News

On Tuesday, we hosted our Sixth Annual GivingTuesday Shelter Gala and we couldn’t have done it without you!

This year, our goal was to raise $100,000 in support of our programs and services that provide essentials for our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside.

We’re delighted to share that collectively, you gave:

$99,735!

That’s just $265 away from our goal and the most we’ve ever raised for our Shelter Gala! THANK YOU! We’re grateful to each and every person who made a donation towards this year’s event! Our work to provide dignity, belonging and justice to the community would not be possible without your generosity. When we talk about our guiding principle of belonging, this is what it looks like in action. Showing our neighbours though a beautiful shared meal and deep care that they matter, they belong, they are deserving of something special during the holidays.

Thanks to your gifts, we had the honour of throwing a festive evening celebration for our 51 shelter residents, and bringing 250 specialty meals to the DTES for lunch. Shelter residents arrived to a cheerfully decorated room, complete with a lit-up Christmas tree and festive holiday décor. The menu for the evening was created by Michelin-star Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, with food prepared by our kitchen staff, and holiday-themed cans of Coca Cola (a treat we often can’t provide, but is always loved!)

Staff served residents their dishes straight to their tables, something they don’t usually get to experience as they’re often standing and waiting in long lines to get their meals.

First up was the starter, which was a pickled beet salad with organic greens, walnut pecan pralines, feta cheese and balsamic dressing.

The main course consisted of braised beef chuck, potatoes gratin and glazed carrots. So delicious!

But the most popular dish on the menu was the dessert: a vanilla panna cotta with mixed berry compote and cranberry custard tart!

And of course, no holiday party would be complete without Christmas music and gifts! We treated each resident to a special gift bag filled with essentials like a toque, and not-so-essential (but highly requested) sweet treats like candies and chocolate bars!

Please enjoy the photos below for a peek into what our Shelter Gala looks like. Please note that we choose not to photograph community members out of respect for their privacy and in keeping with the ethical practices of community engagement in the DTES.

Thank You Thursday is one of our favourite days because we get to celebrate our supportive community!

Thank you to all who made a gift! You not only brought joy to our 51 shelter residents and hundreds of DTES community members on GivingTuesday, but your gift will also support our programs and services. Your impact will extend into the next year as we prepare to increase our capacity to serve the neighbourhood when we move into our new building. Your gift was matched, which means your impact is going twice as far. Thank you.

We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Odlum Brown, Goldbeck Recruiting, Dakeryn Industries and Gordon Food Services for returning as Shelter Gala Partners this year! Thank you for bringing this special celebration to our shelter and the DTES. We appreciate your ongoing support of our mission and vision and the impact you’re having in the community.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to returning Table Sponsors: Robert Allan Ltd., David Naire + Associates and Gilmore Park United Church. Thank you for supporting this event again and bringing cheer and essentials to the shelter and DTES neighbourhood.

Thank you to Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson for creating the menu this year, so that our kitchen could prepare and serve wonderful meals, enjoyed by shelter residents and the DTES community.

And of course, we’d like to recognize the staff who worked hard to help make this event happen for the sixth year in a row! We’re pleased to acknowledge all the hardworking staff from the Kitchen, Spiritual Care, Shelter, Community Services, and Development for executing this event, so our shelter residents and DTES neighbours could relax and enjoy the celebration. Thank you to Nick, Mercedes, Will, Sarah W., Bert, Gorilla, Brooks, Ken, Nelson, Lauren, Casey, Amanda P., Steph, Dara and Cristien!

It takes a community of people to make a special event like this happen. Thank you for being part of our FIRST UNITED community. We’re encouraged and inspired by your generosity. We hope you can feel the impact you’re having in the Downtown Eastside and feel pride in what you’re a part of.

P.S. If you were too busy to make a gift on GivingTuesday but still want to pitch in, you can!