A friendly voice and a helping hand

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2021 (546 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When asked if I wanted a cup of coffee, I was sure they had mistaken me for someone else.

So absorbed was I in listening to a podcast while doing laps in Crescentwood I was totally oblivious to the Salvation Army emergency disaster services van on the side of the road. 

“We have pastries today if you’d like one.”

 Who? Me? Really? Did I look like I needed help?  I know sometimes I look like a disaster, but… really?

I was tempted to say the shredded knees in my jeans are a fashion statement but thought better of it.  I was totally not prepared to respond. I know the Salvation Army does good works in the community and they had me at the mere mention of pastry, chocolate at that, donated by a local grocery store. I also had to find out why they offered sustenance to me. 

And so began a learning curve, thanks to Maj. Mervyn Halvorsen, street ministry officer, and Debbie Clarke, emergency disaster services manager for Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and Winnipeg. 

“We say hello to everyone and offer coffee, tea or water to one and all,” Clarke said. “We don’t judge. 

“People can look so together (I presume she meant me) but still need a referral, a good listening to, or just a human connection particularly during these pandemic times.

“Health checks are a big part of our work.”

Apart from being a friendly presence on the streets, Clarke and Halvorsen visit the homeless in riverbank encampments, in tent cities and bus shelters, offering sandwiches, juice boxes, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, sweaters and towels.

“It’s much more than a cup of coffee, it’s about relationships. We learn their names and we listen,” Clarke said.

 The Salvation Army’s team of outreach volunteers is on the street Monday to Thursday, starting at 8 a.m.  This year, for the first time, the emergency van will deliver Christmas dinner to encampments.

Also new this year, as part of a commitment to the environment, they are switching to biodegradable and compostable cups and lids. 

“We respect the culture of the encampments; they look out for each other. Their numbers are growing,” Clarke said.

It’s the people behind those statistics that are a concern and Clarke often finds “it’s the little things” that tear at her heart. One such incident was when an elderly homeless man asked for hand wipes to clean his hands, which had not been washed in a very long time, so he could eat with dignity.              

“I keep reminding myself Salvation Army is one piece of the puzzle. We’re partners with other organizations in trying to make a difference,” Clarke said. 

Those partnerships represent the interconnected web of humanity. While the magnitude of poverty and homelessness can be overwhelming, Clarke believes that if everyone does what they can, it will make a difference.

Inspired by the gift of a chocolate pastry, the dedication of those who help the homeless, and Clarke’s endorsement of partnerships, I picked up the pace and walked to the Co-Op store at Grant Park Shopping Centre to buy Bear Clan toques ($2 each) for Clarke and Halvorsen’s homeless friends. While it felt good to be able to do that, Clarke’s reminder that sometimes all people want is someone to say hello or listen to them also resonated.

We can do this. We’re all in it together.

Heather Emberley is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. Email her at heather.emberley@gmail.com if you have a story suggestion.