After a grueling period of Covid-19 restrictions with freezing winter line-ups outside the Mission for hot take-out meals, groceries and other needed supplies…. our dreams of warmer weather, loosened regulations and an end to curfews brought a whole new vision of a spring and summer wrapped in hope and TLC.
Witnessing the re-opening of restaurants and terraces everywhere and the joy this brought, we thought, YES! Let’s create an expanded outdoor terrace for our members so that they too can gather together, terrace-café style, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the neighborhood in the company of friends.
So, in came the new bistro sets with umbrellas and folding benches which made the Mission look more like a café than a soup kitchen. We laughed to ourselves as passers-by often looked quizzically as if to say, “I didn’t know there was a café here”.
The expansion of our existing ‘Terrace Connie’ wrapped around the corner of Bernard and St. Urbain streets and accommodates up to 30 people. Our summer staff started each morning by setting up the Mission café, preparing a huge vat of coffee and then serving our members refreshments and snacks throughout the day as though they were customers at any neighborhood café-terrace. Additional activities at our terrace setting included a tea party, weekly art sessions, BBQ lunches, choose-your-toppings ice-cream events and a couple of outdoor bazaars organized by Doris and her team. It also served as the meeting point for other fun activities in the city.
We also set up an outdoor speaker so we could listen to Trevor’s fabulous playlist of music that he’s been putting together since he started working with us eight years ago. As Carlene, Missy, Eddy and Eleni balanced their days coordinating all activities related to food, they kept a watchful eye on our members’ needs for cold water and popsicles during the intense summer heat. Together with our other Leadership Team members, Micheline, Helen and Michel, regular lunch and food bank services were provided at the door.
The positive energy and atmosphere that has been engendered by simply re-thinking and re-designing our summer set-up has truly helped increase both personal and community dignity at the Mission. It also tied in nicely with the sentiment of one of our Mission friends, James, who often refers to the Mission as ‘the Club’. There’s no doubt that sitting comfortably in a bistro chair being served tea and biscuits is much more appealing and comforting than standing, for all to see, in a Mission food line. Unfortunately, because we have over 100 people coming to our weekly Food Bank, we don’t yet have enough tables and chairs for everyone.
As we carefully strived to protect our community from the Covid-19 virus, Lori took important steps to help as many members as possible receive their two vaccinations. But this seemingly simple task was riddled with road blocks for many of our members, since the vast majority don’t have access to a computer, internet, or in many cases, a telephone. Many others struggle with language or literacy challenges and/or find automated call centres too difficult to navigate. Mobility problems also prevented some members from being able to walk to a bus stop to go to the vaccination centre where they would then need to stand for long periods of time. With all this in mind, Lori just knew that she had to become deeply involved in the process in order to help our Mission friends overcome real-life barriers that could prevent them from getting vaccinated.
At the writing of this article, the sun is still shining strongly and the sights and sounds of summer still abound. With great hope for continued positive Covid-19 outcomes, we wonder how we’ll continue to re-think and re-design our approach to poverty, to community, to life.
