Time to make that end-of-year donation

It's almost the end to another year. As I write this there is less than 48 hours to make a donation before the clock strikes 2016.

So why is it so important to make a donation before the end of the year?

Well, there are lots of good reasons to donate to Shepherds of Good Hope at any time of the year, but there is always an extra push at the end of the year. Here are some reasons why I'm encouraging everyone to make a donation before the end of the year.

1. We look after some of Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women and they need your help. Your donation is needed because it helps feed, shelter and clothe 1,600 men and women who come to Shepherds of Good Hope every day.

2. It supports supportive living. We run several supportive living homes. The people who live here suffer from mental and physical health issues. Many of them lived in the shelter before we were able to find them a more suitable place to call home. Without your support, many of these residents would end up back in the shelter or on the street.

3. When you make a donation, you're also helping feed and clothe people who live in poverty. We run a food and clothing program twice a week. It's there for people living in the shelter but it's also there for anyone living in the community who is struggling to get by.

4. Your donation supports our programs. Here's just one example. There is a myth that homeless people don't want to work. That's simply not true. That's why we have the Worker Program. It's for men and women who are working but still don't have the means to live on their own.

5. Taxes: Make a donation and you'll impact your taxes in a good way for 2015. We hope you donate because you want to help people, because it makes you feel good, but if the reason you donate is to save on taxes, there's nothing wrong with that.

6. Making a donation will lift your spirits and the spirits of others. Research has proven it makes us feel good to help others.

To make a donation, visit our donation page or call 613-789-8210, ext. 225.

Canadian Police College fundraiser

I've blogged often over the year about workplaces that hold fundraisers along with having some fun. The latest example is the Canadian Police College. By holding a jeans day and "charging" people for it, they managed to raise several hundred dollars for Shepherds of Good Hope.

A jeans day is probably one of the more popular fundraisers that workplaces have. I've also seen schools do it but with a twist. Since students wear jeans most days, they charge students a loonie to wear their hat or to dress up goofy on one day a week, usually a Friday. One class even had a pajamas day. That's a little more difficult to do in a workplace, especially if a lot of your staff is having to deal with the public.

But these types of campaigns are very simple to run. And over time, you'd be surprised with how much you can raise in a short period of time.

Thank you to Ross, left, and Jeff from the Canadian Police College for their donation to Shepherds of Good Hope.

St. Thomas More students outdo themselves

Our driver is going to have to make sure we have a lot of room in the truck. That's because St. Thomas More students outdid themselves this year, putting together more than 200 shoe boxes.

It's amazing the donations we are getting this year from schools. On Tuesday, our driver is actually heading out to three different schools who have collected items to give to the men and women in our care.

Thank you to all of the students. Your Christmas break is just around the corner and I know many of you are excited to get a break from school.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Businesses that do their part

I think it's great that I have several opportunities a week to blog about local businesses that do their part of help Shepherds of Good Hope. Whether it's coming down for a volunteer session, organizing a food drive or collecting money for allowing people to wear jeans during the workday, it all goes to helping us care for the men and women who come through our doors every day.

Recently, Royal Lepage Team Reality, owned by Kent and Gail Browne, had a party for the clients. When it was over, they had a lot of food left. So they turned to us. We didn't hesitate to accept their donation. With November just around the corner, the planning has already started for a lot of local businesses to have holiday or Christmas lunches, parties, events and so on. If you find you've ordered too much, you don't have to throw it out. We can use that food. If you had it catered, your food likely came on trays with plastic wrap or some sort of covering. Just pack it up and bring it to Shepherds of Good Hope.

For Kent and Gail, not only did they serve their clients with some great food, but they also ensured some of Ottawa's less fortunate people also got to enjoy a nice meal. Thank you!

Sandwich donation from St. Theresa's Catholic School

Wow! The two Grade 6 classes at St. Theresa's Catholic School outdid themselves this year. The students made more than 600 sandwiches for Shepherds of Good Hope. This is the power of youth. Here are a few photos from this morning's event at the school.

From heartbreaking to heartwarming

This story has been getting a lot of attention on social media. It's the story of a woman whose wedding was cancelled at the last minute after the groom got cold feet. The family had prepaid for the wedding reception dinner. Rather than let it go to waste, the family invited homeless people to have the food instead.

I'm sure the young women is still dealing with her called-off marriage. But she took a bad situation and turned it into a good situation for other people.

I see people all the time making donations to our back door. I get phone calls from people asking how they can donate clothing, small household items and so on. There are all kinds of reasons why people want to donate. But the overriding one is that people simply want to help people who are less fortunate than themselves. I don't always know why they picked up that phone or got into their car, but I know what they are trying to accomplish. They are trying to do something nice for someone else.

As we move deeper into fall and closer to the holiday season, what nice thing will you do this year to help someone who doesn't have as much as you? Check out our donation page on the different ways you can help homeless people in Ottawa.

The power of schools

Every now and then I like to talk about the amount of donations and volunteer time students give to us. This morning we had students from Sacred Heart High School in the kitchen helping with meal preparation. Back at the school, students were also preparing sandwiches. Last year, Sacred Heart High School made more than 5,500 sandwiches for us. Thank you so much to the students at Sacred Heart.

Not to be outdone, students at St. Matthew's High School recently had a canned food drive. Here's a photo below that best shows how much came through our drop-off window. Wow! Amazing. Whether it's feeding the men and women who live in the shelter or helping people in the community who need a little extra, donations like this mean the world to us. Thank you so much.

Last week we had the students in Patrick Dumais' class at College catholique Franco-Ouest donate several boxes of vegetables and fruits, plus more than $150, just in time for Thanksgiving.

I want to say thank you to all the schools who have donated food or made sandwiches so far this year.

Darwin's story

I want to share with you a story we recently sent out to our direct mail subscribers. It's the story of Darwin, a resident at The Oaks.

Darwin spent many years in and out of the shelter. He says he batted alcoholism and substance abuse for many years. He remembers taking his first drink when he was 12 years old. During the years, he had a family, but it couldn't survive the challenges he faced.

One day, Darwin had an epiphany. It doesn't matter what inspired it. What matters is what he did with it. He came to Shepherds of Good Hope and became a participant in the managed alcohol program. I've blogged often about MAP and we've run several stories on Facebook and our website about this innovative program. If you're interested, you can check out the link provided.

It's not an overstatement to say MAP saved Darwin's life. At The Oaks, he has his own room. There is staff who monitor his health. They make sure he eats three meals a day. He can socialize with the other residents or he can spend time in his room. There's no more excessive drinking. He's probably the healthiest he has been in several years.

More importantly, finding stability in his life, improving his health has helped him reconnect with his son. When we spoke to Darwin, it was clear there was no more important person in his life than his son and his son's family. Darwin is a grandfather, too, and he loves to dote on his two grandsons.

He's thankful for what Shepherds of Good Hope has done for him. He knows, too, that we're able to help men and women like him because so many people in the community donate money, time and goods.

This Thanksgiving, Darwin will be with his family. But there will be many men and women in our care who won't have a home to go to this Thanksgiving. They are part of the Shepherds of Good Hope family. Please help us this Thanksgiving by making a donation. Let the men and women know they have not been forgotten this holiday.

What motivates me to raise funds

On Tuesday, I was part of a women-in-leadership conference. One of the stories I shared with the audience was my motivation behind why I do what I do at Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. For those of you who know me, you know what I do. I ask you for money because I believe in what we do at Shepherds of Good Hope.

Regardless of where I have worked, I have always filled my spare time with volunteer work. But when I came to Shepherds of Good Hope and sat at my desk for the first time, I thought, what now? What do I do next?

I knew I had to really learn about the people I was going to serve. So I made a decision to spend a night at the women’s shelter. I can honestly tell you it changed my life. One of my motivations was to hear the other women talk to me as if I was one of them.

I remember sitting in the TV room. I talked to a woman who had been there for three months. She had come from a small town. The problem is once you get in, you can’t get out and that’s all the motivation I needed to raise as much money as I can every day to help these people, to help these people find their direction in their lives. It’s one conversation that made me look at things very, very differently.

The reality is it could happen to anyone of us. I remember as I walked across the street from my office to the shelter building the angst I felt. This could really happen. I could lose my job. I could lose my home. I could lose everything I have. Just like these people on the street. And all I can say is they are people just like us and they need help. Thank God Shepherds of Good Hope has all of these wonderful programs to help them.

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To help the men and women at Shepherds of Good Hope, please consider making a donation.

St. Matthew students setting an example

Three students from St. Matthew's -- Colleen, Danelle and Winnie -- were at Shepherds of Good Hope on Thursday for a tour. They wanted to see exactly what we do and who we help. They were so impressed that after they finished their tour, they headed to the mall where they convinced a couple of local companies to donate some beauty products to them that they brought back to the shelter to hand out to the women in our care.

This is the power of a tour. I believe when people see firsthand the men and women we serve and the innovative programs we run, they can't help but want to give.

It's also wonderful to see youth philanthropy in action. Too often teens are painted with the same brush in a negative way. Colleen, Danelle and Winnie came to Shepherds of Good Hope with an open mind and were impressed with the services we offer to Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women.

Thank you, Colleen, Danelle and Winnine for your initiative. The women will enjoy these beauty products. I also wanted to thank the two companies that helped the young ladies on their quest.

Start a workplace campaign

Last month when representatives of MaxSys Staffing & Consulting dropped off a donation, the last thing they said was, see you next month.

Sure enough, they were here again yesterday to donate the proceeds of their jeans day. Each division across Canada is participating. To participate, the employee contributes $5 and then founder Bryan Brulotte matches that donation. Each division picks the local charity they want to deal with.

With vacation season over, most workplaces are at full staffing. Now is the time to start your own workplace campaign.

Here are some ideas.

Jeans Day: Okay, I didn't have to think too hard to come up with this one. You know how this works.

Bake Sale Day: Another great way to make Fridays more fun. Everyone can make cookies or some sort of sweet which can be sold throughout the day. If you're a business that has people visiting, let them in on it. It's a great way for you to show off your community spirit to people you probably want to do business with.

Crazy Hat day: Pick a day and let people wear whatever hat they like. Maybe it's an old fashion fedora, a ball cap or a colourful toque. The beauty of this one is it's really easy to put the hat aside if you have to go into an important meeting with visitors. Enjoy some of the crazy hat photos I found on the Internet.

Coffee Day: Take one day a week and donate the proceeds of your coffee fund.

If you need some inspiration or would like to know how your donation impacts so many lives, please contact me at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com or 613-789-8210, ext. 247.

IBM donates food

A big thank you to IBM in Ottawa. They had a lot of leftover food at an event earlier this week. So what did they do? They got on the phone and called Shepherds of Good Hope and asked if we were interested. We didn't have to think about it. We love getting these types of calls.

We had the food delivered to the men and women who live at The Oaks, a supportive housing facility run by Shepherds of Good Hope. It's also home to our managed alcohol program.

IBM even delivered the food for us which deserves another thank you. We know the men and women at The Oaks appreciated the food. The donation of tacos went well with what we already had on the menu -- chili. It's nice when things line up that way.

A donation of barbecues

I love my job. I love it especially when I can thank people for all the help they give us. I love it when I get photos like the one below.

Thanks to the generosity of  Harvey Steinwald of the Knights of Pythias .... , we now have two new barbecues. These will last us for years to come and we can use them at all of our locations. In the summer, it's a treat for our clients to get something a little different from what they might get in the soup kitchen. Although we try to have interesting and nutritious meals for them, there's nothing like the treat of a hamburger or a hot dog off the grill.

We'll also put these barbecues to good use when we hold our volunteer appreciation barbecue.

Thank you so much, Harvey. I know the clients will enjoy a lot of good food thanks to your donation.