The Door Is Open
  • Our Story
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    • MissionOur vision is to continue the mission of Christ and the work of the Church under the mandate of Catholic Charities. Our mission will be to lessen the social alienation of the poor, the homeless, and the single room tenants of Vancouver by funneling the community resources available to us. We will do this through the following projects: We will provide our patrons with shelter during the day by running a drop-in center where they can relax and socialize or have a light meal. We will provide our patrons with safe respite during the day from the dangers of the street. We will run for our patrons a recreation program of video entertainment, computer access and free general interest books and magazines. We will run a community service hours project as an outlet for the Elizabeth Fry Society program of the B.C. Justice Department to compensate the community for its victimization We will provide a space for religious and secular groups who offer social service programs for the community and require a physical location to run these programs. Under the inspiration of Jesus Christ we recognize the inherent value of our patrons and will exemplify the beatitudes through our relationship with patrons by emphasizing the following values: We have a patron-driven attitude. We…
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  • Services
    • Free Lunch ProgramThe quality of the lunch we offer daily to our guests continues to improve considerably. This is a result of our contacts with several Catholic Parishes, youth groups and Catholic elementary and high schools who volunteer as well as provide good quality food for our soup and sandwich free lunch. This is in addition to donations from the food bank and other food donors. Our daily capacity to feed the hungry is about 400 people.
    • Women’s GroupThe women’s group reach between twenty-five and fifty women using this program on a regular basis. Women meet every Wednesday over a well-balanced meal to discuss such issues close to them as housing, clothing, nutrition and other topics of interest and concern. Housing being the most crucial issue is discussed at length in a group setting and in a one-on-one environment. Most of the women live in small hotel rooms with no access to kitchens. Some are even forced to live on the street with no shelter or food. These women depend on The Door Is Open to meet with others in the same situation, to share a meal and their experiences with new friends, and also engage in some arts and crafts.
    • Information, Support and AwarenessHere the clients come to us needing solution-oriented suggestions on how they can help themselves to live a more fulfilling and rewarding life. Our daily work promotes a sense of dignity and self respect among those that need it most, the less fortunate. Most of our guests lack the resources and means to make a better life for themselves. With education, guidance and strong support anything is possible. This program has been a great success as witnessed by the change of their attitude and behavior.
    • Youth Groups and StudentsWe have had the delight of introducing some youth groups to the ministry. As we have become more known in the community, we have had an increase participation of students and youth groups who want to share their energy and talents to make the community a better and safer place. This has been a rewarding experience for all involved. Each year there are over seven hundred shoeboxes filled with gifts for the homeless made by students from different schools. This program provides the homeless with the knowledge that people care about them and it provides young people with a valuable experience in charity which may encourage them to do more in the future.
    • Clothing ProgramAs we give clothing all year round, we are always in need of donations. It is especially needed during the cold winter months when many of our visitors have little in the way of appropriate clothing to get them through this time of year. We supply clothing for men, women, and children. We also supply sleeping bags and blankets to make the nights a little less difficult.
    • Food BankThe staff of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank helps to make it possible for us to feed the many that arrive on our doorstep everyday. On the first three Thursdays and Fridays of every month the food bank brings to The Door Is Open approximately seven hundred bags of food for our clients. The bags of food are given freely at the front door between the hours of eight-thirty a.m. and ten-thirty a.m. We are especially thankful for the continuous support from the Food Bank.
    • VolunteerWe are very fortunate to be able to offer a wide variety of gifts and services to our clientele. None of this would be possible without the help of our many volunteers. Our volunteers are from all walks of life with no boundaries between race, age, gender, or social economic status. These volunteers work tirelessly to accomplish the tasks at hand. Volunteers are the very essence of our existence and set a great example for others to follow. Helping others is at the heart of what we do. You are needed here.
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Blog

Reflections

Sr. Chita – Lenten reflections

In Luke 6:32, Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Jesus goes on to issue this challenge to his followers: “But love your enemies, do good to them” (Luke 6:35). It is not Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 2 monthsMarch 25, 2025 ago
Meet Our Donors

Meet our Donors: Zumba Roslyn and friends

I’ve always loved hosting fundraising events for charity, donating to causes like the Food Bank, Morning Star (Collingwood program), Our Lady of Sorrow Family Charity, BC Cancer, and supporting families who have lost loved ones. In Christmas 2022, I had Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 monthsOctober 16, 2024 ago
Meet Our Volunteers

Meet our Volunteers: Joji

Joji was first introduced to the Door is Open in 2021 by her friend, Evelyn, a regular volunteer. Initially, the intention was that Joji would fill in whenever Evelyn was unavailable, but this ultimately led to Joji becoming a regular Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 1 yearMarch 16, 2024 ago
Reflections

Another Morning – what will YOU do today?Reflections on my 10th anniversary at The Door is Open – Sr. Chita

Ten years, a mixture of laughter and sadness, tears and joy. An experience of being loved and accepted, and being cursed and rejected.  When I have reflected more deeply on each of the situations I experienced, I could not help Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 1 yearFebruary 24, 2024 ago
Meet Our Team

Sr. Chita’s Silver Jubilee of the Religious Profession of Vows

Congratulations to our dearest Sr. Chita Torres on the 25th anniversary of her Religious Profession of Vows. We have been incredibly blessed to have had Sr. Chita as co-manager at The Door is Open for 9 of those 25 years, Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 2 yearsFebruary 7, 2023 ago
Meet Our Donors

The Manna Ministry, Guardian Angels Parish

Starting in 2022, Guardian Angels Parish has a new outreach program – the Manna Ministry! What is the Manna Ministry? As per their website, “The mission of the Manna Ministry is to follow the teaching of Jesus by loving and serving the Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 3 yearsOctober 25, 2022 ago
Meet Our Volunteers

Meet our Volunteers: Jeanie

Seven years ago, Jeanie had not heard of The Door is Open (DIO). Now, except for a break caused by the pandemic, she has been at DIO every day of the week! Jeanie attends Mass regularly at Holy Rosary Cathedral Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 3 yearsMarch 5, 2022 ago
Meet Our Donors

Welcome back, Lynda and friends!

After missing a year because of the pandemic it was wonderful to welcome back Lynda Perovich and her enthusiastic group of volunteers for their annual beef chili lunch service (is this the 15th year already?!)  This is a day when Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 3 yearsJanuary 13, 2022 ago
Reflections

The pandemic – a year later

It is obviously an understatement to suggest that a great deal has changed in the lives of many, many people across the world since the Covid-19 pandemic was declared just over twelve months ago. For the people of Vancouver’s Downtown Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 4 years ago
Reflections

Fall Update from Gwen

In April of this year, I mentioned in a previous submission that I was feeling fortunate to be able to continue to assist in the efforts at The Door is Open during the pandemic. More that six months later, I Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 5 years ago

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The Door Is Open is a drop-in ministry that provides shelter services.

Charitable Registration Number: 10687 9950 RR0001

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  • Free Lunch Program
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