Transformation in Action - Fall 2009

Click Here to download a PDF copy of our Fall Update 2009

A Message from Our Executive Director
Let There Be Peace

Recently, a group of nearly sixty members of the Women’s Missionary Society of The Presbyterian Church arrived from Stratford for a tour. They were eager to discover as much as possible about ehm and the persons we serve. They spent time having lunch with staff and worshipping together and donated a large quantity of new socks, underwear and T-shirts for people in the drop-in. As they were leaving many expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the work being done at ehm, and yet I couldn’t help but give thanks for these women, envoys of God’s goodness and love.

Their visit helped me reflect that ehm really is the sum total of countless gifts of love and works of mercy by volunteers, supporters and benefactors; humble and unpretentious people who are the salt of the earth. The vast majority of this assistance is done with little fanfare or expectation, with service being its own reward. Like a thousand points of light, together they form a flame to illuminate and warm the lives of persons in need.

There is an idiom “that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a thunderstorm in Florida.” This expresses the truth that we are interconnected and an act of kindness can cause an effect far beyond its source. A man named Greg was the first dental patient treated in the ehm Clinic. He had not been to a dentist in 40 years and could not chew on one side of his mouth. Due to constant pain he became depressed and even suicidal. Afterwards, he mentioned that because of the care he received he wanted to go and help other people in need. We see this effect on people’s lives every day at ehm!

Autumn is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth. Your generous support of service, financial gifts and prayers helped us weather a difficult financial time, with increased demand for aid. Thank you! Please continue to help if you can. With your assistance ehm will continue to be a beacon of light and safe haven to people in need.

Joseph Taylor CAE

Youth Program Update
Outside The Lines

We had close to 30 talented young women attending camp this summer. They learned new skills and expanded their creative horizons. At the end of each camp session we do a Talent Show, and it was incredible to see what the campers came up with. People wrote original songs, choreographed dances, performed classical piano pieces, and presented poetry and monologues they had written. Each camp session also had the opportunity to work with the professional singer/spoken word artist
Anne-Marie Woods to create an original song/poem collectively (see side bar).

In September, our Youth Centre became busy once again with daily after school programs for children and teenagers.

We are starting to collect school supplies to give out to the program participants. Any donations of binders, paper, rulers, calculators, writing implements etc. are most welcome.

Resident Profile
Mother and children get a new home

Earlier this year, resident Niama and her family received some great news from Habitat for Humanity! They will be getting their own home.

Niama was one of ehm’s first residents. She came to live with us after immigrating from Uganda and living in various shelters.

Living at ehm gave Niama the opportunity to start a new life. She was able to go to school and then get a job at a local daycare centre. After establishing herself in her new home, Niama was able to start the process of having her children immigrate to Canada as well. With the help of the Director of Residence, Marcela Fresolone and Olivia Chow, MP, they were finally reunited.

Last year, Niama and her family were chosen by Habitat for Humanity to participate in building their first house in Canada.

Habitat from Humanity requires the new home owners to get involved with the charity by providing community service.

Niami says she will miss ehm when she moves. “Everybody here has been so wonderful and supportive, it will be sad to go.”

The staff and residents and ehm wish Niama and her family all the best when they move into their new home.

Program Update :
Thank you for your support of our programs

Here are some typical conversations in ehm’s drop-in:

“It’s the middle of the month, and I’ve run out of money; Bob, can you spare some canned goods to get me through to the week-end?” The Food Share Program is now back in full swing after being temporarily suspended. Thanks to your generosity, people are now receiving canned goods on request.

“Tony, it was cold last night, I almost froze, I certainly didn’t get much sleep. Do you have a blanket?” “Absolutely, we just got a bunch in, hope this will keep you warm tonight.”

“I want to take a shower, but don’t want to put my dirty underwear and socks back on, do you guys have a new pair I could have?”

“As a matter of fact we just got a generous donation of new socks and underwear from one of our supporters, here you go.”

These requests happen every day. They come from desperation, as a plea, often with humility. ehm has been successfully helping make the lives of homeless and poor persons a little more comfortable, supplying the basics so many of us take for granted.

For generations ehm has been able to help those in need, because our supporters have continually supplied us with the essentials we need to operate. For your hard work organizing food and clothing drives, your willingness to donate your precious time at community dinners, and for the preparation of sandwiches for the kitchen (which by the way is a huge benefit to our drop-in patrons) we, the staff of the drop-in,
thank you.

We receive the heartfelt thanks, the expressions of joy and the smiles the recipients of your generosity and tireless work generate. Our patrons have come to rely on us for the necessities of life, because we are able to count on you to provide them.

Each smile, each brightened face and each thank you goes directly to you.

Out of the Cold
Comfort From the Cold

For our 6th season, ehm is proud to renew its commitment to the Out of the Cold program. From November until the end of March, ehm provides a comfortable and safe environment for our guests to escape the cold and have a good night’s rest.

This indispensable program is a life saver to many of our guests who would otherwise have to brave the cold, harsh Canadian winter. In order for us to continue to provide this service, ehm needs more financial support from our community. Last year ehm provided shelter, compassion and over 2,400 meals to hundreds of men and women in Toronto’s downtown community.

By supporting the Out of the Cold program, you are helping to ensure that we have a reliable and steady source of revenue and volunteer power to keep this program going strong.