OREIO delivers much needed items

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by the Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization. This was the third time this month I had a chance to be with them.

Last week, we were on CTV Morning Live to talk about their food and clothing drive this winter. OREIO is a strong believer in Shepherds of Good Hope. They know a lot of people like to help the homeless in the months leading up to Christmas. They wanted to ensure there was no drop-off once the blah months came along.

So last night they held an event where I had a chance to address the crowd to talk about how Shepherds of Good Hope helps some of the most vulnerable men and women in Ottawa.

It was a good thing I took the van with me. I was impressed with how much they collected in such a short period of time.

Thank you so much to Victor Menasce, Managing Partner of US Real Estate Partners, for his work in making all of this happen.

On behalf of everyone at Shepherds of Good Hope, we appreciate the hard work and the fundraising and we look forward to more donations over the coming weeks.

New Year's resolutions

We're almost two weeks into 2016 and you've either already dropped your New Year's resolutions or you're on your way to forming some new habits.

I hope one of those habits is to become more involved in charitable giving. We have a lot to be thankful for in the nation's capital. But there are people who are hurting every day. They have great potential but they are struggling at this point in their lives.

We see them every day. They are some of Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women. They rely on us for food, shelter and clothing. Over the years, Shepherds of Good Hope has implemented many innovative programs and developed others with partners. The goal of each and every one is to address the specific needs of the homeless population so that we can find housing more quickly for them.

So how can you help with a New Year's resolution? Here are some ideas. I'd love to hear some of yours.

Coffee drinkers: Skip one coffee a week. At the end of the month, you have $10 that you can donate. Yes, your monthly donation can be $10 a month.

Make it a team effort: A lot of people will join fundraising campaigns at their workplace. The most common type of fundraiser is a casual dress day on Fridays. Workers pay $1 or $2 to wear jeans on a Friday. Depending on the size of your workplace, you might have hundreds of dollars to donate at the end of the month.

Make it a family affair: Teaching your kids the importance of helping those less fortunate is important and sets them up to be charitable in the future. Go through your closets and donate clothes that you know you're not going to wear any more. Collect change in a jar and donate it monthly.

Volunteer: There are many ways to give. As a fundraiser, of course, I'm a big supporter of financial donations. We make your dollar do a lot here at Shepherds of Good Hope. But volunteering is also very important to us. We have more than 400 volunteers helping us deliver programs and services, We couldn't do what we without them. As a volunteer, you can see the impact you are having on people.

Take a tour: I've always said that taking a tour of our facilities is the best way to see first hand the impact your donation has on so many people. Once people see the work we do, that we are more than a soup kitchen, many are inspired to give.

If you would like to talk more about how you can help Ottawa's homeless population, please don't hesitate to contact me. Phone: 613-789-8210, ext. 247. Email: asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com

To make a donation, click here.
For volunteer opportunities, click here.

Kelly Funeral Homes does it again

There are lots of things we take for granted every day.

For example, when we wash our hands, we don't think twice about whether there is some soap near the taps. You wouldn't think of showering without body wash or shampoo. Part of your night time routine is probably reaching for that tube of toothpaste.

For the men and women who live in a shelter, though, those things aren't just something you carry around with you every day. You don't get to pick your favourite brand of toothpaste.

Whether it's deodorant, razors or toilet paper, there are items we use every day that we don't think a lot about, expect for maybe when we have to pay for them at the cash register. People who live in the shelter need those items every day, too,

That's why it's fantastic when companies like Kelly Funeral Homes go above and beyond to collect truck-loads of toiletries for us. With their drive, they are providing Ottawa's homeless men and women with much needed every day items.

Thank you so much, Kelly Funeral Homes, for thinking of us again this year.

Remembering the homeless in January

A lot of people like to donate leading up to Christmas. It's wonderful and I'm always blown away by the generosity of people in Ottawa.

Then the cold, harsh winter sets in. We get the January and February blahs. We're bundled up, we're busy with our lives and it's understandable that we have other things on our mind.

But for the homeless men and women in Ottawa, the need is still there.

The Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization decided to do something about it. They have purposely scheduled their food and clothing drive for January and February. They want to remind people that Ottawa's homeless population needs help 365 days a year.

Thank you so much to Victor Menasce, Managing Partner of US Real Estate Partners, for his work in organizing this drive.

On Wednesday morning, you might have seen Victor and me on CTV Morning Live. Thank you to CTV Morning Live for the coverage.

Cold weather and the homeless

Well, today certainly feels like winter. For those people who like winter and were wondering where it went, wonder no more.

Although milder temperatures are expected tomorrow, that doesn't mean things get easier for people who live on the street.

The cold temperatures are just one thing about winter they have to deal with. At Shepherds of Good Hope, our front-line staff is trained on how to recognize the signs of frostbite and how to deal with it. On very cold days, especially on days when a cold weather or frostbite alert is issued by the city, we let people stay in the shelter. We have a couple of lounges and our clients can hang out and chat with others or watch TV.

But even when it's minus 1, like it's predicted for tomorrow, winter is still difficult for many people living on the street. Think about it. How do you think you would feel if you spent the majority of your day outside in minus 1 temperatures? Trust me, at the end of the day you would feel pretty cold.

The other factor you would have to deal with is the wetness. If it's cold, you're dealing with the snow that can leave your socks wet. In milder temperatures, there's the slush to contend with, which is even a bigger obstacle to staying dry.

That's why we always have a box of socks in the soup kitchen. If someone needs a warm, and dry, pair of socks, we have them thanks to people who donate.

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If you would like more information on how we serve the homeless population of Ottawa or take a tour, please contact me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247 or by email at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

Thank you to all of our supporters

As we count down the final hours of 2015, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported our work at Shepherds of Good Hope.

Thank you to everyone who made a financial gift or donated food, clothing or any item to help make the lives of Ottawa's vulnerable men and women better. During the last 12 months, I was touched numerous times by the generosity of our supporters.

The work doesn't stop at midnight, though. Tomorrow, while most of us are relaxing and thinking ahead to our 2016 goals, men and women will be lining up outside the soup kitchen at 7 am for breakfast. Lunch and dinner will be served at their usual times and we expect a crowd for the evening drop-in.

Homeless people don't get to take a vacation from their lives. There is no respite. But thanks to your support over the last 12 months, you have made a huge impact in the lives of many people. You clothed people. You fed them. You helped them get into their own housing. You helped stabilize their health. You helped them reconnect with their families. You helped them find jobs.

Every day, you help create a better life for someone and I want to sincerely thank you for joining us on our mission to offer compassion and care to Ottawa's homeless population. I hope you'll join us in that mission again in 2016.

Happy New Year to you and your families. Before you go, please look over some of my favourite photos from the past year

The Christmas Spirit

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I was here serving the gravy as I usually do on Christmas Day. You never know who is going to drop by and this year was no different.

Magalie, 12, Felix, 11, Maxime, 9, Sophie, 8, Elyse, 4, and Alexandre, 2, dropped by with their parents. Maxime had suggested everyone spend the morning making sandwiches for homeless people before anyone opened their gifts. So that's what they did. They arrived at the shelter around 11 in the morning and delivered 40 sandwiches to grateful men and women.

What a wonderful thing to do. They could have spent their morning opening gifts and playing with them. But instead, they were in the kitchen making sandwiches. I know their parents Philippe and Veronic are very proud of their children. Thank you so much for stopping by on Christmas Day.

Every Christmas I get to witness selfless acts of generosity like this one.

Shepherds of Good Hope is in the news

It's been a good week for Shepherds of Good Hope when it comes to media coverage.

One of the ways to show you what type of impact we're making in the community with your donation is to tell stories. When we can get some of those stories out through newspapers and radio, it gives us a different way to reach you. Lots of people still listen to radio or read a newspaper.

Today, Ottawa Citizen columnist Kelly Egan wrote a column on the TESP diversion program. Some of you might remember that back in June we introduced a new protocol for paramedics. They no longer have to bring a homeless person to the hospital ER. We have health staff at our shelter and we can help homeless men and women with certain needs. I'll let you read the column to discover how beneficial this is.

We also have Alison Sandor at CFRA who profiled the managed alcohol program at The Oaks. This is a very innovative program that has attracted attention from around the world. Again, I'll let you read the story to find out what makes this program so exciting.

I'm hoping that when you read these stories you'll appreciate the impact your donation has on the men and women who have so little but need so much. The three most important things we do with your donation is provide shelter, food and clothing. But Ottawa's homeless men and women need so much more if they are going to find a way out of shelter life and into their own housing.

That's what your donation accomplishes. If you would like to see first-hand the impact your donation has, please call me for a tour of our facilities at 613-789-8210, ext. 247, or reach out by e-mail at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

Charlie and his Christmas blessing bags

Charlie is at it again.

You might remember the six-year-old boy who came to visit me at the end of the school year. He and close family friend Logan had run a lemonade stand and raised more than $400. Charlie also solicited donations and put together dozens of blessing bags that he handed out to homeless men and women around the market.

Earlier this fall, Charlie decided he wanted to do the same thing again at Christmas. Instead of lemonade, he sold hot chocolate. This time he raised more than $300. And he handed out blessing bags again to homeless men and women.

Charlie stopped by my office this morning with Logan, his mother, and his grandparents. It was so nice to see him again and see that wonderful smile.

I asked Charlie if he was looking forward to Christmas and like any little boy, he's anxiously waiting for Santa to make a visit at the end of the week. But it didn't stop Charlie from coming out during his Christmas vacation to help those less fortunate.

Charlie is an inspiration. Thank you so much Charlie.

Homeless people come from all backgrounds

There is an interesting article about a group out west that wants the Alberta government to devote more resources to homelessness in rural communities. (Click here to read the story).

It reminded me that we can make quick conclusions about where homeless people come from. Yes, you will find more homeless people in the bigger cities like Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and so on. But they didn't necessarily come from just around the corner to reach the shelter.

I met a homeless person recently who was from Russell. So how does someone in a small town end up in a big-city shelter? Sometimes it's because they can't find a job in their community, so they come to a larger centre like Ottawa to try to find work. They have the best of intentions, but things don't always go as planned. If you have moved here from a rural community or another part of the country, you can quickly find yourself down on your luck if you don't find work. A lot of people who move here looking for a better life don't have family support. They might not have friends who they know well enough to stay with.

We serve a lot of men and women who are new to Ottawa. A shelter is not their first choice, but often it's their only choice. When someone comes to Shepherds of Good Hope, we don't judge. It doesn't matter how far they have travelled or where they are originally from. It doesn't matter what their background is. They may have been struggling to make ends meet. They might have had what some consider a successful life but for a variety of reasons -- financial, health -- they lost those things and now they are turning to us for help.

During the Christmas season, please think of all the men and women who have moved to our great city to try to make a better life for themselves, to have the things that you and I have. Let's give them hope for the future. Please help.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It can be a difficult time for many at Christmas. Studies have shown that people can experience depression at Christmas. Rates of domestic abuse increase. People get into financial trouble because of the pressure to make Christmas perfect.

Now imagine that you are homeless. It can be a difficult and lonely time for homeless men and women during the holiday season. Our mission is always to provide support and care with compassion and to ensure every man and women has the opportunity for a life of dignity. It's no different at Christmas. During the next couple of weeks, all of our programs throw Christmas parties for our clients. It's just one of the many ways we try to create a community for those men and women in our care.

There's lots of baked goods to munch on, we play Christmas music and for a few hours everyone just focuses on having a good time. Later this month, Santa will likely make a visit as he does every year.

We also get groups volunteering to come in a decorate. We already see lots of great Christmas decorations in the shelter. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped create a festive atmosphere.

If you would like to help some of the most vulnerable men and women in the city, please visit our donation page.

We're looking for disposable razors

Everywhere I walk in the Byward Market, I see a lot of young men with beards. These young men are growing beards on purpose and some of them are still going with the man bun. I guess if you decide to wear a beard, you'll make your razor last a lot longer, especially if you're one of those men who doesn't care about trimming his beard around the neck line.

At Shepherds of Good Hope, we're not quite into fashion statements in the same way, but that doesn't mean it isn't important for men and women to have access to those things that will make life a little easier.

One of those things is a razor. We don't think of razors often as something a homeless shelter might need. But we have a lot of men in our care who are looking for work. We also have many men who are part of the Worker Program. This is a program for men and women who are working but have found themselves homeless or who have a strong desire to return to work.

When you go for a job interview, you like to put your best foot forward. You want to make a good impression. You want to go into the interview with some confidence. That can be difficult to do when you're living in a homeless shelter. It can be difficult to do something as simple as shave. Most men I know don't like to shave. But for the men in our care, it's a boost to the confidence, it adds a little self-respect when you can go to a job interview or start a new job clean shaven.

I know razors are expensive. All we're asking for are the disposable razors. We keep them in a drawer and we hand them out when someone needs one.

If you want to donate items to Shepherds of Good Hope, please consider a package of disposable razors. For more details, check out our donation page by clicking here.

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.

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.

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.

Looking for sheets and blankets

We had great response yesterday to our Facebook post about sheets and blankets. Basically, we're hoping there are people out there who can donate sheets and blankets to us.

Although we do run everything through the laundry, nothing lasts forever and there are times when you need to replace certain items. Sheets and blankets are important because they help us provide one of the most basic needs for homeless men and women -- shelter.

There's more to providing a bed than just ensuring there is a mattress. Every bed needs clean sheets each day and we need blankets.

If you're able to help, please call me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247. If you need someone to pick up your donation, please call Dan at 613-789-8210, ext. 240.

Thanks to our Facebook friends who have committed to making a donation.

I'm getting to know a lot of people at MaxSys. Every month, someone from their office drops by to donate the proceeds of their jeans day. This week it was Stephanie Csizmadi. This is the third month in a row company representatives have popped in and we love seeing you every time. Keep up the great fundraising work.

I've used MaxSys before as an example of how easy it is for your office or department to raise funds for some of Ottawa's most vulnerable people. At MaxSys, each division across Canada is invited to participate in jeans day. To wear jeans to the office, you have to contribute $5 to that division's charity fund. Company President Bryan Brulotte then matches the donation. See how easy that is? And it does so much good to help the clients at Shepherds of Good Hope.

Clients get a special meal

The men and women who come to our soup kitchen never complain. They're thankful for a meal. But even though they're grateful, it's still nice when we can serve them something different than usual. Today, thanks to a donation from Creative Kosher, we were able to serve trout.

I was in the soup kitchen when the first clients walked in and the look on their faces when they saw what we were serving almost brought tears to my eyes. These are some of Ottawa's most vulnerable men and women. I'd love to be able to serve them meals like this every day. Take a look at these photos.