A
program which strives to respond,
in
a meaningful way,
to
the needs of the most abandoned of our city's poor
and
homeless people --
basic
physical needs of shelter
food
and warm clothing
deeply
human needs of compassion, dignity and feelings of self worth.
Bestow
your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted.
Your
light shall shine in the darkness and gloom shall become like midday.
(from
the Jewish tradition -- Isaiah 58:10)
The
pious are the socially conscious
who
recognize in their wealth, a right for the indigent and the deprived
whom
they help for the sake of God alone,
without
any desire for recompense or thankfulness
from
those whom they help.
(from
the Muslim tradition -- "Ethic of Compassion and Sharing")
In
Toronto in 1986, the death of George, a homeless man, brought people  together
to take action. Students and teachers of St. Michael's High School, Sister
Susan Moran, Father John Murphy and Rev. Canon John Erb took the necessary
steps to arrange a location, food and volunteers and opened a small storefront
on St. Claire Avenue. That was January 15, 1987. From this humble beginning,
the Out of the Cold has spread throughout Toronto and many cities across
Canada.
Hamilton Out of the Cold Program started in the hearts of Sister Carole
Anne Guay, a Sister of St. Joseph, and her friend Ms. Gloria Colizza. Both
of these women are retired teachers from Hamilton. They saw the need, started
to pray about what God would have them do about the need, and visited the
Out of the Cold Program in Toronto. They invited others to share their
vision and dream of feeding the poor and giving them a place to lay their
heads. The program began its first year on December 1, 1997, at James St.
Baptist Church. |
Table
Of Contents
Who
Are We?
Appreciation
Night April 2006
Appreciation
Night, March 2004
Apple
Picking Day
Every
little bit helps!
The
Outstanding Support Award
For
the season of 2004-2005
For
the season of 2002-2003.
For
the season of 2001-2002.
For
the season of 2000-2001.
Newspaper
Feature Article
Published
In The Hamilton Spectator, December 23, 2000,
tells
our story and gives a brief overview of our ministry.
View,
Read and/or Download Our Revised Manual
If
you are interested in implementing a similar program
in
your church, this online manual could be a real help.
 Recent
Newsletter
Published
twice quarterly, this newsletter offers information
about
our ongoing development and philosphy.
2007
Annual Report (opens in PDF format)
Design
Hope
An
Project For The Homeless
It
all began with a gingerbread house one Christmas!
One
Sabbath Jesus was at the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal.
Jesus said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or
a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your
relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and
you would be repaid.
But when you give a banquet invite the poor, the cripple, the lame, and
the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you,
for
you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(From
the Christian tradition, Luke 14:12-14)
***
After
visiting our website you may desire to volunteer your services
or
you may have some observations, questions or comments.
To
contact us click here.
If
you desire to help us in our work
by
giving a donation click here.
|
