In the St. Aidan’s neighbourhood, the Dempsey Community Centre was transformed just over a year ago into a city-run shelter for about 60 homeless women. They each have a bed in the gymnasium, meals, and a warm place to stay until they find, with the help of on-site staff, other accommodations.
Last year, St. Aidan’s and St. Thomas Anglican churches joined together to give each woman a gift bag filled with necessities and treats for Christmas. The first bags were delivered that year just before Christmas and were very well received by the residents.
We decided to prepare and deliver gift bags, once again, this year. Parishioners from both churches, as well as other members of the community, stepped up to answer the call and donate gift bags filled with items the women would use and enjoy. Others donated many knitted items or money to the effort. The items included practical things such as full-sized shampoo, hand cream, body lotion, lip balm, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, socks, gloves, hats, scarves as well as fun stuff such as activity or adult colouring books, colouring pencils, pens, notebooks, daily agendas, and chocolate.
The bags were delivered this year on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Sarah Johnston, team lead at the Dempsey Physical Distancing Centre and operations lead for the City of Ottawa’s housing services was there to accept the donations. The Rev. Rosemary Parker, Peter Martin, and Lois Wynn from St. Aidan’s as well as the Rev. Tim Kehoe and Karen Scott from St. Thomas all brought the bags to the Dempsey Centre.
Residents of the centre were excited to see all the gift bags come in. There were more than enough for everybody. The women were delighted with their gifts and to know that people in the community care about them.
Deanery of East Ontario — Church of the Nativity, L’Orignal