Seeing is Believing

This past week we held a very special event at The Ottawa Mission and invited interested volunteers and donors to come for a visit to our shelter.

We call this annual event “Walking Together” because we know that the people we serve – the hungry, those recovering from addiction, people looking for work and a place to live – share their journeys with the volunteers and donors who support them. We wanted to thank them and give them an “up close and personal” look at all aspects of the programs we can offer because of their generosity.

For many, even long time volunteers, this was a really eye opening experience. One volunteer who has been helping us prepare and serve meals for many years had never been off the main floor of The Mission. He had never visited the clothing room, the medical and dental clinics, the dorm rooms, or the client services centre. The experience, he says, was a real education.

For the donors who attended, many had never visited The Mission at all. Not only had they not seen the areas of the shelter mentioned above, but they didn’t realize how many programs and services are open to anyone in the community who is in need. As one donor, Micheline Dubé, said, “I didn’t realize that the 1,300 meals served every day at The Mission are available not just to people staying at the shelter, but to anyone who is hungry. And learning more about the hospice, that it serves both men and women, and seeing just how clean and comfortable it is, was a heartwarming experience. What I’ve seen today gives me confidence that my donations are being invested very wisely.”

We thank everyone who took the time to visit yesterday, as we thank them for their ongoing support as volunteers and donors. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them. And we know that for all who attended, seeing is indeed believing.

If you are interested in visiting The Mission, we would love to welcome you! Please contact us by phone at 613-234-1155 or by email at foundation@ottawamission.com.

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