A Giving Community

At The Ottawa Mission, people of all ages and backgrounds take time out of their busy schedules to help people in need. Some are fortunate to work for companies and organizations that foster the spirit of giving back, and they come in as a group to volunteer. This month, there are a couple of prime examples of how these volunteer groups make a big impact.

Last week, we recognized an organization called “Ottawa Lawyers Feed the Hungry” that promotes group volunteering within Ottawa’s legal community. This organization partnered with The Mission five years ago and, since then, it has provided the funds and the volunteers to serve a warm, delicious meal every month to people at The Mission.

“We have law firms that have been contributing money and volunteers for the full five years, and others that are just coming on board,” says Jonathan Richardson, one of the lawyers who started the group. ”It demonstrates to me how valuable the program is, and how much members of the legal community want to give back.”

Another special company that has its employees giving back at The Mission is TELUS. This weekend, TELUS will hold its Annual Day of Giving across Canada, and here in Ottawa a group of employees will come down to The Mission to help with some special projects, like painting walls inside and doing a clean-up outside the shelter.

As TELUS Vice-President Michael Sangster says, “TELUS fosters a corporate culture that offers team members opportunities to make a positive difference in the communities where we live, work and serve.” Here at The Ottawa Mission we are thankful to be one of the beneficiaries of this wonderful philosophy.

Thank you to Lawyers Feed the Hungry, TELUS – and to all of our volunteers – for all that you do.