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We’re heading into rainy season and we’re in dire need of the following items: SHOES BOOTS HOODIES SLEEPING BAGS Please drop off items at the Manna Storage Building (located across the parking lot from the Wildlife Recovery Centre at 1240 Leffler Road in Errington) OR call Robin at 250.248.0845 to make other arrangements. Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society Donations can be made by e-transfer: mannaparksville@gmail.com Or cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O. Box 389 Errington BC VOR 1VO

The absence of an extreme weather shelter for the less fortunate and people at risk in winter displays a heart-wrenching cruelty, a profound lack of love, and a deficiency in humanism. Denying individuals who are already facing hardship and vulnerability the opportunity to escape harsh weather conditions amplifies their suffering and jeopardizes their health and safety. It signifies a callous disregard for the basic needs and well-being of our fellow human beings. By failing to provide such shelter, we perpetuate a society that disregards empathy and compassion, further marginalizing those already living on the fringes. The absence of an extreme weather shelter is not just an oversight; it is a clear manifestation of the systemic injustices that plague our society and underscores the urgent need for collective action towards a more equitable and humane world. Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society Donations can be made by e-transfer: mannaparksville@gmail.com Or cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O. Box 389 Errington BC VOR 1VO

Manna has a friend who is 67 years old and lives in his car. Bob  served our country and also worked until he couldn’t work anymore… Bob has  diabetes and related health issues – swollen legs, feet problems, etc… We need to find Bob a 24-foot trailer to call home. If the trailer is too old they won’t allow it in the parks. This would be life changing for Bob! Blessings🙏🕊️ Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

Story from PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS Oct. 13, 2019 5:30 a.m. Concern heightens over cold-weather shelter situation in Parksville Qualicum Beach People who are affected by homelessness or are at risk of homelessness like Nakagawa, who has lived in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area his whole life, are worried about the effects of not currently having a dedicated cold-weather shelter in the area. He has a place to stay right now, but said he worries about the coming winter and attitudes towards homelessness in general. Go to pqbnews.com to read full story

Story from NANAIMO NEWS NOW Dec. 3, 2019 Parksville’s homeless struggling without cold weather shelter At the time, Robin Campbell with the Manna Homeless Society felt it was a bad idea. Now, he told NanaimoNewsNOW it should have been considered a criminal idea. Go to nanaimonewsnow.com to read full story

Story from PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS Dec. 14, 2019 Every Saturday, Manna has a meet up where people can get food and necessary items, but this week they also handed out gift cards — a special treat for those in need. The Qualicum Beach Sunrise Rotary Club was also out serving warm porridge.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words…

What have we done… The coroner’s report says more homeless people are dying than ever before. What have we done… The increasing number of deaths among the homeless population in British Columbia, Canada, and specifically on Vancouver Island, is undoubtedly a pressing concern that requires immediate attention and action. Numerous factors, including lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, substance abuse, and systemic inadequacies in social support systems, have likely contributed to this tragic situation. Addressing this issue will require a multi-faceted approach. First and foremost, there needs to be a concerted effort to provide safe and affordable housing for the homeless population, along with the necessary support services to help them address their underlying issues. Mental health and addiction support programs must be expanded and made readily accessible to those in need. Additionally, efforts should be made to tackle the root causes of homelessness, such as poverty and unemployment, through targeted social policies and economic initiatives. Furthermore, collaboration between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups is crucial in order to implement effective solutions. This could involve increased funding for homelessness prevention programs, coordination of outreach efforts, and the development of comprehensive strategies to address the complex needs of the homeless population. Public awareness and advocacy are also essential in effecting change. By raising awareness about the plight of the homeless and advocating for policy reforms, communities can encourage meaningful action and support for those most vulnerable. Ultimately, addressing the rising deaths in homelessness requires a collective and compassionate response from all levels of society. It is imperative that we come together to find sustainable solutions that prioritize the well-being and dignity of every individual, regardless of their housing status. Click here to see this article as it appeared in the PQB News.

Click here to see the story posted online at PQB News. The recent cold snap was a difficult time for people living without sufficient heating or water in precarious housing in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region. Residents live in trailers — cramped quarters in some cases only eight feet by eight feet. Some don’t have access to basic amenities like a bathroom or kitchen. Dave (name changed to protect his privacy) is 60 years old and said he has been homeless in the past, so he is thankful to have a place to stay indoors. “I’ve been to the bottom and I’ve lived picking cans, $5 a day,” he said. His home was very cold at night, but would have been worse without a space heater he was given by the Manna Homeless Society outreach team. He’s been fixing up his trailer himself as best he can, gradually putting in new flooring and making other repairs. “It’s a start, it’s a beginning. I’m stuck at the beginning, but it’s fine,” he said. “It’s better than under the beginning. It’s a good place to stay.” It was a brutal couple of nights for Sarah (name also changed to protect her privacy), who did not have a space heater at the start of the cold snap. She was given one by her landlord during the weekend, which helped. “A little bit of a difference. Like when it was really, really cold in here, I could not stay awake. I was going down, and it felt like I was having hypothermia,” she said. “It was really cold in here. You could see your own breath.” She has lived in a trailer for more than 30 years and in that time has known many people who have died from drug toxicity. “I heard yelling and screaming and I thought, ‘well OK, I’ll go help this girl’,” she said. “She took me right down there and I walked into something that I didn’t expect. There was a man on the floor, dead. And for a person that has never experienced that situation, and I hope I never have to do it again. I can’t get him out of the back of my mind.” READ MORE:  Point-in-time count reveals unhoused numbers for PQB region Sarah was previously homeless and addicted to crack cocaine, but said she has been clean for decades. She’s noticed more and more homeless people arriving in the area lately. “There’s more and more people that need more help out there than what I do,” she said. “But I need help and I want to get into low-income housing.” She is grateful for support from the Manna outreach team, which provides food, transportation (bikes), laundry vouchers, hygienic supplies, clothing, rain gear, outdoor survival equipment and mobile medical assistance. Living in difficult conditions exacerbates medical problems such as diabetes, according to Raquel Molina, a foot care nurse who volunteers with Manna. “The feet are a big deal because they’re often wet and cold,” she said. “It’s actually hard for me to peel somebody’s boots off because they’re embarrassed because they haven’t had a shower for so long.” If Molina sees someone limping, she insists on examining the condition of their feet. People who aren’t able to keep their feet dry can end up with skin problems, she said, with their skin peeling off or becoming cracked and sore. “I was also just talking with a guy who’s about to have knee surgery and he lives in the woods, so you can imagine trying to convalesce from that,” Molina said. “He might try to beg and borrow a bed for a little while, I don’t know. In February he’s having knee surgery. I think a big part of that is people coming out and not having a place even to stay warm and dry.” Manna volunteers in the area also recently found several people “lying on the floor in an ailing state,” attributed to dehydration due to the lack of a needed water source, according to Robin Campbell, president of the Manna society.

Jerrold and Fred with new trike and trailer for Fred’s bottle pick-up business. Comes with lock, chain and flag for bike.