"What a wonderful idea."

We've been getting a lot of encouragement and well wishes for the merger. Beautiful greeting cards, emails, verbal kudos, and congratulatory notes attached to generous donations. Here is my favourite so far:

I heartily approve of what you are doing. I'm sending a cheque for $50 to get started, and a VOID cheque authorizing a monthly deduction of $10.00. Hope this helps.

Don't get too pumped up, though: I was born in 1917, so if you do the math you know the monthly contribution will come to an end - but I hope not for a while yet.

Jack

Good Samaritan Moment

I was driving through rush hour traffic, slowly inching my way to a stop light on Albert and Victoria. Perhaps the busiest intersection in the city. I saw two young men arguing, and it was quickly escalating into a fist fight. The woman with them was wailing, and one of the men shoved her down into a heap. Other men drove by and walked the long way around. I became incensed.

I signaled... honked and flagged the man beside me to let me cut across a few lanes of traffic before moving through the green light. I pulled up, hopped out of my car, and confronted them.

"What is going on here?" I said. "Am I going to have to phone the police?" I held up my cell phone to prove that I could.

"Mind your own business!"

"I will not! You have disrespected this young lady and this is unacceptable behaviour."

"Well, he stole my cigarettes!"

I couldn't believe all this was over a pack of smokes. I said, "You. Give back the cigarettes and walk away." Turning and looking at the other man, I said, "And you. Stop yelling. Help your girlfriend. And cross the street."

A little bit of commotion as they were wondering if they should listen to me... I held up my phone and uttered another threat about the police.

In the meantime, a chivalrous man decided to hang out just ahead in case I needed assistance. Finally.

So, the two young men decided they would do as I asked. I waited there until the couple crossed the busy street. The chivalrous man waited also.

He nodded in my direction. Feeling like an off duty policeman, I hopped in the car and continued home.

Mind Your Manners

Why don't people say "thank you" anymore? Ken and I have given multiple (modest) gifts over Thanksgiving and Christmas and there has been no acknowledgement of these things, whether it be cash or something picked personally.

Let me just say, (since my family has recently discovered my blog!) that I am not talking about our Christmas Day gift opening! That was wonderful and we were all spoiled and acknowledged our gratitude.

So, what can I learn from this? Maybe I'm not a good gift giver? Two people didn't even take the gift I had specially bought for them. Can you imagine. "No, I don't want that. It's nice, though."

Others implied it was not well thought out, or not fair because they hadn't gotten us anything. And then the rest... just silent.

I do not give to get something in return. However, my mother taught me that it is common courtesy and very polite so say, simply, "Thank you."

Automatic Pilot

After all the foofaraw last week...

Okay, I can't resist. The Dictionary.com people must have checked with Ken and Donovan before deciding what word to use as the word of the day last Wednesday! It means, "Excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration."

You would think I would remember to answer the phone correctly. I mean, it felt like we hobnobbed with every reporter and camera person in Regina! It was awesome! (Ken and Donovan have a slightly different perspective.)

But I see only two of the three office phones are labelled with the new name. And so, by mistake, I answered, "Good morning, Regina Rescue Mission, Michelle speaking."

Now granted, it was early. And I hadn't yet had my coffee. However, I'm the one that was bragging last week how it's not a problem, and it just rolls off the tip of my tongue. Apparently it rolls off the tip of my caffeinated tongue.

So, midway through this conversation, I said, "I think I answered the phone wrong. We're a brand new mission now!" She chuckled and agreed.

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.

Got a nice ring to it, don't you think?

CTV News Again!

I moderated the government press conference today. Here's some quotes from CTV news:

Mayor Pat Fiacco participated in the announcement of two new housing projects for North Central Regina. Both are beautiful buildings that will provide shelter to Regina's most needy.

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission will build a new emergency shelter on the 1600 block Angus Street that also includes two dozen units for longer term residents. It replaces the Christian charity's original shelter downtown that was recently demolished.

KEN PORTER, SOULS HARBOUR RESCUE MISSION: "To go from having nothing to having something so well provided and just a permanent solution for ourselves and for our clients is just, it's an answered prayer."

Government of Canada Press Release

Two New Affordable Housing Projects Announced in Regina
REGINA, SK, January 17, 2007 – The federal and provincial governments announced details today of two new affordable housing projects that will provide approximately $2.2 million, under the Centenary Affordable Housing Program (CAHP), for the construction of a total of forty-two new apartment units to assist some of Regina's most vulnerable people. CAHP funding for... Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission is being provided by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) and the City of Regina.

"Canada's New Government recognizes the importance of affordable housing," said Andrew Scheer, Member of Parliament for Regina – Qu'Appelle, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. "We are pleased to be working with our partners to extend a helping hand to those lower income individuals and families in Regina that are working towards building a better future."

"Today's announcement is about helping more Regina residents live in safe, affordable homes and making life better for today's families," Corrections and Public Safety Minister Warren McCall, on behalf of Community Resources Minister Buckley Belanger said. "The new... Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission projects mark a new beginning for vulnerable households as they work towards building independence. These projects clearly exemplify what our HomeFirst housing policy framework is all about."

"These affordable housing projects are great examples of what can be accomplished when government and community work together to improve living conditions and quality of life for residents in Regina's inner city neighbourhoods," Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said. "The... Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission affordable housing project fits well with City Council's long range vision of a city that is attractive, generous, affordable, accessible, compact and competitive, where people can thrive in opportunity."

The Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission project, to be constructed in the 1600 block of Angus Street, will consist of thirty apartment-style units to house homeless men and women with children. The Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission is both sponsor and owner of the project.

Total cost for this project is approximately $1.8 million, of which approximately $1.5 million was provided under CAHP by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. Additional funding was of $150,000 was contributed by the Government of Canada's National Homelessness Initiative, with the City of Regina providing a five-year tax abatement.

CAHP is funded under the Canada – Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Agreement. It provides approximately $33 million in federal funding for affordable housing, which is matched by Saskatchewan, municipalities and other partners. With these matching contributions, a total of over $66 million will be committed by 2007 – 2008 for affordable housing.

Today's Leader Post Article

Ken Porter (left) and Donovan Carroll, both of the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, stand in front of the Sacred Heart Church, which was sold to the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission and will be partly used as the Life Change Campus for Women. The Regina Rescue Mission and Souls Harbour merged together to form Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.

Photograph by : Don Healy, The Leader-Post

The Leader-Post

Merger creates 'dynamic Christian charity'
Maria Cootauco

The Regina Rescue and Souls Harbour missions announced their merger into what one official called "one dynamic Christian charity" on Tuesday.

From now on, they will be known as Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.

The Regina Rescue Mission brings to the table a "life-change program" facility that has been running for eight years. The program facilitates a year-long recovery program for such problems as alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, and mental illness.

Souls Harbour is a 19-year-old effort to provide Regina's most needy with the basics for survival. It has been engaged in a clothing outreach program for women and children, a soup kitchen that feeds an inner-city school, a supper-meal program which feeds up to 350 people a day, and transitional housing.

"By joining together, not only can we continue with our services, but we can expand and grow and become more effective," said Donovan Carroll, the joint mission's chief operations officer.

Also announced at the media conference was the mission's acquisition of the church across from the 3535 8th Ave. facility.

Formerly the Sacred Heart Church, the building will serve as the new Women's Home and Good News Chapel, providing nine extra beds.

A beneficiary of the "life-change program" is 36-year-old Debbie.

Debbie, who declined to give her last name, came to the mission six month ago, after she came out of a coma brought on by heavy drinking.

The wait list for admission into the mission is sometimes six months long; it was four months before Debbie was admitted.

"There is no safer place," she said.

Ken Porter, the new mission's chief executive officer, said the main goal of the merger is to simply help people. And with the doubling of resources, more people can be assisted.

"That's the reason both ministries started," Porter said. "We don't want to get very far from our roots. Expansion is always good but it's got to be in the proper direction and the kind of things that we believe the needy in Regina need."

Michelle Porter, the new mission's chief administrative officer, articulated that the merging is a cumulative effort "to bring homeless, addicted, and hurting people into a Souls Harbour of love, faith, and a new life."

Lois, 51, came to the mission after a stay at the psychiatric unit at Regina General Hospital.

"It's changing my life," she said.

Lois, who has been at the mission for three months, has been in several government treatment programs for alcholism, some for as long as a month, but said that they were not effective.

"I believe that this program works because of the way it's structured and because of the length of time (for which it runs)," Lois said.

"That's a big one; being able to change your life over a period of time," Debbie added. "Have a look around this city. How long do you think you would last if you had an addiction and had to turn around and walk back into all of that? You can't.

"This place is pretty good. I know it's kind of a cocoon and it's kind of scary that some day we're gonna have to leave and not have all this support. But it's not tomorrow. We don't leave til we're ready."

Debbie has been so transformed by her experience at the mission that upon completion of her program, she intends to work at the mission in a capacity that will help her reach out to women like her previous self.

"Just pass on the love," she smiled.



© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007

CTV News

Regina Rescue Mission and Souls Harbour merge
Two Regina Christian charities have decided to work together.

They help Regina's most needy and now Souls Harbour and Regina Rescue Mission will work together. The merger comes as the Christian charities expand services in a neighbourhood dubbed Canada's most troubled.

KEN PORTER, REGINA RESCUE MISSION: "Well, I don't think anybody debates that it's troubled but most troubled I think is a bit of a stretch."

Both groups began downtown. Souls Harbour ran a soup kitchen on Broad Street. Regina Rescue Mission operated a homeless shelter behind the Hotel Saskatchewan. Recent demolition of both buildings forced the two organizations under one roof. It worked so well, they've made the arrangement permanent.

DONOVAN CARROLL, SOULS HARBOUR: "And we started working together. We saw the benefits, wow, it's amazing when we share resources and work as one unit, we move a lot quicker and we get a lot more done."

The newly named Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission will expand into North Central Regina where it hopes to change lives in the neighbourhood. It has purchased a former Catholic Church and convent for residential drug and alcohol treatment programs. It's already helped people like Geroge McKenzie overcome his addictions.

GEORGE MCKENZIE: "And once I was through the program after about little over half a year or so, they asked me if I wanted to become an intern and I thought this would be great because I could be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."

The new organization will be able to help even more people from a simple bowl or soup to delving into the long term problems in their lives.

Merger Monday!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Michelle Porter
306-591-4151


REGINA RESCUE MISSION AND SOULS HARBOUR ANNOUNCE MERGER


New Combined Ministry Will Be Called

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.


Regina Rescue Mission and Souls Harbour are excited to announce the merger of our ministries into one dynamic Christian charity, which will now be known as Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.

The merger will create a new and stronger Ministry to the poor, hungry, addicted, homeless, and needy in Regina and the surrounding area. It will reduce administration costs, eliminate duplication of services, and unify the purpose and services to best help the community.

With your generous support, Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission will continue to provide all its services: food, clothing, shelter, recovery programming, and hope to people in need.

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission has served the homeless and poor of Regina for 19 years.

Press releases and news media will be informed on Tuesday, when the official name change takes effect. We wanted the churches to be the first to know to show our thanks for your support and partnerships as we move forward together in this new merger.

Thanks for checking back!

If you happen to attend church with one of our staff members, you will have probably heard the exciting news! Bloggers, stay tuned for your turn!

The Demerit Princess Strikes Again

You've heard of a fairy godmother? Well, that's not it. Heather, our relatively new cook, is also the chore checker. If someone does not do the chore, or doesn't do it properly, they get one or two demerits.

Heather also happens to dress like a Princess on Fridays. (But that's another story.)

One of the LifeChange Program men drew a cartoon of Heather, The Demerit Princess. I just happened to see it by the Chore Book. Ha!

Incidentally, I heard Heather say, "Guess what, Frankie?!"

"What?"

"I get to give you a demerit!"

"Oh no," he replied.

"And that means we get to hang out for an hour while you work it off by helping me in the kitchen!"

Only Princess Heather can make getting a demerit sound like a good thing. Right, Scotty?

PLEASE STAY TUNED

You must come back every day for some VERY exciting information! I am under a gag order to blog it but keep checking until next week! Bloggers WILL get a sneak preview!

Uncommon Chit Chat

A man came in on program with nothing but the clothing on his back. Melanie got him a variety of toiletries and a change of clothing. As she handed him his toothbrush and toothpaste, he politely and matter-factly said, "That's okay, I have no teeth."

For some reason this story caught me as funny. I mean, it's SAD he has no teeth! But what I am referring to is the fact that it's just common chit chat at the Mission. The level of openess and frankness is not the same as you find at other jobs, or in a church.

When a man or woman comes in, they are weary and ready to transform into a new life. They are ready for LifeChange and they desperately will do anything to make it happen. Not only that, they don't hide the same things that your colleagues and peers would hide.

And that makes for some really fun times and some very productive talks.

And some really nervous staff relatives!

"I just met so-and-so. He used to be a murderer and now he's totally changed!"

One Mom asked, "Are they thieves?"
"Some of them."
"Are they violent?"
"Some of them, but only if they are high."

The best part about working and volunteering here is realizing that everyone has problems, and men and women off the streets are people like you and me.

Winter has arrived

Winter has arrived! Seemingly overnight. Last night around 8:00, it was MINUS THIRTY ONE (not including wind chill, which made it feel like -41.) It was around that time when two men came to my door.

Tim, a student from Luther College, was volunteering to help me organize the storage room. Actually, it's an office, too. But I digress.

These men arrived from Ontario with their little sister, who was 16. They asked for blankets to sleep in the car.

"Apparently you don't understand how cold it is. This is not Ontario!" I told them. "Blankets aren't enough tonight."

"But we can't be seperated from my little sister."

Oh boy. So, I called Mobile Crisis Services. We had a good chat. They wanted to know why we no longer house women for emergency stays. I told them we would be able to house women in the fall again! (Come back Wednesday to find out more!)

We made sure she really was the little sister. (She has I.D.)

I understood his concern and I had compassion for them. His sister has probably never stayed at a place like that before. I made sure she had access to the phone. They are one block apart. And she is being put up in a "residence," not a shelter.

We found the girl a place to stay the night. We bunked the men on the couch at the Shelter. With the recent deaths in the news, we are turning away no one in this weather.

This morning at 7:00 I chatted with George, our "Shelter Shepherd." He asked for a stack of blankets to pad the floor and keep extra bodies warm this weekend.

Yes, winter has arrived. For some, our Mission means the difference between life and death.

Thanks to all of you who are responding to our Cold Weather Shelter Campaign right now. Your dollars are being put to good use.

Allow me a little indulgence:

My baby brother had a baby! Allow me to introduce Jacqueline Anne, pictured here with her Mom in their matching Christmas outfits.


And one more shot in her winter gear. Look at her little rosebud lips! She gets those from Mommy.

Regina Chamber of Commerce Paragon Awards

Statement for Nomination of Chris Lygouriatis of Melrose Place North:

I could not forward a nomination without delivering some personal words of why I chose to nominate Chris. We first met Chris because his restaurant is so close to our campus! We bought this place three years ago and quickly became frequent visitors of Melrose Place! We loved the hospitality, the food, and the service.

One day, Melanie and I were paying for our dinner and he asked, “So, what are you doing this Thanksgiving?” We cheerily replied, “We’re feeding 500 people!”

Well, the rest is history! Since that day, Chris has fed nearly 3000 homeless men, women and children at his own expense. He has provided four course meals for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas to Regina’s poor and needy for two years in a row!

He has also gotten other chefs and restaurateurs involved in helping cook, finance, and serve the holiday dinners.

Until that time, we struggled along cooking the dinners ourselves, trying to do our best to give people a good meal. Because of Chris, we have been able to expand our dinners, invite more people, and truly give inner city families a community holiday dinner to remember.

Perhaps this doesn’t sound significant to you, but to those of us who work in the trenches, trying to make every donor dollar stretch, and seeing the devastation of poverty amongst women, children, single families, etc. it can be the difference between life and death.

And then there are those who struggle with life controlling problems such as addiction. Very often, that first meal is what leads people to choose a new life for themselves. We have many graduates of our recovery program who attribute their salvation and sobriety to a hot meal and someone who is compassionate and gracious towards them.

This Christmas, a small child came up to Chris. She was probably four years old. She looked up at him; he stooped over her. She smiled sweetly and said, “My mommy said to thank you for the meal. Thank you for the dinner. Merry Christmas!”

I think that says it all, don’t you?

Sincerely,

Michelle Porter

Food Fun Frolic

Last night was a lot of fun! We had a short devotional by Grace, WARM's president, had tons of snacks and junk food, and everyone played all sorts of games: 10's, Triominoes, Scrabble, Dominoes, ... and the guys even taught some of the ladies to play pool!

The Women's Auxillery has a yearly Games Night with the resident men, women, and children, and once again, they outdid themselves. The food and fun was neverending. A great turnout by the women and our residents. One of our former residents dropped in. I said, "If you cross this line, you have to come to the Women's Auxilliary party!" "OKAY!" he replied!

Thanks to WARM for all their efforts!

Women's Auxilliary Meeting TONIGHT

Don't forget the New Year's Party WARM meeting tonight at 7:00! We will be playing games with all the residents so that should be a good time! I hope to see you there!

Go blow your nose

Here's the sick toll of the day:

Melanie
Vicki
Heather
George
Len
Ken
Michelle

Aren't we pathetic!!??

I'm a bit concerned that the staff have turned my office into our quarentine room. I went in there after lunch on Friday and there was Heather, sleeping on my couch! Today, I walked in unsuspectingly to Vicki having a nap!!

After staff meeting we all sat there in the classroom... unable to move.

I asked, "Does anyone want to come to my office for echinacea and Vitamin C?" Ha.

Grant was AWOL; maybe he's sick too. He works nights so it's hard to track him down sometimes. Oh, and to top it all off, Larry's decided to take a couple days off since he worked throughout the holidays. And let's not forget Myrna is on vacation!!

No witty ending here. Just a headache.

Happy New Year!

I was talking to my brother in law today. He and his wife pastor a small country church. His sermon yesterday was on "New Years Renovations."

Good renovations always start on the inside. You can't just fix something cosmetically and expect it to be solid for years to come. It's the difference between drawing up the blueprints and getting out the hammer.

In the spiritual realm it means life and peace replace sin and death. Where does this begin? If you want to have one New Years Resolution, make it to work on your mind and heart.

Have you been saved and are still struggling in your sin? This means you have not truly waged the war. The battle is in the mind and all the self-control and self-will won't change your defeatest attitude or actions.


We look to outside sources to "fix" us. To place discipline upon us. To control us. If it's easy and a quick fix it's not from God. Anything of lasting value will have to be born by repentance and a Godly mind.

How do we do this? The daily renewing of our minds? Well, one way is to fill it with Scripture. Won't you join me and several staff as we read through the Bible in one year? Click on the title bar to get started!