Community Cafe recognizes World Homeless Day
As many gathered for the monthly Community Cafe at the Stephenville Lions Club on Thursday, October 12, 2017, it is estimated that 35,000 people in Canada* awoke that morning with no fixed address; many finding themselves in parks, shelters and make-shift houses.
October 10 is recognized world-wide as World Homeless Day. The purpose is to draw attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, while taking advantage of the stage an ‘international day’ provides.**
In this area of the world, for those who find it difficult, financially and physically, to prepare a nutritious meal there’s
the Community Cafe. While the meal is homemade and hot, many patrons come for a variety of reasons. For some its the socializing and “catching up,” others like to sit back and sway to the live music, while others challenge a friend in a friendly competitive game of crib. The Community Cafe has always been about inclusion, so regardless what walk of life you may be taking, or how much money sits in your wallet, ALL are welcomed with the same friendliness.
Often times the picture shown in the movies is not always the true picture of homelessness. Not all are in sleeping
bags on the streets. Some continue to shuffle from family member to friend, some sleeping in their car. The Community Cafe was one initiative that came to be in 2011 when Stephenville-Port au Port MHA John Finn was employed with the Community Education Network as Housing Support Worker. MHA Finn spoke with many familiar faces during his stop by for lunch, catching up with the current HSW Michelle Power.
Since that first cafe in October 2011, nearly 17,000 folks have come through the doors of the Stephenville Lions Club/Zion Pentecostal Church to enjoy a hot meal, many having made lifetime connections with new friends and community resources to assist them when they need a helping hand.
October 10th is World Homeless Day, but the Southwestern Housing Stability Initiative and all it’s dedicated volunteers, will continue its journey each month towards a day when the only reason someone comes to the monthly Community Cafe would be for want, not need!
