Your Time is Valuable – SHARE IT AT SHEPHERDS.
Join Shepherds of Good Hope as a volunteer and make a positive change. Every day in programs across our city, SGH volunteers are changing the lives of people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable adults in our community. Volunteering at SGH is a powerful and tangible way to help those experiencing homelessness.
ADAM’S STORY
Adam finished an undergrad degree and decided to expand his horizons through volunteering.
BOB & MURIEL – A FAMILY AFFAIR
Bob and Muriel R have two children. One of them works at Shepherds of Good Hope.
SUE – A GARDEN GROWS
Sue loves the friendships she has made as a volunteer at Hope Garden.
ADAM’S STORY
Adam is a Shepherds Volunteer at 1095 Merivale Road.
Adam finished an undergrad degree and decided to expand his horizons through volunteering.
He specifically chose Shepherds of Good Hope to get out of his comfort zone and learn more about people experiencing homelessness.
Adam also chose specifically to volunteer in Supportive Housing to better understand and to help people who are struggling with addictions.
“Once you get past the differences on how Shepherds residents present themselves, you learn they’re no different than anybody else.”
Adam volunteers every Thursday at lunch, preparing meals and chatting with residents. He finds the staff at Shepherds are friendly, accommodating.
“It’s a good environment. They seem to enjoy being here as much as I do.”
If you’d like to join Adam as a volunteer, please visit www.sghottawa.com/volunteer
BOB & MURIEL – A FAMILY AFFAIR
Bob and Muriel have two children. One of them works at Shepherds of Good Hope. When they were looking for volunteering opportunities, they found Hope Living in Kanata, one of Shepherds five supportive housing residences.
Bob and Muriel volunteer in the kitchen, sometimes they just chat with residents. They enjoy their time at Hope Living so much, they’ve encouraged friends from their church group to volunteer as well.
Their family is part of the Shepherds family!
SUE – A GARDEN GROWS
Sue loves the friendships she has made as a volunteer at Hope Garden. The 7,000 square foot community garden, managed with love by a team of Shepherds of Good Hope volunteers.
“Gardening brings us all together, and the garden allows us to talk openly, share stories and learn from each other,” says Sue.
Sue and her team of gardeners work closely with the Shepherds of Good Hope kitchen to grow and harvest vegetables that suit the needs of the community it serves.
“We know what the kitchen uses throughout the year, and we grow what they need. Carrots, onions, cabbage, garlic are all no-brainers and significantly help reduce food costs.”
Your Time is Valuable – SHARE IT AT SHEPHERDS.
Join Shepherds of Good Hope as a volunteer and make a positive change. Every day in programs across our city, SGH volunteers are changing the lives of people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable adults in our community. Volunteering at SGH is a powerful and tangible way to help those experiencing homelessness.
ADAM’S STORY
Adam is a Shepherds Volunteer at 1095 Merivale Road.
Adam finished an undergrad degree and decided to expand his horizons through volunteering.
He specifically chose Shepherds of Good Hope to get out of his comfort zone and learn more about people experiencing homelessness.
Adam also chose specifically to volunteer in Supportive Housing to better understand and to help people who are struggling with addictions.
“Once you get past the differences on how Shepherds residents present themselves, you learn they’re no different than anybody else.”
Adam volunteers every Thursday at lunch, preparing meals and chatting with residents. He finds the staff at Shepherds are friendly, accommodating.
“It’s a good environment. They seem to enjoy being here as much as I do.”
If you’d like to join Adam as a volunteer, please visit www.sghottawa.com/volunteer
“In all of my 51 years, this is the happiest I have ever been.”
– Corinne, resident at The Oaks
“A FUNCTIONAL ALCOHOLIC”
Corinne describes herself as having been “a functional alcoholic.” She started drinking when she was 33, and while she drank every day, she managed to hold down a job at a downtown Ottawa hotel, and had a boyfriend and a social life. She hid her drinking from her friends, family and her employer.
But as Corinne’s drinking habit worsened, she lost her job and could no longer keep her alcoholism a secret. With the support of her loved ones, she entered and completed a rehab program, but relapsed soon after.
When Corinne drank, she would often “drunk-dial” her parents, accusing them of ruining her life. When they stopped answering her calls, she moved on to calling other relatives and friends. Eventually, they also made the difficult choice of cutting Corinne, and her erratic and disruptive behaviour, out of their lives.
Living in small community south of Ottawa, Corinne felt isolated. She had no means of transportation and no job. She was drunk every day. Finally, in desperation, her boyfriend packed up her clothing and kicked her out of their home.
Scared, angry and alone, Corinne didn’t know where to turn. “I had never had any experience with homelessness or living on the street,” Corinne remembers.
DIAGNOSED AND STABILIZED
Fortunately, Shepherds was there for her. She was admitted to the Women’s Special Care Unit, where she lived for several months while her condition stabilized. Medical professionals diagnosed her with bipolar disorder and prescribed medication to manage her condition; the team at Shepherds helped her learn how to stabilize her mental health.
Once stabilized, she entered Shepherds’ internationally-renowned Managed Alcohol Program (MAP). Corinne’s health continued to improve, and she was offered a chance to move to The Oaks, the MAP’s supportive living facility. She became one of its first residents.
A LIFE TRANSFORMED
When the time was right, Corinne decided to reconnect with her parents. She was extremely nervous. She didn’t know if she could undo the years of damage caused by the anger and verbal abuse she had directed at them. Would they forgive her?
Her parents agreed to visit her for Christmas at The Oaks. When they arrived, Corinne started to cry. They forgave her. These days she talks with her mother and father on a weekly basis.
Today, Corinne’s life has been transformed thanks to the dedication of The Oaks staff and her own hard work. She starts her day off with a coffee and can often be seen carrying a water bottle. She’s chatty and upbeat. Occasionally she will spend an evening with friends. She has no desire to return to her binge-drinking days.
When asked what life is like today, Corinne pauses and collects her thoughts: “In all of my 51 years, this is the happiest I have ever been.”
BOB & MURIEL– A FAMILY AFFAIR
Bob and Muriel have two children. One of them works at Shepherds of Good Hope.
Bob and Muriel have two children. One of them works at Shepherds of Good Hope. When they were looking for volunteering opportunities, they found Hope Living in Kanata, one of Shepherds five supportive housing residences.
Bob and Muriel volunteer in the kitchen, sometimes they just chat with residents. They enjoy their time at Hope Living so much, they’ve encouraged friends from their church group to volunteer as well.
Their family is part of the Shepherds family!
SUE – A GARDEN GROWS
Sue A loves the friendships she has made as a volunteer at Hope Garden.
Sue loves the friendships she has made as a volunteer at Hope Garden. The 7,000 square foot community garden, managed with love by a team of Shepherds of Good Hope volunteers.
“Gardening brings us all together, and the garden allows us to talk openly, share stories and learn from each other,” says Sue.
Sue and her team of gardeners work closely with the Shepherds of Good Hope kitchen to grow and harvest vegetables that suit the needs of the community it serves.
“We know what the kitchen uses throughout the year, and we grow what they need. Carrots, onions, cabbage, garlic are all no-brainers and significantly help reduce food costs.”