Charitable groups in Calgary mobilize to support those in need on Christmas Day

On early Christmas Day morning, several groups in the city were already on the streets, lending a helping hand for the less fortunate in Calgary this holiday season.

Hundreds at the Drop-In Centre

Drop-In Centre CEO Sandra Clarkson said it takes a community to build community, and everyone there was very grateful to help the vulnerable through the continued support of Calgarians.

Starting on Christmas Eve, everyone who stopped in was treated to a KFC dinner, which provided at least 1,800 pieces of chicken for a minimum of 900 guests.

On Christmas Day, it continued with lunch consisting of turkey with all the fixings, and baked ham with pineapple, potatoes, and a vegetable.

“And every guest that’s with us will get a holiday backpack with a $10 coffee card, reusable coffee mug, chocolate bar and other treats,” Clarkson said. “And the St. Luke’s Catholic Women’s League donates hundreds of holiday Christmas cards every year, along with postage so that guests can send a card to a loved one . . . And then, of course, Purses for Hope gave us purses filled with beauty products for our female guests.”

With generous sponsors, Clarkson added that their kitchen team, which only consists of three people, truly worked their magic to feed hundreds over Christmas.

“But of course, we have an entire team behind the scenes that’s working on sponsorship, securing donations, etc., and the community is very generous at this time of year,” Clarkson said. “And we’re so grateful to be able to provide wholesome, nutritious, comforting food at this time.”

Looking to the new year, Clarkson said they will be exploring strategic initiatives around affordable housing and improving their shelter services.

They are also looking to reach their $2-million fundraising goal, to support their programs and services that support 1,000 people a day throughout winter.

Happy to be serving

The Salvation Army set up shop near the 39th Avenue station CTrain platform with a mobile warming station, already serving those in need.

Volunteer Ozzy Canales explained that the group is hosting these mobile warming stations around the city from the start of December to March 31 of the new year.

“Today, that we’re serving on 39th, and we’re just serving the unfortunate people on the street with addictions and such, and we’re very happy to be here serving,” Canales said. “And we’re serving today a special meal, which is hot chocolate with hot sandwiches.”

After completing their first stop on 39th, they will move to Westbrook Station for the afternoon.

“This program runs seven days a week and we do two different stations every day for two hours,” he said.

As for what drew Canales to volunteer his time for the holidays, he said it’s simply to give back to the community. He said it goes beyond a job, and he enjoys helping others with his team.

“Sometimes I feel that I have too much and I want to give something too,” Canales said. “It motivates me there. You know, there’s still people out there every day, and just to make them feel a little bit special on Christmas Day, that is my motivation.”

Listening and reconnecting

Roaming Calgary’s streets, Ace Antonio helps the homeless in Calgary through his organization Search for the Homeless on Christmas Day Project.

“It’s an organization that I created back in 2009,” Antonio said. “I started in Ontario, started in Toronto, and, since I moved to Calgary, I brought it here, and I’ve realized that there’s actually a lot of homeless people here in Calgary.”

Compared to other charitable groups, Antonio said he does something different outside of handing out donations he’s collected.

“I also talk to them, I make sure that I listen to them, (and) I hear out what their sentiments are and how they’re feeling, for Christmas Day,” he said. “And I’ve met a lot of people in Calgary who went through a lot and are going through a lot.”

Through the many people with their own stories he has met over the years, he always makes it a mission to reconnect with them.

This year, he mentioned that he is searching for Ida, an individual who was homeless after fleeing from wildfires.

“Hopefully I don’t see them again, and hopefully they have a better life, but when I do meet them, that they are safe,” he said. “These people, they go through a lot, and it’s dangerous out there. I think a lot of people know what the condition is in, in shelters and other places, but that’s one of the reasons why they stay out here because it’s not safe out there in some of the buildings. That’s what I’ve come across.”

Christmas spirit at Alpha House Calgary

Alpha House Calgary program director Shaundra Bruvall said business will be as usual, but with a hint of Christmas spirit.

“Alpha House serves individuals who are experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction,” Bruvall said. “Our shelter is available 24-7, doesn’t change a ton for us on Christmas because we’re open 365 days a year anyway, but we do try to make the day a little bit more special for the folks who might be feeling the Christmas spirit. We have decorations up, give out stockings with some gifts inside for all of the clients who access our shelter that day, and we do a big Christmas turkey meal as well for anybody that’s accessing our shelter.”

Outside their shelter, Alpha House also has boots on the ground with outreach teams working around the city.

“We respond to calls for service, so if somebody saw somebody out on the street who was vulnerable, looking lost or looking like they didn’t have appropriate winter gear for the weather, they could call us and we would be able to connect with that individual, and ideally bring them to a safe place,” she said. “If that’s not the case, then maybe bring them into the van, help them warm up a little bit, give them a gift and some hot chocolate and then they can carry on their way.”

Bruvall said she believes Calgary is fortunate to have a very good social network of service for those in need.

“We have a lot of services in the city who work really well collaboratively together to make sure that anybody that does need some type of support has that support, and that’s a really incredible thing about our city,” Bruvall said.

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