations. Time just has a way of flying by. If we don’t stop once in
It’s been my experience over the years working in drop-ins and shelters that the fall season can be the most difficult and stressful time of the year for staff. As our friends on the street transition from the relative safety and warmth of summer and start to prepare for the oncoming danger; the darkness and
