On January 17th, Mission Services of London kicked off the Coldest Night of the Year Walk. Past walkers, volunteers, sponsors and members of the community heard first-hand how their support has helped to change the lives of people like Paul, who shared how different his life looks now, thanks to the services he received at the Men’s Mission & Rehabilitation Centre and Quintin Warner House (our addiction treatment branch).

At one point, Paul shares, “everything I owned was in a green garbage bag; outside of a couple of guys I’d get high with, I didn’t have a friend in the world.” Today, having participated in the program at Quintin Warner House, Paul is sober and no longer stays in shelter at the Men’s Mission; however, he is there often, dropping off food donations to be used in the preparation of meals for people who are experiencing homelessness, and staying at Mission Services of London branches.

Paul is a friendly face that represents Mission Services with donors who give fresh produce, baked goods, meat and other food items that help provide meals to neighbours in need.

He drives Mission Services of London’s refrigerated van all around town – and he feels blessed. “Mission Services of London kept me alive, gave me a bed to sleep in and encouraged me,” Paul says. “Eight years ago, I was living [at Men’s Mission] with nothing but a green garbage bag and
now I drive the van around . . . God is doing some work in me.”

There are many others like Paul and he has encouragement for them: “recovery is hard work at first, but anybody who is sick of being sick and tired can get clean.” He adds: “If they’re willing to do
the work and seek the help they need, there’s hope for anybody.”

If you’d like to help others like Paul achieve a different future, come and walk with us! The Coldest Night of the Year Walk is on Saturday, February 24. Registration opens at 4:00 pm, the walk begins at 5:00 pm and there’s chili for you when you return from your walk.

For more details, to register, pledge or volunteer, visit: cnoy.org/london or email Katerina Frattas at kfrattas@missionservices.ca.

by Ericka Ayala Ronson, Director of Development & Communications