Volunteer Discovers the Truth About People Experiencing Homelessness Through the Power of a Hearty Breakfast.

“It’s the smell of bacon.”

Dan, a Shepherds of Good Hope supportive housing resident, is describing what he likes most about Friday morning breakfast.

“I can smell it in my room,” he says, smiling. “It reminds me of home.”

Gabriel Vachon prepares breakfast every Friday for Dan and the other 41 residents who call Richcraft Hope Residence home.

“I leave my place about 5:30 in the morning,” says Gabriel. “I’m lucky because I don’t live far from here.”

By 6:00 am, the first trays of bacon are slipped into the two ovens located just beside the main resident hub and dining area. The couple dozen hash browns removed from the walk-in freezer are getting prepped to accompany the meal.

“I make their eggs to order,” says Gabriel. “Over-easy, scrambled, however they like it, I make it.”

A Desire to Learn More About People Experiencing Homelessness.

Gabriel grew up with his older brother and their parents on the family farm, about an hour east of Ottawa.

“I enjoy farming, but I also enjoy books and learning,” says Gabriel.

When he moved to Ottawa to study biochemistry, Gabriel wanted to challenge some of the beliefs he held about people experiencing homelessness.

“It wasn’t something I saw where I lived,” he says. “I wanted to volunteer at Shepherds to get to really know people and learn more about how they got where they are.”

Within the first month of volunteering, after being mentored by Richard, a long-time Shepherds volunteer, Gabriel found himself as the Friday morning breakfast chef.

“I love coming here. The staff are like family. They make me feel so welcome, and I really enjoy getting to know them as much as I enjoy time with the residents.”

Just before 8 am, Dan and several other residents are at the serving counter, no doubt drawn by the aromas of coffee and, of course, bacon.

It won’t be long before their plates are filled with freshly made breakfast comfort food. An excellent way to start the day.

“I’ll serve fresh fruit, and sometimes I make pancakes,” says Gabriel. “I enjoy the process of cooking and seeing the residents as they eat the food I just made for them.”

Volunteers Feed Hundreds Every Day

Across the city, volunteers just like Gabriel prepare and feed hundreds of people at Shepherds of Good Hope supportive housing residences and at the community kitchen where 650 meals are served every day.

The community kitchen, across the street from Shepherds’ emergency shelter, is where Gabriel got his start volunteering at Shepherds.

He still serves breakfast there every Monday morning.

“It’s different than at the supportive housing residence,” he says. “Downtown, we feed hundreds, and my role is mostly serving food.”

The connections with the guests who are enjoying the food in the community kitchen are just as meaningful to Gabriel as the ones he enjoys during his Friday shifts.

In the short time Gabriel has been volunteering at Shepherds, he’s become a valuable member of the team. Sharing his early morning Fridays and Mondays with people experiencing homelessness is a gift to the people he feeds, and it’s also a gift to himself.

“I’ve learned that people are people. They are no different than you and me. It’s just their circumstances may be different.”

Gabriel is modest about the work he does at Shepherds. He doesn’t want to take the limelight from the staff who work so hard and his guests who have gone through so much.

However, he knows now how important his role is in Shepherds’ mission to end chronic homelessness in Ottawa.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and he’s proud to know the aroma and taste of the food he creates makes everyone feel right at home.