Join Henrique and Mo on a Mobile Mission Meals food truck, as they hand out hundreds of meals within low income and food insecure communities across Ottawa.

Pulling food trays out of their warming cabinets, they methodically prepare meals of breaded chicken legs, roasted potatoes, and garden salad, scooping the food into dozens of to-go containers lined up within the truck.

Outside, Kathleen, a food truck client, explains why she and so many are waiting for a warm meal.

From those like Kathleen who are living with a disability, to seniors on fixed incomes, to single parents, our food truck drivers know that the rising cost of living and hunger don’t discriminate.

At a stop in Overbrook, a woman waits patiently until it’s her turn at the front of the line. Henrique greets her with a: “Hi Ma’am, just a moment.” Turning around, he grabs two brown paper bags and places two meals in each. Turning back, he hands her both bags before also passing her a bag of groceries.

Once he wishes her well, he looks over and explains: “She’s come here before with her young children. We know she has a family at home, so we give her extra.”

This is the type of community outreach your support has created. With Ottawa Public Health reporting that more than 1 in 4 households are food insecure, you’re powering The Mission food trucks that root out hunger across our city.

At our final stop in Vanier, with a meal and groceries in hand and a relieved smile on his face, an elderly man named Roger has these words for you:

We’re standing where generosity meets ingenuity: inside one of our two new vertical farming units.

Powered by your support, these modular hydroponic farms are where we can now grow up to 20,000 pounds of fresh leafy greens per year!

Inside this temperature and light-controlled environment, rows of basil are dutifully growing; dozens of romaine lettuce seedlings are beginning to sprout and lush, overflowing dark leaves signal that there will soon be a bountiful harvest of kale.

Thanks to you, these greens will all end up in the soups, salads, and meals we serve to the hungry and food insecure people of Ottawa. So far, we’ve grown romaine and butterhead lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, basil, cilantro, and parsley, adding them to the average of 3,000+ meals we serve each day at our shelter and from our food trucks.

The ingenuity of Growcer, who developed and maintain our vertical farming units, and a generous donation from RBC, provided the roots of this food sustainability initiative. But it’s your support that allows us to continue to feed those in need, crop after crop.

In fact, we can harvest a new crop of greens every 6 weeks, year-round! In today’s environment, where food imports can be exceptionally expensive and food insecurity incredibly high, growing our own produce saves costs and helps feed even more people in need.

Our Food Services Training Program also grows here! Students now learn practical skills in sustainable farming, food production, and distribution through these farms.

So, as we all anxiously await the greens of spring, thank you for keeping our Mission meals healthy and evergreen.

Zachary came to The Ottawa Mission looking solely for shelter, but soon found himself participating in our Day Program, a recurring drop-in group counselling session.

Due to challenging circumstances, Zachary had lost his housing, was out of work, and was struggling with mental health and addiction. His sister and loving parents had suggested that he could benefit from a rehabilitation program, so when he saw posters for our Day and Hope Addiction and Trauma Services programs, he thought they might help him get his life back on track.

At first, he was guarded about opening up on his struggles and past traumas in front of a group. So, he set himself a goal of speaking at least once per session. He soon found that the group was respectful and receptive, with each session producing a healthy dialogue about the trials and triumphs of life and recovery.

Zachary smiles as he recalls one pivotal weekend, where:

On a Friday, he found out that he had been accepted into Hope, our 3-month live-in addictions and mental health support program, where he’d now also have access to individual counselling. And just a of couple days later, he also started his new job in retail at an auto parts department!

The Mission’s wraparound programs continued to help Zachary, even at this new job.

Your support also helped Zachary with that search. Aided by our housing department, Zachary found an affordable apartment to call his own, and, with his newfound stability, moved out of The Mission.

Looking back, Zachary is happy about his decision to raise his hand in Day Program, and is so grateful for your help in making us More Than a Shelter:

On Sunday, April 5th thousands of people will gather in our dining room for a warm Easter meal, and a chance to connect with a caring community. For only $4.68, you can provide a special Easter meal to families and people in need.

Provide Easter meals today by donating here or calling 613-234-1155.