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.

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.

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.

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.

I read an interesting article on the Globe and Mail website about how one Montreal organization is trying to help people understand the issue of homelessness by having them talk to a homeless person.

Basically, what happened is this group found a public spot to set up a table with two chairs. On one side is a homeless person, on the other side is someone who isn't homeless. They are each given a bowl of soup to eat and then encouraged to talk to each other. The goal is to help the non-homeless people better understand what homeless men and women are going through.

There is a moderator to help get the conversation going or to step in if things get too uncomfortable.

I've always said there is no better way to understand the work we do than to come down and take a tour. When people take a tour, their eyes are opened. The most common thing I hear is: I didn't know you did all of this.

But the tours aren't just an opportunity to show off everything we do. More importantly, we want people to have a better understanding of how complex the issue of homelessness is, how much support the homeless often need, and the amount of help we need from the community to make it happen day after day.

If you would like a tour, please contact me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247 or at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com. If you would like to help support the work we do, you can make a donation here.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's a late Friday afternoon and I know everyone is looking forward to the long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I also want to thank everyone who donated to us this Thanksgiving season. On Monday, we will feed more people than we normally do on a regular weekday. No one wants to be alone on the holiday and our doors are open to anyone who wants to share in community and enjoy a good meal. It couldn't happen without the support we get from the community.

So enjoy Thanksgiving. I'll leave you with this cute photo from our food services program.

Homelessness and mental health

I found this article recently on the number of homeless people who suffer from mental illness in California. If you've been following the news lately, you might know that there are many Californian cities struggling with homelessness. In fact, earlier this month, the city of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency over homelessness.

What struck me is the number of people who are homeless who also suffer from mental health issues. It's a vicious circle. Dealing with mental health can be one of the factors that leads to homelessness, but once homeless, it makes it so much more difficult to cope with that mental health challenge.

At Shepherds of Good Hope we are partnered up with various organizations like Ottawa Inner City Health and Canadian Mental Health Association to ensure that together we deliver the care needs for homeless men and women in Ottawa who are also struggling with mental health issues.

We know for some that the road to more independent housing might take a little longer. But that's okay. We're there every step of the way with them, ensuring they get the care they need.

If you would like more information about what we do at Shepherds of Good Hope, please don't hesitate to contact me at 613-789-8210, ext. 247 or asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

To make a donation to one of our many programs and services that help 1,600 men and women every day, please visit our donation page.

Generating buzz about MAP

Sometimes things just never get old. Earlier this week, we got an alert about a story on Shepherds of Good Hope and its managed alcohol program. Interesting.

When I clicked on the headline, I discovered the story and video was done in 2011. I read it anyway and found it to be a powerful story and a straight forward look at what we do. I know I've blogged several times about our managed alcohol program and we've done stories for our website and Facebook page, but there seems to be a lot of interest in this program.

We have experts across Canada and around the world who come to visit us to find out more about the program. But we also have a lot of donors or people who follow us on social media who are also very interested. When we posted that 2011 story and video on Facebook earlier this week, I was astounded with how many people commented or read the story. I'm so happy with how many people are taking an interested in some of our more innovative programs.

I believe that if you know more about what we do and how it helps Ottawa's homeless population, then you will be more comfortable helping us out, either with a donation of cash or a donation of goods. The reason we prefer financial donations is that as a large shelter that serves 1,600 men and women every day, we have some buying power that most individuals don't have.

Meanwhile, in case you haven't seen the story, here's a link. And here's a link to the donation page. Please consider making a donation this fall. The donation you make goes to helping so many of Ottawa's most in-need men and women.

If you would like to know more about Shepherds of Good Hope or would like to book a tour, please contact me at 613-897-8210, ext. 247 or by email at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

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.

Women Leaders

I had the pleasure and honour earlier this week to be a part of a panel of women who hold leadership positions in the non-profit sector. It was hosted by ELLE.

We had a chance to talk about our careers, the best advice we ever received, our mentors and the challenges facing women who aspire to be leaders and what can be done to improve it. Yesterday, I blogged about my motivation.

Today, I want to share another thought with you. One of the questions we were asked was what was the best advice you ever received. It's hard to narrow it down just to one piece of advice but here's what comes to mind right away: If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you. You have to have faith in yourself. It was many years ago when this was passed onto me, but it has stuck with me.

I've worked with a lot of great people, people I consider mentors. I work with great people every day at Shepherds of Good Hope. But to believe you can do the job, to believe you can make a difference, it has to start with you. You have to believe in yourself. It won't always be easy but you have to start with that belief in yourself.

I also believe in what we do at Shepherds of Good Hope. I've had the good fortune of working in different industries and working with many different people. But every day, thanks to our donors, our volunteers, and our staff, we make a difference in the lives of so many people who have so little. We do it because we believe.

I'd love to hear what advice you've been given in your career or life. Leave a comment or send me an e-mail at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com.

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.