Request for Donations
A key component of the Neighbourhood Ministry is the Street Outreach program. Participating parishes collect non-perishables and basic necessities, which are packed up and distributed to unhoused people on the Westside every Saturday morning, year-round.
- Rain, winter and fleece jackets
- Rain pants and sweatpants
- Long underwear
- Men’s socks and underwear
- Magic / one-size fits all gloves
- Tarps (dark colours are preferred but not essential)
- Cans of meat and fish
- Cereal bars (no nuts, seeds or oatmeal)
- Juice boxes
- Can openers
- McDonald’s gift cards ($15 or $10)
Street Outreach Report - Saturday, December 28, 2024
We (Samuel and Joanne) converged at St. Philip's Anglican Church where Suzi was waiting for us loaded with many Christmas "extras". We gratefully received warm new gloves, sweat pants, toques, insulated cooler bags, chocolate bars in various flavors, candy, many McDonald's gift cards, plus some extra clothing and the regular food pack, sandwiches, eggs, and fruit.
We planned on packing the Christmas handouts in the insulated cooler bags as we visited with our contacts . Just before we departed, Rev. Anne Privett, Priest-in-charge, arrived and said a lovely blessing.
We then set out toward the fence. There we met T. who was waiting patiently for us. He did not know the whereabouts of M. A. joined us a few minutes later. In addition to our weekly offerings, T. took a toque, extra socks, gloves, and a McDonald's gift card, while A. took gloves, a McDonald's card, and an extra package for his wife.
We drove down to West 4th Avenue, where we found P. at his usual location. We bought a magazine from him and offered him a package, gloves, candy, and McDonald's gift card.
We continued down West 4th Avenue to Yew Street, where we saw S. sleeping on the corner in the cold, wet weather. She is new to us and was very hungry. She is unhoused so we gave her an information card, pointing out the specific services listed. She expressed a wish to wash. In addition to our package, she accepted a sleeping mat, hand sanitizers, a can opener, and a McDonald's gift card.
We continued to the Granville Street Bus Loop , to the underpass at West 7th Avenue, the lane behind, and the surrounding area, but found no one. Any signs of a previous camping site were completely gone. So we drove to the VSB Park at Fir Street and West 10th Avenue. We saw only J. at the Vancouver School Board. He was in a good mood, receiving our food pack, a McDonald's card, and shavers.
We then walked around the Granville area twice between West Broadway and West 13th Avenue, checking the open parkade off West 10th Avenue across from Firehall Library.
We walked east in the lane behind West 10th Avenue, passed the library, then to Circle K, and back on West Broadway in front of McDonald's, but found no one. We walked south on Granville Street, then made it to the church parking lot, but again found no one. We walked back to Circle K, where we found A. He was in good spirits and ready to start work in January. He received our regular offering, a McDonald's card, and gloves. Heading back he said he hadn’t seen any of the others, e.g. R. that morning.
Continuing west again on West Broadway to McDonald's, we found J/G. and his friend coming out. They are new to us, unhoused and likely new on the street. The friend had already proceeded off on his bike so we didn’t meet him. J/G. received an information card, two gift cards and two jackets, one for himself, the other for his companion.
We drove into the Safeway parking lot to the elevator crosswalk, where M. was sitting. He took pants, hand sanitizers, and a McDonald's card.We drove to West Broadway and Bayswater, and found St. next to the dollar store. He happily received socks, gloves, and a package from us.
Street Outreach Report - Saturday, November 30, 2024
Submitted by Kate
Clients: 16
Packages: 16
On Saturday, November 30, Jane and I (Kate) picked up materials at St. Philip’s from Suzi – 16 packages, sandwiches and fresh food, two sleeping bags, three mats, assorted coats, hats, and gloves, canned soups, and 14 McDonald's gift cards. We added these to Jane’s supply and departed towards the fence at approximately 9:45 a.m.
A. was waiting for us by himself at the fence, and he accepted two packages, fresh food, and some items of clothing, including a black women’s coat that he was rather pleased with, and a gift card.
We then proceeded towards the corner of Vine and 4th but spied a man with a pack in front of the IGA on 4th, across from the tennis courts. By the time we had parked and gathered supplies, the man had vanished, but his pack was there and while Jane and I were discussing the matter, he emerged from the IGA, and we persuaded him to accept a gift card and socks. I was unable to ascertain his name.
Next we saw P., who was in good spirits and left him with a package, gift card and shirt. We walked around the area and saw M. sitting on the ground in front of Shopper's on 4th. He was feeling very poorly, with sore feet, and he accepted a gift card, sandwiches and Jane’s muffins, as well as a hat and socks.
Further down 4th, under the Granville Street overpass we saw a shelter and parked the car to investigate further. We did not speak with or see a person, but when leaving a package close to the shelter, we disturbed a dog, which began to bark, and Jane resolved to inquire again later in the day to find out if this dog had a person.
We then went to the area under the West overpass and the alley and parking lots on the west side of Granville, were we found the camp of R., T. and E. R. said that T. and E. were on a break. Only R. was at home, but their camp obviously comprised several people, so we left a full complement of packages, fresh food, cards, hats, gloves, socks, underpants, toiletries, etc. for three people.
After parking close to the VSB park, we met R]. and J. there. J. happily took a package, card, and some canned soup, and R. was joined by his friend D. R. and D. both took packages and gift cards, as well as fresh food and clothing. While Jane and I were handing out these items, J. came up to tell us that he and his friends L. and L. were temporarily camped in the underground parking lot under the apartments across from the fire hall on West 10th Avenue.
Jane and I finished with R. and D. and went to find J. and L. They were grateful for food, packages and gift cards, and for the shirts, leggings, hats, underpants that we were able to give them. J. was especially pleased with a large black overcoat from St. Philip’s. L. and L. received sleeping bags and mats.
We continued to walk around the South Granville area and saw two persons next to the McDonald's on Broadway, one of whom, a woman with sore-looking legs, did not accept anything, and D. gratefully took a package, food, hat, socks, card, etc.
Then we walked south down Granville, were we ran into K., who was resting in some distress next to his cart of belongings. We gave K. a package, gift card, and other items. K. asked for diapers, which we did not have on us. We also gave him a new sweater.
We returned to the vehicle almost empty-handed, took stock of our supplies, and proceeded down West Broadway, keeping a close eye on the sideways.
The only other person we saw was S., to whom we gave a package, card, food, canned soup, and a black backpack from St. Philip’s. He was looking healthier than on previous visits.
After returning to St. Philip’s, Jane and I returned to the underpass of the Granville Street bridge where we had left a package at the shelter with the dog. From the car we could see that a man was there and the shelter open, which satisfied us that the dog was in fact being cared for.
Reports are only posted for Saturdays when the Street Outreach team meets and sets out from St. Philip's, as occurs on a rotating basis with other WANM parishes.
PDFs of reports for previous outreach trips from St. Philip's can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
More About the Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry
The Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry (WANM) was started in 2008 when a small group of concerned church members decided that they would like to support the people who are unhoused or insecurely housed on the West Side. It offers care, companionship and practical help to our most vulnerable neighbours living on Westside streets and in marginalized conditions. It is a collaborative ministry offered by four parishes:
Reviewed by the Board of Management on Nov 23, 2021
- We aim to show love and kindness to our homeless and vulnerable neighbours on Vancouver’s Westside, simply by being a non-judgmental, reliable presence in their lives
- We aim to be a bridge for them to access medical and social services which are inaccessible due to physical, mental health, and economic challenges and circumstances.
- We hope that the hearts of our volunteers and those who witness our work are transformed; that they become even more compassionate and committed by our weekly outreach and care to address the chronic crisis of homelessness.
- Street Outreach
Every Saturday, volunteers deliver packets of food, clothing and camping equipment to homeless individuals on the Westside of Vancouver. Supplies are donated by the parishioners of the four churches.
- Mobile Care Unit
In many cases, the Street Outreach teams find individuals who need help completing government paperwork for ID, income disability assistance, and housing. In order to address these needs the Mobile Care Unit (MCU) was founded in 2017. The MCU is staffed by WANM volunteers who help clients with this paperwork. It currently works out of the Kitsilano Community Centre on Saturday mornings at the same time as the Kitsilano Shower Program , which offers a hot breakfast, showers and clean clothing.
- Dunbar Housing
At 17th and Dunbar there is a supportive housing building which the WANM has been involved with
since its inception more than a decade ago. Several times a year volunteers host celebration meals, providing not only all of the food but also serving it and spending time with the people who live there.
More Information
For more information about the MCU or the Neighbourhood Ministry, please visit the Neighbourhood Ministry website at neighbourhoodministry.com