Author Archives: Myles dingwall

Shelter smashes previous numbers for Christmas special meals

Ottawa, ON – During The Ottawa Mission’s annual Christmas meal, which was held on December 17 as well as the week prior to this date through the shelter’s food truck program, The Mission served 17,427 meals – a new record for a special meal service.

“It took 7000 lbs. of turkey, 3500 lbs. of peeled potatoes, 2000 lbs. of vegetables, 150 gallons of gravy, and 900 vegetarian quiches to ensure that those who turn to us for help this Christmas did not go hungry,” said Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the Mission.

Prior to the pandemic, the average number of meals served each Christmas was about 2,500; 17,427 is almost seven times that number. While the pandemic has waned, persistent high inflation and other factors have meant surging numbers of people who are turning to the shelter for basic necessities such as food.

The shelter’s annual meal numbers have more than doubled since the beginning of pandemic, rising from 495,000 in 2018 – 2019 to 1,057,000 in 2022 – 2023. The pandemic and now inflation means even more people are having to choose between feeding themselves and their families or paying their housing costs, and turning to the shelter for help. “I’ve been at The Mission for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen hunger this shocking in our community,” Allen-Watson added.

In addition to this special meal, the occasion also provided a sense of warmth and community to those in need who would otherwise be alone.

“While we are so pleased to be providing this special meal for both shelter guests and community clients, we remain very concerned about the shocking increase in hunger across our community due to the pandemic and inflation. We look forward to working with all levels of government in 2024 to address those conditions which caused so many people in need to turn to our shelter for help, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, and other factors,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 meals every day.  The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Shelter Will Surpass 2022–2023 Annual Meal Count and Serve Record Number of Christmas Meals this year

Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Mission is on track to surpass its shocking all-time high annual meal count of 1,057,489 meals from its past fiscal year as it prepares to serve a record number of special Christmas meals from December 10 – 17. Thus far this year the shelter has served over 600,000 meals to vulnerable community members. Based on the total of 16,496 Thanksgiving meals served from its food truck program and shelter in October, it expects to serve almost 17,000 special Christmas meals this December.

“It will take 7000 lbs. of turkey, 3500 lbs. of peeled potatoes, 2000 lbs. of vegetables, 150 gallons of gravy, and 900 vegetarian quiches to ensure that those who turn to us for help this Christmas do not go hungry,” said Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the Mission.

Prior to the pandemic, the average number of meals served each Christmas was about 2,500; the estimate of 17,000 is almost seven times that number. While the pandemic has waned, persistent high inflation and other factors have meant surging numbers of people who are turning to the shelter for basic necessities such as food. “I know what it’s like to go hungry, and it’s my mission to ensure that no one who turns to us for help does,” Allen-Watson added.

Turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to the Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your gift.

On November 27 and 28, monetary donations to support the Christmas meal and other vital programs at the Ottawa Mission will be matched by DYMON Storage and can be made at ottawamission.com. In addition, DYMON will be donating a meal for every Ottawa Mission Giving Tuesday post that is shared on the Mission’s social media channels. “DYMON is a longtime invaluable partner in supporting our 17 programs to help vulnerable people rebuild their lives,” CEO Peter Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2021-2022, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 118 men every night and served an average of 2570 meals every day.  The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Ottawa, ON – In the wake of ongoing high inflation and shocking increases in hunger across our community, The Ottawa Mission has been forced to increase its ask to donors to cover the costs of individual meals to $4.68.

The last time The Mission raised its meal donation ask was in 2017, when it was raised from $2.97 to $3.47. Since that time, inflation has risen by almost 22%, and the number of meals served annually by the shelter has surged from 484,494 to 1,057,489, an increase of over 215% as deep hunger spreads across our city.

“Over 60% of our annual budget is supported by our donors, who are caring and compassionate people. Without them, we couldn’t possibly provide our 17 programs to help so many people rebuild their lives,” noted Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley. Since 2017, the percentage of The Mission’s budget supported by its donors has grown by over 20% as community need has increased sharply in a post-pandemic environment.

One example of a Mission program supported entirely by donations is its food truck program. Beginning in September 2020 in response to the pandemic with one truck and five stops, it served 500 meals per week. Since that time, it has expanded to two trucks and 35 stops serving over 7,000 meals per week. The Mission also operates a grocery program through the food truck program, providing a small bag of groceries to each client who receives a meal. This past fiscal year, the shelter handed out 51,161 bags of groceries.

“Some clients have told us that they go hungry until our trucks come. Others have told us that our food truck helps them with feeding their families since the cost of groceries has risen so much,” Tilley noted. A 2021 survey showed that 34% of food truck program clients are families with children.

“Over the past several years, we’ve worked hard to maintain our ask for donations at $3.47 per meal despite the increasing cost of food and community need. This effort is supported by our wonderful volunteers, hundreds of whom help us deliver services that are desperately needed,” noted Tilley.

However, we’ve been able to keep our meal ask low for only so long, and time has come when we have no choice but to ask our generous and steadfast donors to help us for by contributing just a bit more. The good news is that even with this increase, our meal costs remains low and far below the average cost of a meal.  Our generous donors, volunteers and community partners are key to us continuing to meet the needs of our community in a compassionate and cost-effective way,” Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 meals every day.  The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Help The Ottawa Mission Feed Hungry Community Members this Thanksgiving by Donating Frozen Turkeys

Ottawa, ON – As we head into the fall, planning is well underway for The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner at its shelter, which will take place on Monday, October 9^th, and also from October 2 – 8 through its food truck program.

The meal for shelter guests and community members will begin at 11:00 am in The Mission dining room. The Mission’s food truck program will also serve a full Thanksgiving meal to everyone who accesses this service the week prior to the October 9 meal.

On any given day, The Ottawa Mission serves about 3,000 meals to shelter residents and those in need in the community. Due to the shocking increase in hunger across our community, the shelter anticipates serving over 14,000 meals this Thanksgiving.

“It will take about 6,000 pounds of turkey to feed everyone who comes to our special Thanksgiving dinner,” says Chef Ric Watson, Director of Food Services at The Mission. “Our kitchen volunteers and staff are working very hard to ensure that everyone will have a delicious turkey dinner by preparing for this very special event in advance.”

Also on the menu will be: 3000 lbs. peeled potatoes; 2000 lbs. glazed fresh carrots; 150 Gallons of gravy; and 900 vegetarian quiche.

Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your donation. Monetary donations to support the Thanksgiving meal are also appreciated and can be made at: https://ottawamission.com/donate/.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2021-2022, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 118 men every night and served an average of 2570 meals every day.  The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Myles Dingwall – Communications Officer
C 613.613-809-3764
E-mail:  mdingwall@ottawamission.com

Recent graduates include newcomers to Canada

Ottawa, ON – Today The Ottawa Mission celebrated the graduation of 24 students of its renowned Food Services Training Program (FSTP) trained at “Chef Ric’s”, the shelter’s social enterprise at 384 Rideau Street.

This graduation ceremony was dedicated to Chef Antonio Grande, a long-time and passionate volunteer FSTP instructor. Chef Toni passed away in June and the graduation ceremony is dedicated to his memory.

One of these graduates is Jean Chirac, a newcomer from Burundi. At age 26, he left his home last December to start anew in Ottawa. Facing uncertainty about his future, he discovered the FSTP and was accepted. “I love cooking and creating with food. I felt very fortunate to have found an opportunity like this.”

Jean Chirac excelled in the program and soon found himself employed at a local restaurant, showing tremendous work ethic balancing his work and his studies. While he had some cooking skills and experience to build on, he found the program’s resume writing and job application training to be particularly beneficial. He plans on using that training to pursue a culinary career with a social service agency.

The FSTP was created in 2004 by Chef Ric Allen-Watson, The Mission’s Director of Food Services. Homeless at age 14, he knows the power of paying it forward. “Someone reached out to me and showed me that education could help. That’s why I started this program: to help other people rebuild their lives.”

Since 2004, 282 people have graduated from the program, almost 90% of whom have gone on to positions in the food services industry. In September 2021, operations for the FSTP were moved from The Ottawa Mission’s kitchen to Chef Ric’s to add more space and increase the capacity of the program. The next session of the FSTP began earlier this week and has 20 registrants.

As Ottawa continues to deal with a post-pandemic environment, including worsening mental health, addictions, homelessness, inflation, hunger and poverty, The Mission will remain the first place of refuge for increasing numbers of vulnerable people going forward for the next several years. “By expanding this incredibly successful program at Chef Ric’s, we’re doing our part to help even more people in need,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2021-2022, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 118 men every night and served an average of 2,570 meals every day.  The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of its housing department. Visit ottawamission.com to learn more.

FOR INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW PLEASE CONTACT:
Myles Dingwall
Communications Officer
613-809-3764
E-mail: mdingwall@ottawamission.com