Editor:
In addition to the various levels of government, there are hundreds of non-profit organizations and many individuals in Abbotsford that do what they can to help the homeless and those on fixed incomes. This includes offering time and money, serving food and water or handing out clothing and other items for day-to-day needs, whether in-doors or in the street.
It also includes doing what can be done to provide housing, health care and services to address mental health and addiction issues.
Six days a week late morning and every Wednesday and Saturday evening beside the Archway Community Services (“ACS”) building at 2420 Montrose Ave., dozens of homeless and others on fixed incomes are provided food, water, clothing and other items to keep warm and dry. However, food and all other items are handed out in all kinds of weather.
With all of the resources in our community, the number of people, non-profit organizations and levels of government, can we not work together to come up with at least one covered site or an unused building to serve food, water and other items needed?
Every person who finds themselves in these circumstances has a unique story on why and how they ended up where they are. Any one of these individuals could be our father, mother, brother, sister or child. Rather than making assumptions or judging how someone ends up where they are, let’s work together on finding a suitable site to gives these individuals hope and allows them to receive help with dignity and in a way that shows that they matter.
If we all work together, this goal can be accomplished quickly and easily. It will also be something that will benefit our community as a whole.
We invite owners of suitable sites in close proximity to the Salvation Army, MCC or ACS as well as local citizens and other groups to contact us so that we can explore the options that are available.
The 5 and 2 Ministries (the5and2.ca)
Lotus Humanitarian Society (www.lotushumanitariansociety.ca)
Khalsa Diwan Society (kdsabbotsford@hotmail.com)
Kyle Hutchison: (abby@reflexsupplements.ca)