January 2012
3 posts
Siloam's Urgent Needs & How YOU Can Help
Wanted: Curtains & Curtain Rods
UPDATE: We’ve been blessed with an influx of curtains and curtain rods and are no longer in need of any. Thank you to everyone who helped us out! You’re the best!
Since Siloam Mission’s purchase of the Madison Lodge in April of 2010, we have been restoring and renovating the building to provide dignified, affordable housing.
The renovations have not been minor – a full ‘make over’...
Wanted: Stackable Chairs
Hi folks,
Wondering if you can help us out with this one?
We are on the lookout for good, stackable non-cloth chairs to use in our drop-in centre and our supportive-housing units.
We could use up to 450 of them if in good condition and easily wipeable.
These could be the older wood seat type, or the newer plastic ones.
Got a hot lead? Email Dan at dan.maxson@siloam.ca or call him at...
November 2011
3 posts
How I Spent My 20th Birthday Smashing Bathtubs At...
On November 19th, I decided to do something special with my friends for my birthday.
I came back from Vancouver a few weeks before where I volunteered in an organization with other young people. That organization helped the homeless of West Vancouver, the poorest place in Canada.
When I came back to Winnipeg, I started reading about different organizations and I also read stories about young...
Jackson Springs Water Helps Siloam Feed The Need
Life is about choices and choices are sometimes derived from ones opportunities in life.
Some time ago, my husband and I had the opportunity of volunteering at Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission. An organization we were familiar with, but not until we set foot into the four walls on Princess Street did we realize how special they really were.
The spoken word can certainly make a difference in one’s...
Rural students experience a cold night out
A group of rural students from Ile des Chênes and St. Pierre Jolys spent their Halloween a little different than most.
Instead of amassing candy, graduating students from the École/College Regional Gabrielle-Roy and École Communautaire Réal-Bérard experienced first-hand the hardships of homelessness by spending the entire night outside to practice solidarity with Winnipeg’s less fortunate.
...
October 2011
1 post
Socks In The City
There’s plenty of opportunities for you to read about all sorts of bleak and dreary news in the world, but want to know an awesome story that’ll brighten your day?
Sean Gray from Prairie Footwear on 331 Smith St. dropped by Siloam Mission today with a huge donation of brand new socks so that Winnipeg’s less fortunate don’t have to freeze this winter.
And there’s...
September 2011
4 posts
Giving thanks at Siloam
(Photo Credit: Marcel Cretain / Winnipeg Sun)
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we have a lot to be thankful for at Siloam Mission.
In the past year we’ve expanded our hours of operation, started a bagged lunch program, improved the shelter intake for our guests, opened up a gym, hired new people in our employment-training program, expanded the health centre to offer even more...
How do the homeless vote?
Last week, @kristelmason tweeted: “I got my #mbvotes voter’s guide in the mail. Just curious - how do @SiloamMission’s clients vote without a fixed address?” It’s a great question — people without a fixed address run into many hurdles in life that range from difficulties getting a social insurance number and health card to troubles finding a job because of...
A Promise Kept At All Costs
I was taught another lesson working on the frontlines of Siloam Mission this month.
Early this year, our health centre paid for medication for a patient who was struggling mentally. Although we usually don’t do that, he was in such bad shape medically that I felt it was the only thing we could do.
The medication was expensive at $100.00 a month, but he promised to pay for it whenever he...
A Love Note To Siloam
Just a few weeks after we announced our expansion into supportive housing with the Madison Lodge purchase, Manitoba Pork Council dropped by Siloam Mission to deliver the first part of a one-ton meat donation.
Kelly from Manitoba Pork was part of the group that delivered the generous donation, and she brought her two kids along to help us unload the large amounts of ham.
Today, Kelly wrote us...
August 2011
2 posts
What I learned by interning at Siloam Mission
Growing up, I lived in a bubble.
It was very comfortable and I never had to question anything; I never had to worry about where my next meal would come from or whether I’d have a place to sleep that night.
As I grew up, the circumstances in my life changed and my bubble burst. I became intensely interested in social justice.
First Encounter With The Homeless
My first real encounter with a...
When it comes to homelessness there's no...
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have always supported Siloam Mission — but the Edmonton Eskimos? Turns out that when it comes to homelessness, there’s no competition. At least if you ask defensive back Eskimo Donovan Alexander.
For Friday’s square-off against the Bombers, the former Winnipegger is collecting tickets from his team-mates to donate to guests of Siloam Mission.
Every...
July 2011
5 posts
Ontario team inspired by work being done in...
Last Saturday, a small church team from Kitchener, ON volunteered at Siloam Mission inthe drop-in centre. The L.A.M.P. Ministries group of five enjoyed themselves so much that they decided to come back on Sunday as well, sorting clothes in Siloam’s basement.
Here’s what one of the participants had to say about their experience:
I was emotionally moved on many levels by my...
"Made in Manitoba" showcase stocks Siloam's...
The Carman 4-H Beef Leaders Association along with Red River Area Council held a “Made in Manitoba Showcase Cuisine” dinner on July 8th in Carman.
The dinner is part of the Carman Fair and the showing of 4H livestock at the fair. The meal was made of local foods and showcased what Manitoba has to offer in food production.
Winnipeg Harvest and Siloam Mission were invited to attend the dinner. ...
From one son to another
It never ceases to amaze me how kind the people we serve are.
I recently brought a man experiencing homelessness into my office to discuss a matter more privately. He saw a little red car my son had given me for my office, and he told me that he himself had a little car he would like to give to my son.
That was five weeks ago.
Well yesterday, all wrapped up in a red bag, came a gift for my son:...
We Don't Do That Here
The only way you can get away with making fun of your school principal is if you do it for a good cause.
Graduating students from West Kildonan Collegiate sold t-shirts with principal Shier’s face on them and his trademark saying “We Don’t Do That Here,” with all proceeds going to Siloam Mission.
Check them out — we think it’s a great idea!
How I stopped being scared of the inner city
I’ve been volunteering at Siloam Mission since March 2011.
I was going through some life changing events in my life when a friend suggested that I volunteer at Siloam Mission. I applied online and received at date for orientation. One of the orientations was scheduled at night time.
I am ashamed to admit that I was afraid to go down there at night time because you hear all these scary things...
June 2011
2 posts
What are you doing for summer holidays?
A common question. We all have plans for vacation. They vary in length, location, with company or without, in country or overseas, at a lake or in the city. We all plan for rest and to enjoy the summer weather. We know the importance of stepping back from our everyday lives and taking time to breathe and treat ourselves.
Siloam Mission volunteers are...
Think small, love big
I’ve been working at Siloam Mission for one month now as the summer camp coordinator. It’s interesting the responses you receive when you tell someone that you work at a homeless shelter. Most of the time, I get positive feedback. People can see the value in what Siloam does. But sometimes, I’m caught off guard with negative feedback. I have one friend who said, “Working with those bums, eh? ...
May 2011
1 post
How a little act of kindness opened my eyes
When I leave Siloam Mission, I turn left at Logan.
There’s often a man there with his dog (a collie, I think). I used to think they were probably waiting for a bus. On Tuesday, I saw the man’s “Will take anything” sign, and he and his dog greeting a nearby motorist.
The dog stirred me, as I love animals. The dog looked so friendly, but not aggressive. I wondered how I...
January 2011
3 posts
Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places
A couple of weeks ago I happened to be talking to our receptionist, Diane, when she said: “Shhh…what is that music? Can you hear it?”
I walked around to her side of the desk and listened to the sound of beautiful classical music coming from our drop-in centre.
I walked out into the drop-in and there, seated at an old piano which had been donated a year ago was a young man who...
Hold on to the positive
Have you ever felt like you’re losing faith in humanity? For me this feeling usually creeps in after a long day of negative interactions with others. Usually the cause of this disheartenment doesn’t stem from one bad encounter, but each encounter is compounded by the next.
How dare they butt in line…They can’t speak to me that way…No one stopped to help…What is this world coming...
December 2010
1 post
What A Privilege
The other day I both had the privilege of helping to decorate the drop-in centre for the holiday season. Staff, volunteers, and patrons worked together to transform the space. Within two hours we’d created a wonderful Christmas atmosphere, full of garland, lights, and evergreens. Although the room did look great it was the people who made this experience so significant for me.
Most people who...
October 2010
2 posts
To despair is easy, but sometimes hope wins the...
Today, while I waited for a bus on Main Street in the early evening, I met a woman who was quite intoxicated. She came by to ask for directions, what time her bus was coming, something to eat, a smoke, a light for the smoke she didn’t have. Each time she approached me it was as though for the first time, like she couldn’t remember that she had just spoken to me.
My heart was saddened....
August 2010
1 post
Employment training changes lives
As the director of MOST (Mission: Off The Street) — Siloam Mission’s employment training program — I have a unique position.
I am blessed with an opportunity to watch change happen. Sometimes I’m not aware of it until after the fact, but sometimes I am. Sometimes I get to see a miracle unfold right before my eyes.
One of the participants stands out for me right now. One...
July 2010
2 posts
Stolen Childhood: A Residential School Survivor...
Last month the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada began in Winnipeg. Hundreds of residential school survivors came to tell their stories. Many of these narratives included several forms of abuse and cultural devastation. Many people were removed from their families when they were children, often as young as three years old, and taken to residential schools hundreds of miles away....
Homelessness doesn't take a holiday
It’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to backyard grilling parties, fishing trips, golfing excursions, and warm weekends spent at the beach. But for an estimated 2,000 people affected by homelessness in Winnipeg, the hardships of poverty, inadequate healthcare, and lack of housing don’t take a holiday.
Even though the summer presents warmer weather, the city’s less fortunate face just as...
June 2010
4 posts
Start with the Man in the Mirror
Yesterday, a fan on our facebook page posted a youtube video - Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.
She said the song came out when she was a young teen and that she listened to it when she felt alone. The song reminded her that change in the world starts with her.
She thinks it’s a beautiful song.
I’m not much of a Michael Jackson fan, and yet, I have to admit she’s right. It’s a...
“Act as if it’s impossible to fail.”
– Winnipeg School Grade 2 Student
Siloam and Friends Return Your Love
The other day, my family was the beneficiary of a random act of kindness. We drove up to Gimli to enjoy the sunshine, stroll along the beach and to have supper at a restaurant. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was surprised at how many people were tanning and playing games at the water’s edge.
My son likes to eat at a particular restaurant when we are in Gimli. We slid into our booth and before...
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
– ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
May 2010
6 posts
The Invisible Homeless
It’s a misconception that the only people who use our services here at Siloam Mission are people who are homeless in the absolute definition. We offer a helping hand to people in all kinds of situations.
Keith is a kind man with a big toothless smile. He eats most of his meals at Siloam Mission but never stays the night in our emergency shelter. He resides in hotel in downtown Winnipeg, a...
“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody; I think that is a...”
– Mother Theresa
Winnipeg Harvest Needs Our Help - Let's All Pitch... →
“We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our...”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Community is our Best Bet
Ask any church pastor, inner-city mission director, or sociology professor about what makes people thrive, and I can almost guarantee you’ll hear the word “community” in their answer somewhere. Deep down, every single one of us knows the importance of a strong and genuine community.
In inner-city Winnipeg, we know without a doubt that community really is the best bet. How can we expect people to...
Learning Compassion
As a major part of my job, I get to go to schools to deliver presentations about Siloam Mission and discuss poverty and homelessness. Many school groups also come to us to get a tour of the building to see what we do here and why we do it. We put great value in this program because children are receptive and open, plus they are always willing to help. Children can really make a difference in their...
April 2010
5 posts
5 tags
http://www.causes.com/SiloamMission →
Become A Supporter Of Siloam Mission today and donate to help Winniepg’s less fortunate. See our Facebook Cause to donate now!
6 tags
“When you respond to the needs of the poor, you not only help the poor, something...”
– ~Dr. Tony Campollo
10 tags
Difficult Times
As you may have heard, a couple weeks ago, Siloam Mission laid off 25% of its staff. It was a difficult week, to say the least.
We haven’t been doing well financially and as extreme a measure as this seems, our leadership feels it really is the only way to handle the situation at the present time. As difficult as it is, we have taken a course that will hopefully prevent us from having to cut back...
15 tags
Shop for Siloam Event - Donate Groceries for...
In the spirit of the Easter season ICUC Moderation Services is responding to a ‘tweet’ we posted on Twitter about our need for certain food items for our Easter Sunday meal.
ICUC then decided to start a Facebook Cause called Shop for Siloam Event to raise awareness and bring the local community together and help those in need of a meal this Easter. Through the power of social media,...
14 tags
“Generosity is for everyone. All it takes is a willing spirit and the courage to...”
– ~Dave Toycen, President & CEO - World Vision Canada
March 2010
2 posts
13 tags
Learning Together
On January 13, 2010, we held our first workshop here at Siloam Mission. The topics covered were Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, New Canadians, and Aboriginal Issues and Reserves. We had guest speakers from Manitoba Family Services and Housing, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Siloam Mission, and The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 34 participants came out...
4 tags
Our Website →
Check out Siloam Mission’s new website! Look for our current needs, volunteer opportunities, job postings, staff bio’s, and Siloam’s recent news. You can even donate to Siloam on our website so we can continue to offer programs and services to Winniepg’s less fortunate.