Request for Donations
The WANM Street Outreach program currently needs the items listed below. Donations can be left in the baskets provided in the Narthex of the church.
- Rain, winter and fleece jackets
- Rain pants
- Sweatpants < POPULAR!
- Long underwear
- Men’s sports-type socks
- Men's underwear, sizes M and L < POPULAR!
- Tarps (dark colours are preferred but not essential)
- Can openers
- McDonald’s gift cards ($10 or $15)
Street Outreach Report - 22 February 2025
Submitted by Meg Kwasnicki
Joanne and I (Meg) picked up packages, sandwiches (cheese and peanut butter and jelly), fruit (bananas and oranges) and hardboiled eggs from St. Philip’s at 9:30 a.m. We also brought sleeping bags, one mat, men’s underwear, a few sweaters, and shoes. Joanne contributed stretch gloves. Thank you to the indoor team at St. Philip’s for all their offerings. We moved on to the fence for 10 a.m.
It was an intermittently wet day, with some intense downpours. T. and A. were there and we gave them the usual packets (two for A.), food, and underwear. They both seemed business as usual. A. mentioned that he hasn’t seen M. for two weeks now.
We met no one at 4th Avenue and Vine Street and continued east towards the Granville loop, under the bridge, by the park. Seeing no one, we moved on. Checking at 7th Avenue and Fir Street and the alleys, we didn’t see anyone.
A bit early to 10th Avenue and Fir Street, where we met W. on a bench in front of VSB. We were new to him and he was happy to take food and a package. He lives nearby and is housed, but on disability, so his income is tight. By then J. had circled the corner to find us and was very happy to receive a packet, food, underwear, and a shaver.
East of Granville and 10th Avenue, in the car park behind Pottery Barn, we met S.sleeping under a white tarp. It was his first time meeting us and we likely woke him. He seemed very in need. We gave him two sandwiches, a packet, food, sleeping bag/mat, boots, underwear, and gloves. Joanne also oriented him to the resource card and told him more about the MPA and our ministry. He was very grateful for all the items.
We moved along by the McDonald’s and then to the 7-Eleven at Hemlock Street. Seeing no one, we continued to Holy Trinity to check the car park on an off chance (no one is staying there). We headed west back to Granville and found no one on the street around 13th aAvenue and back to the school board.
Along Broadway at Vine Street, we saw J.on the south side, close to the bus stop. He took sandwiches, fruit, egg, a packet and underwear. We met M. in the carpark at Safeway at Macdonald. He took a packet, food, and underwear.
We looked for St. along Broadway, and not seeing him, moved on. Circling the Dunbar Shopper’s, we saw no one and headed back to St. Philip’s.
We left the remaining packages at the church. Joanne brought a packet and sandwich to the woman who was staying behind Kerrisdale Community Centre. Apparently she is gone from that location. Meg and Joanne split the remaining food (Meg can leave things in a community pantry by Kits Community House).
It was a very quiet day out, likely due to the weather.
We gave out eight packets, one sleeping bag and mat, together with multiple sandwiches, underwear, and stretchy gloves.
Downloadable PDF copies of this and previous reports are available below. Please note that reports are only posted for visits that start from St. Philip's, as occurs every four weeks in rotation with the other participating churches.
About the West Side Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry
The Neighbourhood Ministry 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 in unhoused marginalized conditions.
It is a collaborative ministry shared by the parishes of St. Anselm’s St. Philip’s, St. Helen’s and St. John's Shaughnessy .
Mission Statement of the Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry
“Mutual Transformation” (reviewed by the Board of Management on November 23, 2021)
- We aim to show love and kindness to our homeless and vulnerable neighbours onVancouver’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.
WANM Ministries
Street Outreach
Every Saturday volunteers deliver packets of food, clothing and camping equipment to homeless individuals on the Westside of Vancouver. These 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 and 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 type of paperwork. It currently works out of 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 and the WANM has been involved with its residents since it’s inception more than a decade ago. Several times a year, volunteers host celebration meals where they not only provide all of the food but also serve it and spend 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.