Last week, I received an email from one of our long-time outreach van volunteers, who had taken a shift on our second van – bringing hot meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, and other essential items to people facing poverty and homelessness across Scarborough – for the first time. I want to share her letter with you.
Dear Cari,
I have been volunteering regularly on the downtown Toronto van for the last few years, but last night was my first time on the Scarborough van.
and what I saw was completely unexpected. We stopped at a family shelter and when we arrived, children of all ages came pouring out, quickly forming a long line. One by one, they approached our table and listed out the needs of their families – 8 hot meals here, 12 sandwiches there, pants for my dad, shampoo for my mom. When his turn came up, one little boy said: “I am going to ask you for a lot of sandwiches and cookies because this is the food that me and my brother and sister bring in our lunch bags to school every day.” “One more thing,” he added. “When I know it’s a day that this van is coming, I really look forward to it. It’s not just the food and stuff. The people are so nice, and they always talk and joke around with me. So… thanks.” He was maybe 7 years old. This kid completely took my breath away. Somehow, embarrassingly I suppose, it had never occurred to me that things like sandwiches and cookies – or my volunteering – could mean so much…..
Signed,
AB
I share this email with you now because it highlights something really important and so central to our mission at Ve’ahavta. Poverty is a big problem in our city. It affects not only adults living downtown, but also families and yes, children. It would be natural for us to say that it is too big of a problem for us to do anything about – but then there is this young boy who reminds us that little things like smiles and sandwiches and cookies make a huge difference in his and his family’s lives.
It is a reminder that your clothing donations go directly onto people’s bodies. Your sandwiches and cookies go directly into kids’ lunch bags. Your volunteering is an absolute necessity (we couldn’t run our programs without you). And without your money to fund programs like these, none of this would be possible.
So, with my deepest gratitude, thank you, and please – keep doing what you’re doing.
Cari Kozierok,
Executive Director, Ve’ahavta
