Downtown Mission one example of how your legacy matters
A single donation of $3.11 covers the cost of a meal – one of more than 420 served daily by staff and volunteers at the Downtown Mission of Windsor.
“Every $3.11 is providing hope for somebody that day. It's saving a life,” says executive director Rev. Ron Dunn.
Though the Downtown Mission is located in the heart of the city, “our impact is far reaching,” Dunn says. “Kids show up from Kingsville and other communities; they can't be at home anymore and don't know where to go. We have a teenager that just came in now to our youth centre, looking scared and confused.” Sadly, it's a common scenario.
Mission facilities are busy, caring for 1,100 disadvantaged and homeless men, women, youth and families every day. In our own backyard, chronic homelessness has jumped 45 per cent from 2018 to 2019.
“It breaks my heart thinking where would these people turn without the Downtown Mission?” Dunn says. “We're not government funded, so we can only do the work we do through the donations we receive.”
By providing local folks with the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter, the Downtown Mission restores something equally important: their dignity.
Practical and proactive, the Downtown Mission welcomes people off the street and into its secure overnight sanctuary, where warm beds and hot showers are provided. Lunch, an evening bowl of soup and groceries from the food bank nourishes empty bellies. Assistance with accessing medical and social services links people to the professional help they need. Trained volunteers offer compassion and recommendations when connecting with people sending over 8,000 calls, texts and chats to the Distress Centre annually.
“During COVID-19 lockdown, we stayed open, never missing a single day or night. Not one meal was skipped,” Dunn says.
The pandemic has brought about challenges and opportunities for homeless people. Some who qualified for and received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) were able to move into rental accommodations they could finally call home.
“Others used CERB for drug money. In 2019, we reversed 35 or 36 overdoses on Downtown Mission property and in the neighbourhood. To date this year, we have had 81 overdoses, including two at the same time, and there is still over a month to go,” says Dunn.
Thanks to the quick action of the mission's team rushing in with medical bags and defibrillators, “we didn't lose a single person, which is a miracle. We love these people – they are in our lives day in, day out.”
The person turning blue is “someone you had a coffee with three hours ago. The emotional toll on all of us can't be measured.”
Bracing for tough times ahead, the Downtown Mission “fully expects a larger number of people” on the streets after the temporary suspension of home evictions is lifted once COVID-19 measures conclude.
Other major obstacles are “the rising costs of food and rent locally. People are running out of money sooner,” Dunn says.
Recognizing pandemic realities, the Downtown Mission now permits people to use its food bank monthly instead of its usual every two months. “We're seeing people using our food bank that used to donate. I'm sure they will be contributing again. But right now, they are having a hard time stretching that dollar.”
Witnessing firsthand how quickly people's lives can change from productive and secure to devastated, Dunn reflects, “Nobody wants to be homeless, mentally ill or addicted. I believe the Downtown Mission is the most integrated community there is.”
He points out that those who choose to financially support the Downtown Mission, “almost all the money goes back to the people who need it – 85 cents of every dollar go into services and programs. We're super proud of the fact we're dedicated to making that gift as impactful as possible.”
Approximately six per cent of the total donations received in 2019 were legacy gifts designated in the wills of people who hadn't supported the Downtown Mission before and many others who were regular contributors.
“The legacy gift is particularly important to us. It's a final gift that says I cared for you in my lifetime and now I want to care for you after my death,” Dunn notes.
The minister appreciates “it's tough for people to talk about death. I applaud those who do and make their final arrangements.”
Legacies help ensure the Downtown Mission can continue to serve the community today and in future.
Topping the charity's to-do list is the construction of a new $7.2-million home for the Downtown Mission. By selling properties currently owned by the organization, partial funding will be secured to unite operations in one location.
Plans are underway to purchase a newer commercial plaza at 1540 Mcdougall and the vacant site next door, giving the Downtown Mission room to house its kitchen, dining area, emergency shelter beds, food bank, program and service spaces, administration and more. To make it all happen, however, the Downtown Mission still needs to raise approximately $5 million.
Whether it is an online pledge to purchase one meal per month or a large legacy cheque containing a lot of zeros, “every dollar we receive is a vote of confidence,” Dunn says. “We consider a bequest as a vote that says keep up the good work and doing the work that needs to be done.”
To learn more about the Downtown Mission of Windsor, call 519-973-5573 or visit the website downtownmission.com.