Thank You Thursday: Fifth Annual Shelter Gala Highlights

We hosted our Fifth Annual GivingTuesday Shelter Gala and it couldn’t have gone any better! In fact, it was the biggest Shelter Gala fundraiser ever! Collectively, you gave: over $89,300! That means we’ve exceeded our Shelter Gala fundraising goal by $14,300!  We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you! Every dollar […]

Why we kept returning to Oppenheimer Park

Give this Christmas and have your gift matched, doubling your impact in the Downtown Eastside! *Name has been changed to respect the privacy of the individual. We first met Paul* during the Oppenheimer Park decampments in January, when temperatures got to 13 degrees below freezing. He was unhoused and sheltering at the park. We gave […]

Thank You Thursday: Fourth Annual Shelter Gala Highlights

We hosted our fourth annual GivingTuesday Shelter Gala this week, and it was an incredible day of celebrating the resilience and strength of our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside. We’re so happy to share that we’ve received over $62,000 in donations for our GivingTuesday Shelter Gala! GivingTuesday is such a special day here at FIRST […]

#ThankYouThursday: Highlights From Our Third Annual #GivingTuesday Shelter Gala

This year’s #GivingTuesday Shelter Gala was a special one to say the least. We are thrilled to share that we’ve received over $55,000 in donations for our GivingTuesday Shelter Gala! THANK YOU to everybody who chipped in, shared our social media posts, blogs, and donation links. All of your donations to our GivingTuesday Shelter Gala […]

Martin’s Story

“You can’t understand being homeless or being an addict without hanging out with them or being one of them,” Martin says. He described the day-to-day struggles of homelessness and the exhaustion that many people who are living on the streets experience. “You’re trying to survive in the streets and you just can’t find a place […]

Our Second #GivingTuesday Shelter Gala

Our second #GivingTuesday Shelter Gala was an incredible evening of joy and sharing.  We are excited to share with you, we received over $40,200 in donations toward our mission of providing direct support and advocacy to our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside! We feted our shelter residents with an outstanding meal, shared messages of solidarity and […]

Michelle’s Story: Her Road to Recovery, Healing, and Home

“I don’t think you had the best life, but I think you have a much better life now.” This is what Michelle’s loved one said when she showed him where she used to live in Stanley Park. Michelle is resilient. She’s originally from Fort St. John, and she’s back there now. But for 9 years […]