Volunteer appreciation barbecue

 It was a great day Saturday to hold a barbecue.

This time, the volunteers got to be in front of the serving line instead of behind it. It was our chance to thank the many volunteers who donate hours and hours to our organization. Without them, Shepherds of Good Hope would not be able to deliver the services we do to Ottawa's homeless population.

Did you know that there are more than 400 volunteers with us? They are everywhere from the soup kitchen, the food and clothing program, at every one of our facilities, They work in the community gardens, they teach literacy, they hold yoga classes, they do karaoke. I could blog every day for a month and still not touch on every activity volunteers are involved in.

Sue Alcott, our manager of volunteers, and Stephanie Brazolot, our volunteer coordinator, did a great job organizing the barbecue. A thank you also goes out to the staff members who turned out to help serve the food.

Volunteering at Shepherds is a special thing. You are working with some of the most in-need men and women in the city. You get to meet lots of people with similar interests and it's no surprise that volunteers at Shepherds develop life-long friendships with each other.

If you're interested in volunteering, please check out our volunteer page.

Client barbecue a huge hit

Our annual client barbecue just keeps getting better every year.

It was a great day. Perfect temperature and by the time the barbecue started, we had lots of shade in the dining area we created on the east side of our parking lot. Volunteers with Enbridge were on hand to take care of all our cooking needs while staff and volunteers served up the food.

Yesterday, we had a special volunteer. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson stopped by and he wasted no time in putting himself to work. He manned the tomato tray and talked to the men and women as they made their way through the line. Thank you, Mayor Watson, for your continued support of Shepherds of Good Hope and the people who rely on our services every day.

By the end of the two-hour event, we had more than 350 people come through the gates. What always touches my heart is how thankful the clients are. These are Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women. They have so little and there is so much more we would like to be able to give them. And yet they are so appreciative of what can provide. Most of us won't think twice about a summer barbecue. It's part of our summer routine. But the men and women at Shepherds of Good Hope recognize it as something more than routine for them. It's an event. And it's one we're proud to put on for them. I can't wait for next year.

A special thank you to Loblaws for the donation of ice cream sticks. Very, very popular. Did I say how popular the ice cream was? VERY!

Again, thank you to all the staff, volunteers, donors and the Mayor, but most importantly, thank you to the clients for making the 2015 Client Barbecue an event to remember.

Cooking for our clients

Like a lot of organizations, summer is a chance to get outside. It's a treat. During the summer months, we hold several anniversary barbecues. But today is a little more special. Today's barbecue is about celebrating the men and women who use our services across all of our facilities. We work with them every day. They come to us from all different backgrounds and are at different points in their lives. This barbecue is about more than just getting outside on a nice day. It's about doing something special for the people who have so little. And we consider ourselves honoured and privileged to do it.

There's no anniversary to celebrate, no new program to mark. It's all about the clients. So instead of coming to 233 Murray Street to line up for the evening meal in the soup kitchen, it will be hamburgers and hotdogs, treats and drinks, music and fellowship.

Mother Nature is cooperating by giving us a warm day, but not too humid, the prefect day for a barbecue. Thank you to everyone who donated food or time to ensure that this will be our most successful barbecue. If you're a donor or would like to simply know more about what we do, stop by. We'll be happy to answer any of your questions.

Tomorrow, I'll share some photos with a recap of the event.

Another barbecue in the books

It was another successful barbecue for Hope Living in Kanata. The supportive living facility was celebrating its second anniversary.

Although there was some rain in the morning, it cleared up in time for the cooks to do their thing. Not only were there lots of hot dogs and hamburgers to go around, we also had tables of salads and sweets. It was a really good turnout with the dining room full. It was also nice to see some of our regular supporters visit. 

Here are a few photos from the event. Up next is the client barbecue on July 8.

Hope Living anniversary barbecue

What a beautiful day it turned out to be. Okay, the temperature didn't get up to the level beach lovers want. But the skies were clear, the humidity was low and it was a great day for a barbecue. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a barbecue to work with me.

That won't be a problem next Tuesday when Hope Living celebrates its anniversary with a barbecue. Hope Living is a supportive living facility located on Castlefrank Rd. in Kanata. It's our newest complex. There are 99 beds and it's located across the street from a park in a quiet suburban neighbourhood. It's an ideal place for clients who want to get away from the hustle, bustle and noise of the Byward Market.

The barbecue is scheduled for next Tuesday. If you're in the Kanata neighbourhood, drop by and say hello.

Barbecue fun

We had a great turnout for the 10th anniversary barbecue for St. Andrew's Residence. All the clients turned out and we also had residents from The Oaks drop by. We also had some neighbourhood residents and some special guests come help us celebrate.

Somehow I ended up on cooking duties. But I had fun. We had burgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers, and lots of chips and pop. Thank you to all the people who turned out and to the people who donated the goods to make this happen.

Barbecues are meant to be fun. But they also send a bigger message. A message that we are a community, a community that helps others, a community that looks out for each other. A barbecue on a nice summer day is just a fun, relaxing way to get together. When I speak to the residents, some of whom I don't get to see that often, it just further drives home why I do what I do.

The great news is that this is just the first. Next month we have our big barbecue for our clients. Stay tuned for more details.