The Neighbourhood Ministry: August Street Outreach Report
Submitted by Kate Mackin
Packages: 16
Clients: 15
Janice, Suzi, and I (Kate), as well as Joanne and Joan, met at St. Philip’s last Saturday, to load Janice’s minivan with food and clothing.
Janice and I then proceeded to the fence near Jericho, where M., A., T., and B. were waiting for us. Each took a package, fresh food, hats, t-shirts, and socks, as desired, and we left in good spirits.
Next we visited the 4th and Vine Street area, where we saw P. but no one else.
Driving towards the VSB park area, we saw no one, but at Fir and 8th we spotted A., who had been waiting for services to open at the shelter at Fir and 8th . He gratefully accepted food, a package, clothing, and water.
Once we had found a parking spot near the VSB park, we saw our usual “suspects”: J. and S. J took a package, as is his habit, and S. accepted a package, water, t-shirt, and fresh food. S. tipped us off that we might see J. and A. in the vicinity, and so we did – J. was in the alley behind Pottery Barn, and he took a package, fresh food, and a hat. We then proceeded to inspect the area behind the businesses that front on Broadway at Granville. At the Circle K parking lot we saw J. and M., who were temporarily installed on the corner with their disorganized belongings. They gratefully accepted what we had to give them. I called two shelters on my cell phone at the behest of J. to ask if they had space for her and/or M. I was only able to contact one on my phone, but unfortunately the shelter was already full. We shared what information we had on services and facilities.
We then visited the main drag of Granville from 10th to 13th and J. (?) was outside the Shoppers at 13th, but not very receptive to our approach. We left him some items and continued down Granville, but saw no one else there.
Janice and I then walked down Granville to Broadway and elected to inspect the small park behind the Cactus Club, emerging into the VSB park, where we saw that A. had joined S. A. accepted water and fresh food and told us that he was no longer employed due to physical injury.
We went down Broadway, seeing no one, inspected the parking lot under the Safeway, and failing to see anyone there, continued down Broadway until we spied D. in front of the convenience store in the Trafalgar area. D. (E.) was asking for money in front of the store, but declined our offers for personal reasons.
We then proceeded down Broadway until we saw S. in front of the McDonalds/liquor store, speaking with his friend P. Janice and I joined the conversation, and ascertaining the P. was not currently housed, distributed packages, fresh food, and clothing as needed to both of them.
Janice and I then separated, and Janice inspected the Shoppers on Dunbar herself, and finding no one there, returned the remaining supplies to St. Philip’s.