For the second year, St. Faith’s has been awarded a grant from the City of Vancouver for Homelessness Action Week. Last year’s event at St. Faith’s was extremely successful and on Sat. Oct 19, 2013 from 11am to 4pm the Vancouver parish will again be hosting “Take a Bite Out of Winter” for people in the community to come by, pick up winter clothing (no charge) and enjoy a hot meal.
New this year St. Faith’s will be offering bread and non-perishable food items for people to take with them. We have invited the local library staff to bring books and sign out library cards and there will be a community health nurse present to discuss any health concerns people may have and offer basic first aid.
A tent will be set up outside the church to welcome people and make them feel comfortable about going inside the church hall. 'Valet service' will be offered so people can leave their shopping carts/back packs outside, confident their belongings will be looked after.
While we share a meal in community together, cheerful ‘personal shoppers’ will be on hand to assist people in selecting winter clothing -- coats, boots, mittens, scarves, blankets, sleeping bags, socks and underwear.
St Faith’s is again partnering with Marpole Place Neighbourhood House to produce an update to last year’s resource guide to assist people in the Kerrisdale/Marpole area in making connections with existing community programs for food, housing and other dignity resources.
Donations of clothing and non-perishable food donations for this event are gratefully accepted and volunteers are VERY welcome. Please contact The Rev. Christine Wilson at St. Faith’s church office, 604-266-8011.
Images: Top and homepage, the St Faiths Hall as it looked in October 2012 in preparation for last year’s Homelessness Awareness Event
Below, Care Packages and toiletries are laid out awaiting the participants in last year’s event