Meet Our Guests – The Door Is Open

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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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- 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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Featured Guest: Jacques

You gave Jacques a new start! In 2011, Jacques arrived in Vancouver on a bus from Ottawa. Homeless, he camped out in Stanley Park with limited access to food. Then he discovered The Door is Open and found himself returning often because he enjoyed the atmosphere. “There are good people Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 6 years ago

Meet Our Guests

In Memoriam: Sue Blue – Artist, Actor, Storyteller, Bannock Lady, Friend

We at The Door Is Open are saddened to hear that Sue Blue has unexpectedly passed away on August 9, 2018. We offer our deepest sympathies to her family from Williams Lake and her friends for their loss, and especially thank her daughter, Kathleen, who brought her mom’s ashes to Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 years ago

Meet Our Guests

Featured Guest: Brenda

Brenda has been coming to The Door Is Open regularly for almost 20 years, and loves meeting friends, both old and new. She finds it healing and soothing to participate in the Women’s Wednesdays Arts & Crafts program. “It’s beautiful to be able to turn your mind off your troubles,” Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 yearsNovember 6, 2018 ago

Meet Our Guests

Featured Guest: Cathy

Cathy is part of the Cree clan and was born and raised in Northern Saskatchewan. She has lived in Vancouver for the past twenty years. Cathy currently works part-time as a flagger for the City of Vancouver on road construction projects. She lives in a comfortable single-room occupancy hotel, which Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 yearsJuly 4, 2018 ago

Meet Our Guests

Featured Guest: Myrtle

Myrtle was homeless and living in Oppenheimer Park when she first came to The Door Is Open four years ago. “I had nothing, but here (The Door Is Open) you have everything. I found shelter from the rain, somewhere to go where it’s calm, where I can relax and feel Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 yearsMarch 9, 2018 ago

Meet Our Donors

Meet Mario, guest and donor

Mario is one of our guests at The Door Is Open. Mario has now twice donated 6 boxes of bananas to us. Mario said this about why he is donating to us: I’m very grateful. I’m given this grace, and it’s only right that I give back what I can. It is not about merit Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 yearsMarch 9, 2018 ago

Meet Our Guests

Remembering Tracey Morrison

Tracey Morrison was a regular participant at the Wednesday Arts & Crafts table since the program was re-started in late 2008. It was always a delight to see her wonderful artistic talent and enjoy her easygoing and positive attitude. Tracey told us that the acceptance and affirmation she felt within Read more…

By The Door Is Open, 7 yearsNovember 21, 2017 ago

Meet Our Guests

Brenda featured on Megaphone’s 2018 Hope in Shadows Calendar

We are excited to see Brenda on the cover of Megaphone Magazine’s 2018 Hope in Shadows Calendar. Megaphone publishes an award-winning magazine and calendar that provides meaningful work for people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

By The Door Is Open, 8 yearsOctober 18, 2017 ago

Meet Our Guests

Featured Guest: Selina Barton

Selina has been coming to The Door is Open for over ten years. She enjoys the arts and crafts program to which she brings her own distinctive style influenced by her Nisga’a heritage. She has a great love of writing and has written many poems.

By The Door Is Open, 8 yearsJuly 18, 2017 ago