First United

In honour of Remembrance Day, the Spiritual Care team set up altars in our shelter and new building’s café to create a space for community members and shelter residents to engage and interact with.

The altar in our café drop-in space gives folks a place to honour and name a person who was affected by conflict, or share a personal hope for peace on a paper dove.

“It’s a tangible way to affirm our own desire for peace,” Deb Walker, Spiritual Care Outreach, explained. “We hope to inspire actions and messages of peace and remembrance. Cultivating peace-filled practices and attitudes are helpful for every person. We seek to encourage, support and inspire peace in the hearts of all those we encounter.”

The altar at the shelter asks, “Who do you wish peace for?” It also provides an opportunity for residents to write the person’s name on a paper dove and put it in the little tree that’s set up at the altar. A prayer request box is also available.

“At the end of the month, during our prayer and smudge ceremony, we will treat these doves as prayers. They will be smudged and burned at that time,” shared Rev. Lauren Sanders.

Join us this Remembrance Day as we honour those who have been affected by conflicts, and reflect on our hopes for peace.

#RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

In preparation for the upcoming winter season, we’re calling for new or gently used clothing (jackets, hoodies, toques, etc.), toiletries, feminine products and more.

Items can be dropped off at 320 East Hastings on Tuesdays – Thursdays from 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm.

To view a list of most-needed items, visit the gifts in-kind page on our website
firstunited.ca/how-you-help/g….

Make sure you join us online for Toast Talks this Thursday! We’re sharing all the latest updates, including our plans for cold weather response and distributions in our new building.

Register here: eventbrite.ca/e/toast-talks-…

#DTES #GiftsInKind

“This has come to our attention over the last few months, where previously it hadn’t been,” said Sarah Marsden, FIRST UNITED Director of Systems Change and Legal. “And I can definitely say there is no evidence of any repair or of any of these issues being addressed… And when it’s something like heat or something like water, it’s not acceptable to let that drag on.”

Last Monday we attended Amplifying Voices: Access to Justice Through Housing Stability, an event hosted by RBC Royal Bank about housing justice.

Advocacy Manager Michelle Beda was one of four panelists who participated in discussions about justice, housing stability and the legal side of it all.

Thank you to the Law Foundation of BC, one of our community funders, for inviting us!

Today is Indigenous Veterans Day, a day to honour the Indigenous people who served in Canada’s military but whose contributions often go unrecognized.

This day of observance is an important one. It takes place on November 8, a few days ahead of Remembrance Day because it’s important to acknowledge the incredible sacrifices Indigenous vets had to make. They often faced challenges just to enlist, as well as faced additional challenges in their lives post-service.

We want to thank the brave First Nations, Inuit and Metis veterans who sacrificed so much for Canada. We see your contribution and we’re grateful for your service.

#IndigenousVeteransDay #LestWeForget