Our hearts have gone out to the hundreds of people stranded because of floods and mud slides. Thousands of people have demonstrated the ‘Spirit of BC’ – generous care and support in time of crises – a place for shelter, warm food, showers, washing clothes, counseling, grief support; in times of need, the people of BC are generous and caring.
Now those who suffered must not be forgotten – shelter will still be needed while homes are repaired or rebuilt; food will need to be delivered along with drinkable water; grief support will be vital; and communities will need the encouragement to restart.
The reality of seasonal crisis is terrible for all who suffer. No one deserves to live in their car; go without food; be cold; or when the crisis is over and the media goes home – be forgotten and alone. The unfortunate reality, as demonstrated from the past study of the Williams Lake fires, is that some will become homeless through this event.
Every week, Manna Homeless Society serves individuals forgotten and alone as the result of a past crisis:
- A work related injury, too young to retire, no pension, no relief from pain except through medication [sometimes, self-administered]
- A ‘reshuffling of resources’ – ‘downsized’, fired – after years of dedication, but without skills necessary for the ‘transition’
- An escape from a childhood of abuse or drug influenced home
- Uneducated; undiagnosed mental health issues; violent for self-protection
- Generational poverty and without hope
For every person we serve, we hear a unique story of pain, loneliness, and grief of a life lost.
But, this past week’s news of BC’s ‘state of emergency’ has revived my hope. The people of BC are a generous, caring, compassionate community concerned for those who suffer traumatic crisis.
And so, I come to you, encouraged by past examples of compassionate care, to ask for a seasonal consideration of support for our Manna friends who continue to linger with the trauma of crisis from the past.
I know that Christmas is often the season when you are asked to consider numerous requests for additional support.
So let me help frame your consideration;
First – care for the friends, family members, and people in your immediate circle of relationship; if anyone you know is in need, help that person feel loved, accepted, treasured.
Second – your participation in a Faith Community, join with their programs of seasonal compassionate care and help those in need to recognize the love found in a common community.
Third – when looking to expand your generousity into Oceanside; helping children have lunch supplies [at Springwood Elementary]; providing seniors, families, and disabled individuals with food for the weekends; offering additional donated items of clothing, sleeping bags, tarps, socks, boots/shoes; and providing a place of acceptance, encouragement, and love – consider Manna Homeless Society.
- Please consider a cash donation. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have responded to individual requests for additional food, from seniors, families, disabled individuals – all vulnerable and in need. QF Warehouse allows us to order wholesale supplies, so your cash donation is literally multiplied in effectiveness.
- Please consider a ‘Christmas Stocking’ – a pair of warm socks stuffed with toothpaste/brush, hand warmers, chocolates, deodorant, comb/brush, razor, pen, maybe a surprise ‘treasure’ [no money please].
Donations can be mailed to:
Manna Homeless Society
Box 389, Errington, BC, V0R 1V0
You can drop off your donations on Wednesday at the Manna van parked near the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen [across from the Parksville Fire Hall].
And you can call – 250-607-7142 and coordinate a time for a pick-up.
Thank you for your partnership with Manna, and your concern for the vulnerable in our community,
Thanks,
Jerrold
Manna Homeless Society,
Community Chaplain