Stories of . HOPE & HOME - Lighthouse Orillia
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Winter 2021 Newsletter, Volume 9. Issue 1
Stories of .... HOPE & HOME In this newsletter
A middle aged man, who we will name “Joe”, has stayed at The Lighthouse
many times over the past couple of years because he has been experiencing Participant Success Stories
chronic homelessness with difficulty of keeping permanent housing. A few
months ago, after he had been staying with us for almost three months, we Building Hope
Fundraising Update
advertised a job on our bulletin board, Joe applied and got the job! Our
Construction Update
staff posted a brand new apartment ad, Joe got that apartment and has
NEW Clinical Treatment
been living independently for about four months now! The last time one of Room
our staff saw him on the street, he said, "how do I help with the (Coldest
Night of the Year) fundraiser?" His gratitude for the help he received is What is Hope?
Volunteer Feature
already flowing back to the community.
Upcoming Events
A senior woman, we’ll call “Pam”, came to us because no one could take CNOY
her in due to COVID-19, and stayed with us for about four months. She Gala
worked hard every week at her job but also attained some funding
Recent Events
assistance and was able earlier this month, to move into a safe and
remarkably large apartment! Pam was so happy to get her things back out Grant & Donor Recognition
of storage and get her pictures of her grandchildren out and spread out
around her new home.
WINTER 2021 page 2
BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN UPDATE ... FUTURE
SUBMITTED BY LYNN THOMAS, CAMPAIGN MANAGER lynn@orillialighthouse.ca
This is it, the home stretch! After years of vision casting, planning, designing, and fundraising, our goal is within
reach! Construction of two new facilities began by W.S. Morgan Construction Ltd. in the fall of 2019. By late
spring 2021 we will be moved into our new location and start a new season of caring for the women, men, youth
and families that will walk through our doors with more resources, more space for shelter, more hope to guide
individuals to the road to wellness than ever in the history of The Lighthouse since 1992.
January - February 2021:
The Lighthouse Community Services - internal insulation, drywall, fire systems, flooring, fixtures, main
staircase, showers, being installed. Exterior windows and siding completed
The Lighthouse Supportive Housing - paint, tiling of bathrooms, flooring, drop ceilings, lighting, bathroom
installations complete or will be completed by end of February
Campaign Contacts: CoChairs: Glenn Wagner - glenn@orillialighthouse.ca, Charlene Taylor - charlene@orillialighthouse.ca,
Campaign Manager: Lynn Thomas - lynn@orillialighthouse.ca
Lighthouse Community Services inquiries - Linda Goodall - linda@orillialighthouse.ca
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Things are moving along well for Spring 2021 occupancy of the new Lighthouse Community Services
and Lighthouse Supportive Housing. Take a look at our newly released video by Heidman Definition
of our construction and campaign here. Photo credit: Heidman Definition
Inside peek of the atrium in The Lighthouse
Community Services building The Lighthouse Community Services
The NEW Lighthouse
Grand Opening!
Open House
Stay tuned for our official Open House date!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed
WINTER 2021 page 3
NEW CLINICAL TREATMENT ROOM
SUBMITTED BY CHARLENE TAYLOR, BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR AND
CLINICAL TREATMENT ROOM COMMITTEE MEMBER
One of the Building Hope committees working diligently behind the scenes in
preparation for the new Lighthouse Community Services is the Clinical
Treatment Advisory Committee.
A small but dedicated working group meets every two weeks via Zoom to plan
for the Clinical Treatment Room that is to be housed in the Lighthouse
Community Services building. It has been well documented that those
experiencing homelessness are further compromised when their healthcare
needs are not met because they do not have a healthcare provider or because
they experience barriers accessing healthcare.
Our little “clinic” is all about partnerships that continue to be created in
response to the need to provide healthcare. Nancy Sutherland, Nurse
Practitioner, chairs this team of professionals that include Dr. Anna Naylor, Dr.
Becky Van lersel, Dr. Bob Sullivan (Dentist), Becky He (Pharmacist), Kim
Leatherdale, Brian Adams, Linda Goodall & Charlene Taylor. We are happy to
announce that Dr. Anna Naylor has accepted position of Clinic Lead and will be
working closely with colleague Dr. Becky Van lersel to provide part-time
clinical coverage. Additionally, the community paramedic program has recently
confirmed that they will be joining the clinic team to provide healthcare
support. Currently the community paramedics provide clinic visits one day a
week at the temporary shelters.
LEGACY CAMPAIGN - BEDS
One of the most important features of providing emergency and
supportive housing is for those who use The Lighthouse services to
have a safe, comfortable, warm place to sleep. This is a basic human
need that many of us take for granted. When people come through
our doors, they are most often experiencing the lowest point in their
life.
A safe space is the first step on the road to wellness.
That’s where you come in! You can purchase a bed that will have
a name engraved on it that will provide comfort and care for
hundreds of people for years to come!
Bunk bed with mattress - $1,999 each (Emergency Shelter)
Full bed with mattress - $2,499 each (Supportive Housing Units)
Purchase on our website under Legacy Items on the Building Hope
page. Contact Lynn Thomas for specific engraving naming rights
information: lynn@orillialighthouse.ca or 705-329-2265 x 111
WINTER 2021 page 4
WHAT IS HOPE? - VOLUNTEER FEATURE
MEET VERVA SMITH - ONE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE'S BEACONS OF HOPE FOR
THE VULNERABLE
Verva Smith has been a faithful volunteer of The Lighthouse for seven years! People often
say of the lunch program, “if anyone wants to know what there is to do, ask Verva”. This
“spicy”, energetic, little woman has become a stable part of our team in preparing,
planning and serving meals to our community meal program for those participants who
come for a hot meal Monday - Saturday before COVID-19. Since the pandemic hit in March
2020, Verva has been one of the few regular volunteers helping our Kitchen Manager, Stu
Stark, to prepare bagged lunches to hand out to anyone needing a meal out front of The
Lighthouse Monday - Friday.
We have been very thankful that several churches, like Cornerstone Baptist, St. James, and
St. Davids, helped to offset the cost of this program as well as receiving funding from the
ECSF grant fund through United Way Simcoe Muskoka ($12,000) and Home Depot
Foundation granting of $10,000 of PC grocery cards.
When we asked what she felt was most important about this community meal program,
Verva said, “people tell us all the time that they couldn’t survive without this meal
program”. Just last week, they served hot dogs as part of the bagged lunch program and
a participant said, “this is the best meal I’ve had in months”. We think Verva must have
developed a passion for feeding and caring for people from her family upbringing with
being 1 of 14 children. She told us she’s looking forward to not handing out bagged lunches
any more and to have actual interaction with people again when we are relocated at the
new Lighthouse at 75 Queen St.E.
When we asked Verva why she volunteers for The Lighthouse, she said, “I wouldn’t want to
do anything else. It's the people that keeps me here”. All of us at The Lighthouse are so
blessed that Verva feels this way, it wouldn’t be the same around here without her!
Building Hope Virtual
THE LIGHTHOUSE 2020 STATS
Appreciation Event
December 15, 2020
Thank you donors, staff and volunteers who were able
to join us at our Virtual Appreciation Event. For those
who missed the event, you can find the video here.
WINTER 2021 page 5
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR - FEB. 20, 2021 (VIRTUAL)
This year, things are a little bit different, but we are very excited to be hosting
our annual Coldest Night of the Year virtually. Due to COVID-19, there will not
be an in-person gathering option. But you can register to walk a 2k or 5k in
your neighbourhood throughout the month of February. Not able to walk? Help
support a registrant or donate online through cnoy.org/orillia.
BUILDING HOPE - "HOPE IS ON THE HORIZON" GALA
TENTATIVE DATE - September 11, 2021
This year will be year to celebrate The Lighthouse! Last spring we had to
"box up" our event because of the pandemic, but guest speaker, General Tom
Lawson, the Adam Saunders jazz band, Tailwinds Bar and Grill, Lake
Country Airways, and our gala sponsors have all agreed to our new tentative
date!
We will have fantastic vistas on Lake St. John, fundraising flights, great menu
and music and loads of inspiration for the new Lighthouse Community
Services Hub. Tickets $150 each with $75 tax receipt.
For more information contact your Co Pilots: Deborah Joslin
deborahjoslin1@gmail.com OR Lynn Thomas lynn@orillialighthouse.ca.
RECENT EVENTS
CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN - LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS
DECEMBER 15, 2020 TO JANUARY 15, 2021
Ornament sales - $4,975 (199)
Supportive Housing Furnishings - $6,555 ATTENTION ALL REALTORS!
Monthly donors (2021) - $4,320 Click the link to read all details of Building Hope
Realtor Challenge. Goal: $100,000 by April 1, 2021
INSPIRATION WALKWAY CAMPAIGN - OCTOBER 2020
Thank you to all who purchased a Legacy Brick Paver! We are looking forward to
featuring over 200 names on our Inspiration Walkway from our brick sales from , which
we raised approximately $76,950!!
WINTER 2021 page 6
GRANT RECOGNITION
Regional Relief and Recovery
PPE Supplies and 20 Survival Kits
Fund - $5,000
$10,000 in PC Gift Cards 20 Sleeping Bags
(Staff Health & Safety Training)
$20,000 $25,500 $13,200
Emergency Community Support Fund - ECSF
(funded through both UWSM & CFOA)
DONOR RECOGNITION
The Steve & Chris Potter Family Foundation - $25,000
Mirkopoulos Family - $25,000
Michael and Shelley Unwin - $15,000
IUPAT District Council 46 - $10,000
($31,000 to-date)
Connexus Church - $20,000 (Lighthouse Operations)
The Mirkopoulos - Cinespace group
Building Hope - A Project by The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse
@orillialight orillialighthouse.ca
@orillialight
Content by: Lynn Thomas
Designed by: Tanya Dehmel
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