Good Shepherd Journal, Fall 2013, Issue 37

GOODSHEPHERDJOURNAL
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
A
NEW LOOK FOR GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES
MESSAGE FROM BR. DAVID LYNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Good Shepherd Ministries, formerly
Good Shepherd Refuge, has a
long history of serving homeless
individuals in Toronto. The Little
Brothers of the Good Shepherd
opened the Centre in 1963 at the
invitation of Archbishop Pocock.
Good Shepherd provided meals and
shelter for men who were struggling
with poverty, unemployment, and
homelessness.
Over the past 50 years of providing
compassionate care for homeless
individuals, under the guiding force
and charism of the Brothers, the
ministry has continued to provide
the basic necessities of life - food,
shelter, clothing.
In 1995, when I was assigned to
Toronto and took the role of Executive
Director, Good Shepherd expanded
its focus to help people gain freedom
from homelessness. Today, the Centre
offers medical services, addiction
and crisis counselling, and housing
services, and works in partnership
with local hospitals, care providers,
and Veterans Affairs Canada.
age of 55 who have a history of
homelessness and who struggle with
mental health and addiction issues.
Over 50 years, the neighbourhood
has changed, the interior of the
building has changed, staff have
changed, volunteers have retired,
but one thing remains the same: a
passionate commitment to promoting
and protecting the dignity of our most
vulnerable brothers and sisters.
As we look to the future, we begin a
new chapter in the history of Good
Shepherd Ministries. Our mission will
not change. However, we do have a
new look - a new logo, and tag line.
At first glance, our logo appears to be
an angel. A second glance and you
see that the angel is in the shape of
a keyhole.
With your compassionate donations
and service, you hover like a guardian
angel over the lives of the homeless.
You provide the key to a new life, a
fresh start, a new beginning. Thank
you.
Good Shepherd established Toronto’s
first supportive housing residence for
people with HIV and AIDS (Barrett
House) in 1986.
I look forward to your continued
journey and support of Good
Shepherd Ministries as we serve and
Welcome Homeless.
In response to the rise in homeless
seniors, St. Joseph’s Residence
opened in 1999. It offers 24-hour
supportive care for men over the
With YOU — our volunteers,
benefactors and supporters — many
lives can be transformed for the
better.
FALL 2013
MISSION STATEMENT
Challenged by our faith in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and committed to the ideals of
hospitality, availability and respect for life,
we, the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd,
Companions, Board of Directors, staff and
volunteers of Good Shepherd Ministries in
Toronto, join together to provide services to
homeless, disadvantaged and marginalized
people.
We strive to provide the basic necessities of
food, shelter and a host of ancillary services,
ensuring each client justice, equality,
dignity, and acceptance.
We seek to provide human services that
will assist clients in regaining freedom
from homelessness. We value each person’s
inherent goodness and potential for growth.
NUMBER 37
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
THE YEAR WAS 1963...
A
nd Sister Anne Lemire had
been the principal of St.
Paul’s Catholic Elementary
School for just one year when
the Good Shepherd Refuge opened
its doors.
Basilica and there were crowds of
people outside on the church steps
– you couldn’t get in the door for the
people.”
Over the years, Sr. Anne volunteered
at Good Shepherd serving meals on
“I remember Brother Joseph Dooley Sundays; did a sabbatical in Santiago,
Chile where the
presenting himself
hopelessness
to the school and
“The staff and everyone
and
injustice
said he would do
involved
at
Good
propelled her to
anything needed
Shepherd know the price
work with the
for the community,
Canadian Centre
including deliver
of human dignity.”
for Victims of
food
boxes
to local families. I was a child of Torture.
the depression and could see the
struggles,” recalls Sr. Anne. “Many For the last 6 years, she has run a
children had not been to school for weekly group for women with a focus
several days and it was often because on spiritual and personal growth. The
there was no food to eat. Br. Joseph group work often results in many
and Good Shepherd would provide.” members forming strong bonds with
community, church and each other.
Not long afterward, Br. Joseph was Sr. Anne also runs a phone ministry to
in a car accident and passed away. shut-ins, many of whom are widowed.
“It was a dreadful shock to everyone.
There was a mass at St. Paul’s Times have changed over the years
but there is still much work to be done.
“Look at everyone you see as Jesus,”
is a message Sr. Anne brought from
the mass at Good Shepherd.
“Everyone involved at Good Shepherd
knows the price of human dignity,”
something Sr. Anne feels strongly
about and sees in the daily work of
the Centre. “The staff is well chosen
here. People feel comfortable at Good
Shepherd.”
WELCOME HOMELESS
COMMUNITY UPDATE
The day has finally arrived. Br. John
Chenier, known to many as Br.
Rene, has retired from active
ministry.
A native of Gatineau, Br. John
was called to religious life
when he was 16. During almost
50 years as a Brother, he was
stationed in Haiti, the United States
and finally in Toronto. He served in
various capacities and retires most recently as the
Director of Barrett House and St. Joseph’s Residence.
We will miss seeing him every day but wish him well in
his retirement.
The Brothers also recently celebrated the First
Profession of vows of Br. Gilbert Luna. Br. Raphael
Mieszala officiated at the service in Westville Grove, NJ.
Congratulations to Br. Gilbert.
On a sad note, Br. Mark Harmueller was called home to
God on June 12. A member of the Congregation for 52
years, Br. Mark had been retired for some time.
Many of you may remember
Br. Mark’s service in Toronto.
He held the position of
Executive Director from
1988-1995. Br. Mark was
a native of Milwaukee and
a Veteran of the United
States Army. He will be
greatly missed. God Bless.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
NEW VAN DONATED IN MEMORY
Thanks to a generous donation by Raymond and Avril
Carnovale in loving memory of Albert F. Carnovale,
Raymond’s brother, Good Shepherd has a new refrigerated
cube van.
The gift makes a wonderful tribute to Albert
Carnovale’s memory — one that honours
him and helps thousands of homeless and
disadvantaged individuals at the same time.
Good Shepherd’s cube vans bring a steady
stream of food, clothing, toiletries, and other
donations to the Centre.
Those donations stream out again to improve the lives of
an estimated 16,000 homeless and disadvantaged individuals each year. But even cube vans on the road for a good
cause wear out, and the Carnovale’s thoughtful donation came just in time.
THANK YOU TO M A C AIDS FUND & VIVA GLAM
●
●
Did you know that with the purchase of one tube of
lipstick or lip glass you can make a change in the life of
someone affected with HIV and AIDS? Since launching
in 1994, M·A·C Cosmetics has been donating the sale
price of each tube of Viva Glam to the M·A·C AIDS Fund
which serves and supports people affected with HIV and
AIDS. They have raised more than $270 million (US)* to
support innovative programs and services. Barrett House
recently received a gift from the fund.
Barrett House’s elevator has been on its last cables for
some time. With frequent breakdowns and maintenance
issues, residents with mobility problems have been forced
to use the stairs — a painful and difficult process. Through
the generosity of M·A·C Cosmetics and the M·A·C AIDS
Fund, Barrett House will soon have a new elevator.
Our friends from M·A·C stopped by to present Br. David
with their kind gift and had an opportunity to tour the
house and meet some of the residents. We cannot thank
L-R Br. David, Jennifer, Christopher and Ana of M·A·C Cosmetics, and Aklilu
Wendaferew, Assistant Executive Director
everyone at M·A·C enough. Their support makes a world
of difference.
With the purchase of just one tube of VIVA GLAM lipstick,
you too can make a change. For more information visit
www.macaidsfund.org or www.maccosmetics.com.
*source: www.macaidsfund.org/file/436.pdf
ANOTHER VAN ON ITS WAY
A second cube van — also refrigerated and with many features designed to make
it more efficient to run — has been ordered thanks to donations from:
~ Ontario Trillium Foundation, an Agency of the Government of Ontario
~ The Harold E. Ballard Foundation
~ The Geoffrey H. Wood Foundation
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
RESEARCH REVEALS THAT ONE-QUARTER OF
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE’S HOMELESS CLIENTS
STRUGGLE WITH PATHOLOGICAL* GAMBLING PROBLEMS
YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP FRONT LINE STAFF RESPOND TO THIS NEWLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE
Even the researchers from the Centre for Research on
Inner City Health at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dr. Flora
Matheson and Ms. Cheryl Pedersen, were taken aback
by the results.
because the other addictions are more problematic.
Many service agencies aren’t focused on the gambling
piece, so it gets overlooked. It’s not as visible as the
alcohol and drug addiction.”
“I thought that problem gambling would be high and
that’s what we found. It’s double the rate of the general
population,” said Dr. Matheson, “but we also found a
really high percentage for pathological gambling.”
“What was really great for me was how eager Good
Shepherd staff were to see if there was a gap in the
services,” said Ms. Pedersen. “It’s uncommon, I think, to
have that kind of desire to be engaged in research. Good
Shepherd Ministries said to us ‘We don’t know what’s
happening in our population and we need to find out.’
That made the difference.”
This past spring, the two researchers interviewed 264
Good Shepherd Centre clients. The objective was to
estimate the prevalence of problem gambling among the
Centre’s homeless and disadvantaged clients.
They found that 26% of the Good Shepherd clients
interviewed were at-risk pathological gamblers.* Another
9% were at-risk problem gamblers, already experiencing
major problems due to their gambling, but not quite at
the stage where they could be considered addicted.
A further 8% were at-risk gamblers, people for whom
gambling was developing.
For both the researchers and Good Shepherd Centre
staff, these levels were a shock. Dr. Matheson does have
some sense of how this problem might be hidden.
“A lot of these addictions go together,” said Dr. Matheson.
“If people have an addiction to gambling, they often
have another addiction or a mental health issue. People
sometimes don’t know that they have a gambling issue
Now that the level of the problem has been identified,
Good Shepherd Ministries staff will be working to ensure
that clients struggling with the problem will not continue
to do so alone and unsuccessfully.
Thank you for helping Good Shepherd Centre to be the
kind of place that can respond flexibly and effectively to
emerging needs.
*A pathological gambler is an addict. They are
preoccupied with gambling to the point that they lose
their jobs, destroy their close relationships and even
commit illegal acts to continue gambling. They usually
make repeated, unsuccessful efforts
to cut back or stop their gambling.
They will lie to try to conceal the
extent of their problem.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Consider these opportunities:
ss
s s
Donate a product or service for the Silent or Live Auctions for the Gala to be held in February 2014;
Donate your HBC or Shoppers Optimum points online (and if you do that, please accept our grateful thanks
now, as donations are anonymous);
Organize an event to benefit Good Shepherd Ministries - a party, a concert, a bake sale; or
Make a gift in honour of a friend’s birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation...the possibilities are endless!
For more information on these and other possible ways to help, please call Cindy at 416-869-3619, ext. 277.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
HOW YOUR DONATIONS TO THE DARE PROGRAM HAVE SUPPORTED
ONE MAN’S JOURNEY BACK TO SOBRIETY
My name is Fazal and I am a recovering
Alcoholic. This is a real story and a
significant part of my life’s journey,
albeit tragic and terribly painful when I
relive it through avenues such as this. It
is somewhat of a self-discovery and has
hopefully resulted in me being a better
human being with a strong spiritual
sense and a deep social conscience.
I am a father of two amazing sons and
an ex-wife whom I have taken to over
40 different cities around the world,
myself having visited over 50.
For most of my professional life, I was
a senior manager in the hospitality
industry and having worked around
the world, I hope I positively affected
my employees and colleagues in both
their career and personal paths.
On my first introduction to the detox
at Donlands (at this time I had no
idea that a detox facility existed), I
knew that I needed to do something
about this problem I had, called
Alcoholism, so I sought guidance from
the counsellors there. On their advice,
I contacted DARE at Good Shepherd
Centre and was graciously accepted
into their pre-treatment program. On
entry, I was extremely unfamiliar with
the addictions community but with the
help of Stephen, Mike, Maggie, and
O’dette, I learned to navigate through
the initial healing process.
I recognized, admitted, and most
importantly, accepted that my life had
become totally unmanageable and
this was my chance to recapture it. I
thoroughly immersed myself in the
program which was psycho-social
with a deep sense of spirituality.
Daily chores and mandatory morning
group meetings were essential in the
rebuilding and recreation of structure
to my life. The various group sessions
in Psychotherapy, Art Therapy,
Spirituality,
Anger
Management,
Meditation and others combined with
internal and external AA meetings
supported the strategy and benefits of
the program.
From a deeply personal side, through
encouragement to search and take
stock of my personal inventory, I
recognized the most significant
damage my addiction caused is the
fact that I had hurt the people that
loved me the most, my parents, my
brothers and sisters, my then wife and
sons, and many friends, families and
colleagues.
I had to fix this, and through constant
and consistent counselling at DARE,
where staff always had endless time
for me and my fellow addicts to listen
and talk through our issues, I realized
that there are no quick fixes and that
cures don’t exist but remedies are
built through long-term commitment to
sobriety and becoming a better human
being.
I was so fortunate that apart from
the DARE team, there was this gang
of thieves that stole my heart, they
being the tireless and passionate
human element at the SHEP (as I call
Good Shepherd) …from Father Ed
to Brothers David and Tom……and
George…and Christine and the frontof-house staff … Dennis, Rick, Jaf, et
al (always a shoulder to cry on and a
reassuring hug to let you know that it
gets better) and the back-of-house
team — Lester in housekeeping, Nari
and the kitchen team….these people
were always there for us.
Through DARE, I chose the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health as
my treatment program and after three
enjoyable and enlightening weeks
there, I graduated and came back
to DARE in the After Care portion of
the program which allowed me the
opportunity to be in a safe place as I
planned my re-entry into the surface
dwelling world (Mike’s [DARE staff]
words, I swear).
I identified my top priorities being
housing and employment and decided
to join Fort York Residences in this
transitional stage of my life.
I now work two jobs which I thoroughly
enjoy, although sometimes find very
tiring. I have just recently moved from
the dormitory to a bachelor’s apartment
here as I plan and save towards my
own apartment.
I am now 10 plus months clean and
sober and embrace my sobriety each
day, which seems small, but to me it
is huge. I am happy, productive and
gradually rebuilding those relationships
that are important to me and growing
new and wonderful ones.
Frankly, I am alive today because
of the Good Shepherd and DARE. I
continually wish, pray, hope and trust
that it will grow to be more accessible
to others like me…we truly are good
people at the end of the day.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
A
NEW PROGRAM TO ASSIST OUR VETERANS
by Aklilu Wendaferew
On April 7, 2010, Good Shepherd Ministries conducted
a survey to identify the percentage of veterans using
services. Of the 669 individuals surveyed that day, 9.7%
(65) identified themselves as veterans.
are self-referred or referred from withdrawal management
centers, hospital emergency, community agencies, etc.
Additionally, beginning October 2013, Good Shepherd
Ministries will offer a weekly Life Skills Group specifically
Since then, Good Shepherd Ministries has been responding tailored to Veterans. The “Veterans Living Better” program
by initiating programs that specifically address the needs will focus on helping Veterans to develop and enhance
of homeless Veterans.
skills useful for everyday life. Topics to be covered will
include Tenant/Landlord Rights and Responsibilities,
We have mentioned in previous articles that we developed Communal Living Skills, Self-Care, Conflict Management
a partnership with Veterans
Skills, Communication and
Affairs Canada (VAC) and the
Interpersonal Skills, Anger
Royal Canadian Legion and
Management, Coping with
The recently released 2013 Streets Needs
provided space for two VAC
Substance Abuse, Asking for
Assessment interim report states that “15.6% of
employees to work out of
Help, Budgeting and more.
the outdoor homeless population claim Canadian
the Good Shepherd Centre.
military service. The rate of military service
Homelessness
among
Through this effort, Leave the
among the outdoor population is more than twice
Veterans
is
an
emerging
crisis
Streets Behind, a number of
that observed for the total homeless population
Homeless Veterans have been
that requires an immediate
(7.2%). This question was not asked in previous
Street Need Assessments.”
housed and given assistance
response.
Veterans have
www.toronto.ca/housing/SNA2013interim_report.htm
to access the benefits they
not been identified widely as
deserve.
being part of the homeless
population. Their presence
Any homeless person that stays in our shelter is now asked among the homeless is not fully understood. Their needs
whether they have ever served in the Canadian Armed are not yet fully recognized. It is only in the last few years
Forces. If so, we provide them information about the that society is beginning to admit and accept that the
programs available specifically for Veterans and encourage men and women who have served our country are now
them to make use of these services. Based on the sleeping on the street with little or no support.
information we have been gathering, we realized that more
needed to be done. As a result, Good Shepherd Ministries If you know of any Veteran who could
is now launching additional programs for Veterans in the benefit from any of our programs,
please call 416-869-3619 ext. 303.
area of Addictions and Life Skills Development.
With your support, Good Shepherd
As part of our Veterans initiative, we have now designated will continue to be available to our
five priority beds in the Drug and Alcohol Recovery veterans.
Enrichment (DARE) program for homeless Veterans who
NEW FACE AT ST. JOSEPH’S RESIDENCE
HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELP SENIORS COME IN FROM THE COLD
St. Joseph’s Residence has just welcomed a new resident, Don. Don lived ‘off the grid’, as he puts it, for more than
25 years. He lived in the Don Valley in a shelter he built himself and worked odd jobs to survive. Given Don’s years
of proud independence, it took Lorenzo from the Resettlement team some time to convince Don that he could
accept help. This summer, with his health failing, Don admitted he was ready to move into St. Joe’s. When he
entered St. Joe’s, he came with no identification, no health card, no income. Now, with the help of the services you
support, he visits a doctor, watches a (generously donated) television, and reads his favourite mystery novels — all
that and indoor plumbing too.
If you know of someone who may need support, please call 416-869-3619.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Every now and then, when Br.
Tom checks the suggestion
box in Good Shepherd
Centre’s dining room, he
finds a gem.
Early this spring, he found
a note from Scott. When
Scott wrote his letter, he was
relying on the Centre for all
his meals.
He had been homeless for
two months in the winter,
until a loan from a family
member made it possible
for him to rent a room. He
did not have a penny extra
for food, so the meals he
ate at the Centre made a
huge difference to him.
He wrote this note to
show his appreciation.
I talked to Scott recently,
to ask if he would allow
us to use his story in
our next newsletter.
(He said yes.) He is
doing well – has a job in
construction, no need
to eat at the Centre any
more.
“I’m saving money for
the winter now,” Scott
told me. “I’d never been homeless before this winter,
and I never want to be homeless again.” Scott knows he will be unemployed in the winter, when
construction jobs dry up. His past involvement with the justice system makes it close to impossible for him to find
work in any other field.
Thank you for making it possible for men like Scott to get back on their feet again. The regular support you provide
helps people for whom homelessness is probably a one-time event. The report on the State of Homelessness in
Canada published this June showed that 94% of the people who become homeless each year are homeless only
once in their lives. But as Scott could tell you, once is enough.
FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO - THIS THANK YOU NOTE IS FOR YOU!
FOREVER HAVING FUN
GOOD SHEPHERD GOLF TOURNAMENT
On July 11, golfers took to the greens to
play a round of best ball golf to raise funds
for Good Shepherd Ministries.
What a day! The weather held up after so
much rain this summer. Skies were clear,
and the golfing was great.
The winners! But at the end of the day, the biggest winners
are the homeless men and women who rely on the services
provided by Good Shepherd Ministries. Events like the Golf
Tournament provide nearly 25% of the annual funding
needed to sustain services.
Sponsor Peter McBride of OAS (left)
keeps his eye on the ball.
While golfers were enjoying the outdoors, volunteers rushed to prepare the
silent and live auction tables, while the host of the evening, the hilarious
Jessica Holmes, prepped.
After a full day of golf, guests hit the indoors for cocktails and oysters
while bidding on some great auction items: iPads, dinners for two and
more.
During dinner, Jessica had guests roaring with
laughter. Never has there been such enthusiastic
crowd participation during the live auction.
A hush came over the crowd when Br. David
presented the annual Ann Daly Humanitarian
Award to Board President Vern Zapfe. His
dedication to helping Good Shepherd serve the
homeless has been incredible.
Who knew handing out awards could be so
funny? Br. David, Executive Director, can’t
keep a straight face while Jessica Holmes calls
another golfer up for a prize
We cannot thank everyone enough — our
amazing sponsors, auction donors, participants
and volunteers. Another successful event!
Board Chairman Vern Zapfe receives
the Ann Daly Humanitarian Award.
Vern’s gift for organizing fundraising
events over the past 18 years has played
a key role in the expansion of Good
Shepherd’s services for the homeless.
THANKING OUR SPONSORS
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
GOOD SHEPHERD DREAM LOTTERY
LICENCE NO. 5463, HELD ON JULY 11, 2013
Grand Prize:
$100,000.00 # 0225
2nd Prize:
$10,000.00 # 0306
3rd Prize:
$10,000.00 # 0108
4th Prize: $5,000.00 # 0255
5th Prize: $5,000.00 # 0096
6th Prize
$5,000.00 # 0164
7th Prize:
$5,000.00 # 0258
8th Prize:
$5,000.00 # 0240
9th Prize:
$5,000.00 # 0137
J. Maloney, Markham
Interior Finishing Systems Training Fund, Woodbridge
E. N. DiFalco, Scarborough
D. Daly, Hamilton
N. Lopes, Etobicoke
M. Coimbra, Etobicoke
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, Toronto
P. Bensley, Pickering
Interior Systems Contractors Association, Woodbridge
TURKEYS FOR THANKSGIVING
CRÊPES TO HELP THE HOMELESS
A very big thank you to Serra Canada and Serra
International for their very generous contribution
to purchase all the turkeys which will be served on
Thanksgiving Day. Last year volunteers and employees
served approximately 1600 meals to guests. The sit
down meal is a nice change from our daily cafeteriastyle meal service.
The flavour of France infused King Street this past July
12, as Parisian café bakery Brioche Dorée teamed
up with Good Shepherd Centre to celebrate France’s
national holiday Bastille Day, by serving free crêpes to
the public.
This is the second consecutive year that Serra has
supported the Thanksgiving Day dinner.
Tasty crêpes were served from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
in exchange for donations of money or non-perishable
food items to Good Shepherd Centre.
Brioche Dorée also provided free baguettes throughout
the weekend in exchange for donations of nonperishable food items.
If your business wants to do an event like this, please
let us know — we would be happy to help support you.
Br. Tom accepts a cheque from Patrick Hearn (Serra Canada Council) and Mario
Biscardi (Serra International).
Brother Tom does get around! Here he is with the crêpe experts at Brioche
Dorée.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
STUDENTS ON VACATION VOLUNTEER TO HELP THE HOMELESS
Article reprinted with the permission of the Toronto Catholic District School Board from www.tcdsb.org.
Students across the Toronto
Catholic District School Board
have a great time earning
Community Service Hours on
their Summer break.
When school ends for the
summer, many students head
to summer school, part time
employment or holidays. For
a growing group of Toronto
Catholic District School Board
students, summer is a time to
give back to their community
and earn some community
service hours.
TCDSB’s Summer Community Service Program is in
its second year, providing opportunities for students to
volunteer their time to a neighbourhood charity for one
to four weeks during the month of July.
Last year’s program attracted 50 students, and this year
approximately 67 students from 11 secondary schools
have signed on, many for more than the 40 hours
required for graduation.
Madelain, a volunteer at the Good Shepherd Centre,
says that the work has given her a sense of community.
“I see people around me, and I don’t know what’s going
on in their lives, but I feel closer to them by helping to
make their community a better place.”
Victoria says she signed on for the full four weeks
because she wanted to feel productive and help others
during her time off.
“We could not function without them,” says Rebecca
Ferguson, Volunteer Coordinator with Good Shepherd
Ministries in Toronto.
“They make beds, they help out in the kitchen, they do
laundry and help with our annual fundraiser. They are
such a nice group of students. It’s a great partnership;
it just keeps getting better,” she adds.
What are the students getting out of the experience?
It is an opportunity to make new friends, learn basic
organizational skills, and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Seeing people who have very little also provides a new
perspective for some of the students about the value of
the things they often take for granted.
The program, which operates under the supervision
of TCDSB staff, also places student volunteers at
the Salvation Army Store, the Toronto Food Bank,
the Mustard Seed and Mary House, Tony Stacey
Retirement Home, Tam Heather Community Centre and
Scarborough Museum.
Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School teacher
Bradley St. Amant, who spent the first two weeks of
July supervising students at the Good Shepherd, says
for him the program is an opportunity to get to know
the students outside of the classroom environment.
“It’s a chance to have some fun in a relaxed and giving
atmosphere.”
The Board’s hope is that the program will continue to
grow and inspire students to continue to live our Catholic
values by reaching out to those who are less fortunate.
This summer, TCDSB students volunteered at The
Good Shepherd, Tam Heather Community Centre, the
Salvation Army, Tony Stacey Retirement Home and the
Toronto Food Bank. Overall, TCDSB students gave more
than 2400 hours of service in July.
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
FIVE FUN FOOD DRIVE IDEAS TO TRY
You can have fun and help Good Shepherd Centre feed the homeless. And we
need the help — nearly 360,000 meals were served in the first eight months of
2013. Food raising doesn’t need to be a chore … here are five easy ideas.
1
When you invite people to a party, ask them bring a tin or package of non-perishable food as a host/hostess gift.
2
Put out a box and a sign in your place of business, and ask your colleagues and customers to help feed the hungry.
3
Ask your sports team to bring a tin or package to your next game.
4
Belong to a book club? Pick a non-perishable food mentioned in your latest book, and have everyone bring it to your next book club meeting!
5
Start up a challenge at work or school. Which department or grade can bring in the most non-perishable food? Offer a small prize — people like competing!
However you choose to do it, you can make a big difference to the lives of vulnerable people by donating food to Good
Shepherd Centre’s meal program.
For individual donations, you may drop off your gift at Good Shepherd Centre (412 Queen Street East). For larger
collections, please contact Rebecca at 416-869-3619 ext. 229 to arrange a pick up.
MANY THANKS
TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR
RECENT GIFTS
THE CARDINAL’S DINNER
$15,500.00
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION
$2,000.00
DAVID & VALERIE CHRISTIE $1,200.00
HYDRO ONE EMPLOYEES’ & PENSIONSERS’
CHARITY TRUST $624.00
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS,
ST.JUSTIN MARTYR COUNCIL
$500.00
BREBEUF COLLEGE SCHOOL
CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME VISITATION
PROVINCE
SACRED HEART, KING CITY
WISH LIST
MEDICAL CLINIC
FOOT POWDER
CALAMINE LOTION
RUB A535
ALCOHOL-FREE COUGH
SYRUP
EPSOM SALTS
VITAMIN C
MULTIVITAMINS
CLOTHING ROOM
WINTER BOOTS
WINTER COATS
NEW MEN’S UNDERWEAR
SOCKS MEN’S
JEANS (ALL SIZES)
RAIN JACKETS
WARM GLOVES
WINTER HATS & SCARVES
DORMITORY
TOOTHPASTE
TOOTHBRUSH
MEN’S DEODORANT
RAZORS
DARE PROGRAM
ART SUPPLIES
EVENT TICKETS
BLANK NOTEBOOKS
GOODSHEPHERD.CA
SAVE THE DATE
Good Shepherd Gala
February 22, 2014
Please join us for a
Mass of Thanksgiving
Enjoy an evening filled with food, music, auctions, and
dancing while helping to raise funds for
Good Shepherd Ministries.
For information, please call 416-869-3619 ext. 223.
celebrated by
Thomas Cardinal Collins
Sunday, November 24, 2013
St. Paul’s Basilica
11.00 a.m.
LOOKING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE THE LESS FORTUNATE?
Drop-in Volunteer: 8am-11am, any day of the week. Set up food trays
and serve.
Dormitory Volunteer: 10-1pm Saturday or Sunday. Help put clean linens
on 66 emergency beds.
Laundry Aide: 10-1pm Saturday or Sunday. Fold fresh sheets and
towels.
Breakfast Server: 6:30-8am Wednesdays. Set up and serve breakfast to
91 overnight guests.
Please e-mail [email protected] for more information.
OUR PLEDGE TO YOU
We value each gift entrusted to us in support of the
work of Good Shepherd Ministries. We also value your
trust, and work to make the best possible use of your
investment in the lives of others. We respect your right
to privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal
information.
If you have questions or concerns about our mailings,
or would like to know more about our work, our
contact information is:
Good Shepherd Journal is mailed in the spring and
fall of each year. We hope that you enjoy reading about
how your support makes a vital difference to the lives
of those who struggle with poverty and homelessness.
Website: www.goodshepherd.ca
Tel: 416-869-3619, ext. 223
Fax: 416-869-3680
Mail: Good Shepherd Ministries, 412 Queen Street
East, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1T3
YOUR COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE HOMELESS — SEE IT IN ACTION. FOLLOW:
@goodshepherd_to