Donation of purses

I want to tell you about a creative way a group of women donated to Shepherds of Good Hope recently.

Three of the women -- Monica Wright, her daughter Tracey Wright and Tanya O'Connor -- were part of a group that collected women's purses to give to the women who stay at our shelter or in one of our supportive living facilities. But they donated a lot more than just purses. Those purses were filled with donated items that women can use every day. Here's a CTV story on the project.

It's a very clever way of making a donation. We know the women in our care will love getting these purses that we plan to hand out later this month at Christmas. Thank you so much to the group for taking on this project. I'm sure it was fun.

It's a great example, though, of how fundraising can be fun. If you're doing a group fundraising project, set a goal. Hopefully you'll exceed that goal but goals can make a project manageable. For example, the women who collected the purses had the goal of filling the purses with certain items. A school will set a goal of making a certain number of sandwiches in one day. You might hold a canned food drive at your company and ask each person to bring in one can each day for a week. The goal is so easy for everyone to meet. Just one can per day for five days. And yet at the end of the week, everyone will be shocked at how much that adds up to. We'll even pick it up for you.

If you would like some ideas on what to donate, please visit our donation page or contact me at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

From left to right: Anna Silverman, Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation Executive Director, Monica Wright, Tracey Wright, Micah Garten, Development Officer, and Tanya O'Connor

Microsoft Ottawa donates sandwiches

I've blogged before about how many people will be hosting holiday luncheons and other events over the next month. Some don't even wait for a holiday.

On Thursday, we got a call out of the blue from our friends at Microsoft on Queen Street. They had sandwiches, bottles of juice, fruit platters and other delicious treats that they wanted to donate to us. So out went two people in a little Hyundai thinking they were just picking up a few sandwiches.

There was so much good stuff that they had to put the back seats down and pile it in the car and then drive very carefully back to Shepherds of Good Hope. Men and women were lined up outside for supper and they could see some of the wonderful sandwiches and treats we were delivering to the soup kitchen.

Thank you so much to the wonderful people at Microsoft.

It's that easy this holiday season. If you find yourself with leftover trays of food after your holiday lunch, just give us a call or you if you're in the neighbourhood, you can drop it off at our backdoor (Door No. 3) located at the back of our parking lot.

If you would like to make a donation, please call me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247.

Shepherds of Good Hope collects winter coats

I saw a tweet this morning. A tweeter was asking if there were any organizations in Ottawa that took winter coat donations. I was quick to reply: We do! And so do a lot of other organizations.

So far this fall, many of us have not needed our winter coats. It's been that mild. But if you had to spend the majority of your day outside, you would discover that it's not actually that mild out there. Some of you are maybe upgrading your winter coat this year. Maybe it's just time to replace the one you have. Maybe you want a different style. A new winter coat might be something on your Christmas wish list.

But that winter coat that's getting replaced can still be put to good use. Every year, we hand out winter coats and other winter clothing to men and women who are homeless in Ottawa. We also hand out clothing to people who live in the community who are struggling to make ends meet. If you have to make a choice between a winter jacket or heating your home, you're going to go without a winter jacket. Our clothing program helps homeless people and others living in poverty get the clothing they need.

So if you have a winter coat you would like to donate, please drop by 233 Murray Street. We have a drop-off window at the back of our parking lot. We have staff here who would love to meet you and accept your donation.

For more information on how to donate, please visit our donation page.

Thank you Ottawa Lions of Judah

I had such a wonderful time this morning when the ladies of Ottawa Lions of Judah stopped by to donate a painting to hang in one of the lounges in the women's shelter. (The Ottawa Lions of Judah is a division of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Women, a group of women engaged in leadership and philanthropy.)

About 25 women had a hand in creating this striking work of art when they were led by local artist Katherine Jeans. The women each painted their own masterpiece to take home but also contributed to two large communal canvasses with the theme of Peace and Cooperation.

The two pieces had been on display at the Jewish Community Centre for several months. A couple of weeks ago I got a call asking if we would accept one of the canvasses as a donation. I didn't hesitate.

Living in a shelter is challenging. Everyone benefits from nice, comforting, uplifting surroundings. And this painting is definitely uplifting.

This morning several of the women and Katherine dropped by to visit the lounge and hand over the painting. Thanks to Katherine's ability to hammer a nail into the wall with her shoe, we even managed to get the painting onto the wall.

Very special Christmas cards

When I look at these Christmas cards, it warms my heart. Take a look at these photos. These cards were all made by children who stay at the Holy Family Extended Day program after school.

This is the second year the children have made these cards for us to hand out to the women who live in our shelter and our supportive living facilities.

Thank you so much everyone for working so hard and designing such beautiful cards. I know the women who receive them will really enjoy them.

Christmas can be a very lonely time of the year for the people we care for. Many don't have contact with their families. Christmas for many is just another day on the calendar. But at Shepherds of Good Hope, we want Christmas to be more than just another day on the calendar and this wonderful gift of handmade cards helps us do that.

Great work, everyone!

Encouraging young people to get involved

We're hearing a lot these days about the demographic shift in Canada. For the first time, there are more seniors than there are people 15 and younger, according to a recent story in the Globe and Mail.

There is also a lot of focus on the boomers, who are just starting to hit retirement age. Finally, we have the millennials.

Writing as a long-time fundraiser, boomers and seniors are the people who donate to us most often. It's understandable. If you are a senior or a boomer, chances are you are well established. Your children are out on their own or close to being out on their own. Over the years, you have made choices about what's important to you and where you want to give your donation dollars to. For all of our donors who are seniors or boomers, thank you for helping Shepherds of Good Hope help so many people who are in desperate need in our community. I can't thank you enough for your generosity, especially at this time of year as we get closer to the Christmas holidays.

So where does that leave the millennials? It's understandable that many millennials are still trying to establish themselves, still trying to determine what causes are the most important to them. So this next message is for the millennials.

There are 1,600 men and women who rely on us every day. We offer them food, shelter and clothing. We offer them innovative programs and services to help them realize a life of dignity. We find them homes in supportive living where they can live more independently while still receiving 24/7 care and support from our employees.

But don't take my word for it. Call me and ask for a tour. I would love to arrange for you an opportunity to see firsthand how your donation dollars impact so many people. We also have many volunteer opportunities. Did you know that Shepherds of Good Hope relies on the work of more than 400 volunteers? You can be a part of our volunteer family. We hope by becoming on a tour or by volunteering, you'll choose to support our work.

Some of you younger millennials might be wondering, can I really make a difference. The answer is a resounding yes and that's why I'm reaching out to you. If you would like a tour, contact me by email at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.
For volunteer opportunities, click here.
To donate, click here.

Students getting a charitable education

One of the fun parts of my job is getting a chance to meet with so many students who come to Shepherds of Good Hope for a tour.

Regular readers of my blog know I'm a big believer in everyone getting a firsthand look at what we do. We're very well known for being a shelter and a soup kitchen. Food and shelter are indeed two very important things Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women need. But we are so much more and over our 32 years, we have moved beyond a soup kitchen.

Typically students come for a tour because they want to do something for us. They want to give back to those most in need, especially as we get closer to the holidays. They visit because they want to see the impact their donation is going to have. Quite often it inspires them to exceed their original goal.

Depending on the size of the class, students get a tour of the soup kitchen, the food and grocery program and we also give a short presentation on our other services.

This morning students from Pierre Savard School and Immaculata High School were here. Thank you so much everyone for coming out.

Checking out a charity at the check-out

You've all seen them. Donation cans at the checkout counter. Or just as you're getting ready to pay, the cashier asks if you would like to donate $2 to a charity.

There has been some debate on how effective these strategies are to raising money. Some people argue that it's become all too common for stores to be supporting one cause or another and that shoppers are getting tired of always being asked.

So as a fundraising expert, I found it interesting to read about a recent study in New York conducted by Good Scout Group. They surveyed a little more than 3,000 Americans. The findings? Most people enjoy donating to a charitable cause at the cash register. The survey found that 71 percent of respondents have donated this way at least once. As important as donations are, there's another benefit to checkout donations. Awareness. Almost half of the people questioned said they remembered the last charity they supported at a checkout.

I still believe, though, that any person who wants to become a regular giver to charity is better off finding a charity they can invest in over the longterm. Take Shepherds of Good Hope, for example.

By becoming a monthly donor, you provide stability and predictability for us. Over time, you'll start to see the impact your donation has on Ottawa's homeless population. We're also big believers in showing people firsthand how their donations help others. It's why we always say yes when someone wants a tour of the soup kitchen, our food and grocery program, and the shelter. You also get a tax receipt.

There's nothing wrong with adding a couple of bucks to your bill at the checkout for a charity. Some of you have no doubt seen the Souper Jazz donation cans at different retail locations in the city. We appreciate all the fundraising Souper Jazz does for us with those donation cans.

But if you want to develop a relationship with the charity of your choice, then becoming a monthly donor is the better route. For example, let's say you donate $2 once a week at the checkout. That's $8 a month. Did you know that when you become a monthly donor you can donate that same $8 every month to Shepherds of Good Hope? Monthly donations are possible for everyone. We've built our donation page so that you can pick the amount you're comfortable with. Take a look.

If you have any questions about what we do at Shepherds of Good Hope or how you can help us on a regular basis, please don't hesitate to contact me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247 or by email at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

Couture for a Cause

I had the wonderful pleasure last night of attending and speaking at Couture for a Cause, a fundraiser for Shepherds of Good Hope.

The focus was on women's special care unit. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them we are the only homeless shelter that houses both men and women. Every program and service we offer -- managed alcohol program, worker program, transitional emergency shelter program, enhanced support program, soup kitchen, clothing program, etc., -- are offered equally to both men and women. The second thing that often surprises people is the depth and breadth of programs and services we offer. We're best known for the shelter and the soup kitchen but we do so much more.

We have one program that is geared to women only. The women's special care unit provides 16 beds to women who are dealing with complex health issues and/or addition issues. We help them with those challenges and case workers work with them to help develop life skills that will serve them well when they leave the shelter.

We also have 60 beds in the shelter for women and Brigid's Place, a housing first facility, has 11 rooms for women.

Last night's event was an opportunity to talk about the programs and services we offer to women in our care. Thank you to everyone who organized the event which included dinner, a fashion show and a silent auction.

Your support helps us ensure no women is turned away. It allows us to help them build a life of dignity. Thank you.

If you would like to know more about the services we offer to women, please click here. To help women who are homeless, please click here.

Socks from Mountaingoat Yoga

I'm sitting in my office which feels a bit like an oven right now. I appreciate the mild weather but I know winter is just around the corner no matter what the thermometer says.

The good folks at Mountaingoat Yoga Centre know it, too. They recently had a sock and underwear drive, Thank you so much. I've blogged about it before but socks and underwear are just some of the items we need all time.

Socks are especially important during the winter months. Once winter arrives, we set up a box of socks near our soup kitchen doors so that anyone can have easy access to dry and warm socks.

Even in the winter, a lot of homeless people will still spend a good part of their day outside. It doesn't take long for socks to get wet. Keeping your feet warm and dry are very important. It's not just a nice feeling. It's a health issue. So thank you Mountaingoat Yoga Centre for the donation.

Remembrance Day ceremony at Hope Living

On Tuesday I had the honour to attend an early Remembrance Day ceremony at Hope Living in Kanata. The members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 638, conducted the ceremony.

We have two vets who live at Hope Living, our supportive living facility in Kanata. It was a very respectful ceremony and I know those in attendance appreciated it.

The afternoon was also an opportunity for the Royal Canadian Legion to attach its leaf to our Tree of Hope campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds to help support a $500,000 upgrade of the building. Thank you for your donation.

You've got (snail) mail

I thought I would share with everyone a little insight into the fundraising business.

In another week, we'll be sending out letters to people who have donated to Shepherds of Good Hope. With all the technology we have at our disposal, you might wonder: Does snail mail and old fashion letters still connect with people? The answer is a resounding yes!

That doesn't mean we don't focus on the opportunities new technology provides us with. During the last five months, we've made a stronger effort to be on Facebook daily, to tweet something interesting each day. We provide new content for our website and we have an Instagram account. Because technology evolves, the method in which we use these new platforms is also evolving.

But that doesn't mean a hard copy of a letter has lost its place with the people who support us. In fact, there was an interesting story in the Toronto Star today that says the brain responds differently to print mail than it does to digital "mail." One reason is the sensation of touch when you hold that letter in your hands. The other is that when people read something online, there are a lot of other things happening on the screen, whether it's a smartphone screen, tablet or computer. You're more likely to focus better when just looking at a letter in your hands.

This idea of focus is gaining traction. There have also been several stories recently about how reading a print book for you is better than reading an e-book. Studies are starting to show that a print book allows you to focus more. You're less likely to scan a page the same way you scan a screen. When reading a print book, nothing else screams for your attention. There are no pop-up alerts or sounds to distract you.

So, it seems the world of print still has some value, which means sending letters to people who see our work as important and want to help us care for Ottawa's homeless men and women still has value.

To all of you who will be opening those letters in a week, thank you for taking the time to read them. Thank you for taking time to read about the people we serve. If you are one of our supporters who likes to follow us online, visit our website to read more about our clients and our programs. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.

We asked, you delivered

Last week we posted on Facebook asking for donations of sheets and blankets. When it comes to social media, we're careful not to over-ask. We want you to follow us on social media to discover interesting stories about us and issues surrounding homelessness. But now and again, the need is great and we ask for your support.

First, I was blown away by the number of people who saw the post and the number of people who shared it. We had several comments from people indicating they wanted to donate sheets and blankets. Some even offered to pick up the donations. That's what you call Facebook friends working together. That's a community pulling together for the greater good and it was so heartwarming to read the back and forth.

Then on Friday morning we got a call from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Someone had read the post and the hotel donated 25 boxes of sheets, blankets and duvets. Wow! Thank you so much. This is amazing! Sometimes when you need something, you just have to ask. We love the support the community is showing us.

It's important to remember the people who are benefiting. Shepherds of Good Hope cares for some of the most in-need men and women in Ottawa. We are the only shelter that houses both men and women at night and we have more than 250 beds in our shelter.

Thanks to everyone who donated. And a special thank you to the Chateau Laurier.