What’s One Life Worth?

October 18, 2017

Click here to help build the new Herb Jamieson Centre and bring hope to people like James.

An Anchor for Paul

October 3, 2017

Click here to find out more about how a new Herb Jamieson Centre will be an anchor of hope and safety to people like Paul.

Kids Giving Hope

Sep 26, 2017

Did you know that Hope Mission has a volunteering program for Kids? Kids Giving Hope provides opportunities for children aged 6 – 12 to learn more about homelessness in our city and put their compassion into action.

We are very excited to have our entire city, including all the kids, be a part of building a beautiful new Herb Jamieson Centre. Kids, here are a few ways that you can help us out!

  • Print off a colouring sheet, colour it beautifully, and send it back to us! These coloured pictures will go on the beds of the Herb Jamieson Centre for the first night the new building is opened. Every guest who comes to stay the night will have a chance to be encouraged by your beautiful picture!
  • Help fundraise! Every little bit helps us build a new, safe, and wheelchair accessible building for our guests. There are so many ways that kids can be creative and have fun with fundraising. For every kid who chooses to help us in this way, we would like to have their first name on the wall of our new building! Be sure to include your name in the “Artist’s first name” box on the colouring sheet so that we can display your name with all of the children who helped build the new building.
  • Spread the word! We need your help to spread the word that we are building this beautiful new facility. Talk about it to your friends, family, and teachers so that the city can be excited with us!

Please send completed colouring sheets to: Katherine Kooistra PO Box 953 Edmonton AB T5J 2L8. You can also drop them off in person at 9908 106 Avenue from Monday – Friday (9 am – 5 pm).

For more information about Kids Giving Hope, and how your children or grandchildren can be involved, click here.

Thank you so much for your support!

Steve

Sep 19, 2017

From a young age, Steve struggled with addiction. He was involved with a biker gang, and had spent time on the street.

But all of that changed when his son was born.

Steve was 24 when he became a dad – and his son’s birth was enough to pull him out of his addiction. As a single dad raising his son by himself, Steve was clean for 18 years. He worked hard to provide for his son and was successful. But when his son grew up and moved out, Steve struggled with transitioning to a newly empty house. “He had a life, I became lonely, you know? Your only son, and he’s gone. It was tough.”

Steve relapsed, overdosing multiple times in 2.5 years. He went back to the biker gang and his addiction – something that his son had never experienced during Steve’s 18 years of sobriety. “My son kind of gave up on me at one point. He had never seen me drunk or high. It was quite a shock for him.”

Steve promised his son over and over that he would quit, but he couldn’t escape his addiction. After Steve woke up in the hospital, handcuffed to a stretcher, he knew he had totally lost control. He had lost everything during his relapse – his house, car, and a six figure paycheque. “It was a wake up call for me. I wanted to change my life and my son encouraged me. I had always loved my son, would always do everything for my son.”

After spending months on the street, Steve came to the Herb Jamieson Centre for help. In just the last year, Steve’s life has completely changed. “I was a really angry guy. But along the way, I found God and that’s when it started to change. I realized I had to change myself before I changed other people.”

Today, Steve is working at Hope Mission. He sees his son every week, and can’t resist the opportunity to brag a little like the proud dad he is. “He’s a good kid. Totally the opposite of his dad,” he laughs. “I am a good man now. But he’s always been a good guy.”

Steve is quick to reflect on how his life would be different if he hadn’t walked through the doors of the Herb Jamieson Centre when he was at his lowest point.

“Hope Mission saved my life. They gave me a chance. That’s what I needed – a chance. And there’s not many people who want to give you a chance.”

You can give men like Steve the chance they need to pull themselves out of a desperate situation. Click here to find out more.

Wayne

Sep 13, 2017

Wayne had moved from Ontario to Edmonton to be closer to his children. He had worked a variety of jobs in his life, including 23 years in the medical field. In Edmonton, Wayne became employed as a grave digger. He had struggled over the years with drinking and gambling, and had even tried Hope Mission’s recovery program before, but fell back into addiction after going back to work. “Sometimes my pay cheques would last 4 days… normally it was around 48 – 72 hours. The only smart thing I did was buy bus tickets to get to work.”

It was an encounter in Churchill Square that finally started pushing Wayne towards the life change he knew he needed. A Hope Mission staff member recognized Wayne and asked him how he was doing. Wayne tried to shrug off the staff member’s obvious concern. “I said I was still working. He told me ‘You may think you’re okay on the outside, but it’s the inside that counts.’ I walked around and that just kept popping into my head.”

With his last $20, Wayne purchased beer and cigarettes. Drinking the beer didn’t quiet his thoughts. He couldn’t stop thinking about how his exterior didn’t match his tumultuous heart.

Wayne ended up sitting alone in an inner city parking lot, regretting how he had wasted the last of his money. “I was thinking, why did I buy the cigarettes and beer when I should have bought food? I’m so hungry.” Suddenly, a young man pulled up in his car and offered a sandwich to Wayne. The simple gesture overwhelmed Wayne. “That was a blessing. I started crying. I thought, you know what, God’s calling me again.” Wayne knew he wanted to come back to Hope Mission.

Through the Herb Jamieson Centre, Wayne was connected to a supportive recovery community. He has found hope and healing, and a sincere and earnest faith.

“I’m not afraid to say I love God, I love Jesus. It doesn’t bother me a bit. It makes me proud.”

Today, Wayne’s easy smile and friendly nature are easily recognizable around Hope Mission. He isn’t sure what the future holds, but wherever God calls him, he wants to help people. Because of your investment in him, Wayne has the community and stability to bring hope to others as weary as he was.

Click here to see the impact you can have on a life like Wayne’s.

Development Permit Secured

Aug 31, 2017

We are thrilled to announce that Hope Mission has secured a development permit to rebuild the Herb Jamieson Centre!

Hope Mission’s vision is that everyone who needs emergency shelter has a warm, safe place to stay. You might not know this, but Hope Mission’s Herb Jamieson Centre – the main emergency shelter in Edmonton for men – is old, small, and not wheelchair accessible.

Our plan is to build a new Herb Jamieson Centre with enhanced supports to meet the demand for years to come. Yesterday, we received a development permit – a significant first step to seeing this dream become a reality.

We are so excited about all of the possibilities that the new Herb Jamieson Centre holds, but we know we can’t do it alone. Soon, we will have more information on the project as well as how you can be involved in making sure that vulnerable people in Edmonton have a safe place to go.

 

Stay tuned to this blog for all of the latest campaign updates!