John Powell from Rotary eClub One drops off a $500 cheque at Siloam's Open House.

Siloam Mission is more than just a soup kitchen.

That’s what more than 160 people realized on the weekend as they took in a personalized tour of Siloam Mission during the homeless shelter’s 2nd annual Open House days.

Siloam Mission threw its doors wide open to anyone wanting to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the organization, especially inviting its donors to see how their investment is literally changing lives in Winnipeg’s inner city.

“I knew a little bit about Siloam, but had no idea how much they actually do,” said Grace Midwinter, who had never been to the Mission before.

“Before coming here I thought it was a depressing place because of the circumstances, but after going through it and seeing how much hope it gives people, I’m amazed.”

The one-hour tour gives people an inside look into all the services Siloam offers – including a meal program serving 1,200 meals every day, an art program, a health centre that includes optometry, dentistry, physiotherapy and more, the emergency overnight shelter, employment-training programs and supportive housing.

“If I knew someone I cared about was homeless, then I would want them to be at a place like Siloam that takes really good care of people and helps them transition off the street,” Midwinter said at the end of her tour.

The tour also explains the homeless experience and gives participants a chance to use their heads, heart and hands to become solution-based advocates to help those living on the street and in poverty.

Clean & Tidy

John Powell from Rotary eClub One not only came for a tour of Siloam Mission, he also dropped off a $500 cheque from the club to help purchase a computer for volunteers to use.

“I had no idea the extent of the operations here. The scope of the organization simply impressed me,” said Powell, who has supported a lunch program for Aboriginal children and a Salvation Army Youth Program in the past through the Rotary club.

“When I was there, staff and volunteers were busy scrubbing down everything in the dining area and kitchen. Everything is so clean and tidy.”

While Siloam’s Open House was a chance for the public to see the inner workings of the organization, our doors are open to anyone wanting a tour every day from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. To book your tour, call our main line at 204-956-4344 or email info@siloam.ca.

One year ago to the day, we had departed for Mexico. Ninety-nine days later, we would graduate. But on that day, we pulled up to 300 Princess Street for the very first time. The line of people outside Siloam Mission curved around the corner and out of sight. I was nervous to even cross the street and share their sidewalk.

Fast forward to seven long days later. I eagerly scampered out the front doors of the warehouse-like building, smiling comfortably at the patrons still lining the sidewalks, despite my severe lack of sleep the night before! It was in that moment, as my mother and I pulled away from Siloam, the building that my friends and I called home for one week and that hundreds call home every night, I realized just what an effect ICE had had on me.

I approached the Siloam less than a week before with caution and discomfort, and my experiences that week prepared me to leave feeling confident, and infinitely more grateful for all the blessings in my own life. Looking back on the week now, the only word I can muster up is beautiful.

My favourite people and I awoke each morning at 8 AM, groggy and sore, yet motivated. We devoured hearty breakfasts that were provided by Siloam, and shared tables with not only each other but also the MOST team (Mission Off the Street Team). After the shelter on the floor below was cleaned, first the girls, and then boys, showered in the shelter. Another big thanks to the boys for cleaning the showers without complaints!

By 10 AM every student was whisked off by gung-ho parent volunteers to different locations in the downtown area. Numerous students spent afternoons at Madison House, picking up garbage around the neighbourhood. Others took on roles of educational assistants at inner city schools, or nurse’s assistants at Hope Centre Medical Clinic. Some worked with Union Gospel Mission and completed odd jobs around both their men’s and women’s addictions centres.

Many students stayed at Siloam to sort clothing, make phone calls, prepare and serve meals, move boxes, and interact one on one with patrons in the drop-in. Whether working with adults living with homelessness, children whose families are brand new to Canada, or simply wiping tables and mopping floors, everyone returned “home” to Siloam each evening with stories to share and experiences upon which to reflect.

Though sometimes it was tempting to curl up in a sleeping bag and snooze after a long day of volunteer work, our wonderful leaders always had lively evenings planned! Sometimes that involved lugging backpacks, sleeping bags and pillows all the way to The Forks, other times it involved cozy movie nights and popcorn. Most often for dinner we all piled into Winnipeg’s oldest working freight elevator and rode down to the kitchen for a Siloam-cooked meal, but on other nights supper was more than just nutrition.

For example, on Thursday, we had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather and walk to Mondragon, a restaurant in The Exchange, to eat vegan and learn about worker’s cooperatives. A highlight for teachers, parents, and kids alike was Sunday’s Bigger Better event, where we split off into groups and walked around downtown asking strangers for objects to trade. Later, we bartered our findings for money, yet little did we know that whatever we had earned during Sunday’s activity would have to feed us the following evening!

For me, a highlight of this trip was simply being immersed in new cultures, new neighbourhoods, and different ways of life.

I adored every single sunny stroll we took, whether it be to church in the West End, or next door to UGM. I thoroughly enjoyed worshipping alongside new Winnipeggers from all over the globe at City Church, and although at the time it was tiresome, looking back I enjoyed volunteering at Inner City Youth Alive with over 70 rambunctious kids running wild! I have never given so many piggy back rides in my life!

I hope that this week caused all of us to fall a little bit more in love with our own city. I pray that I am not the only one who was positively affected by this experience; the only one who will no longer shuffle away from those who are living on the streets of Winnipeg.

Finally, I would like to thank those who truly made this experience happen.

I am grateful to the collegiate’s dedicated Mr. Hazeu and Mrs. Neufeld for the many hours they spent transforming this trip from an idea into reality. ICE also could not have happened without the enthusiastic leadership from Siloam staff, particularly Victoria and Lindsay, all the staff and volunteers at other organizations, and of course our gracious parents who drove us across the inner city and even braved staying overnight.

Lastly, I’m grateful to my classmates, who embraced this challenge and willingly took the first step across the street and into Siloam Mission that Saturday a few weeks ago. The experience blessed us with so much more than just neon coloured souvenir t-shirts.