APPRECIATION FOR THE SALVATION ARMY’S EFFORTS

Tricia Turner, a visitor to Vancouver from Mountain Home, Arkansas, writes of her appreciative experience with The Salvation Army during the 2010 Olympics:

I was impressed that The Salvation Army was there walking among the folks waiting in line for transportation or screening, giving out free hot chocolate to anyone that wanted it. The beverage was contained in the large back pack shown, then poured into a cup through a tube/spigot, that they held in their hand. There were also Salvation Army volunteers to pick up the empty cups thrown away. Of course, their organization had to be pre-approved to offer this service, and it was a welcome treat to warm us up! Olympic rules forbid the distribution of religious material at any venue, so they were not handing out scripture tracts or pamphlets, just delicious and free hot cocoa! The disposable cups were imprinted with the familiar red and yellow shield saying “The Salvation Army”, on a sketch of the Vancouver skyline/mountains, with the date 2010 written on it. The top of the design simply said “OTHERS”. That is really what being a Christian means —- serving Christ by serving others. I propose a hot cocoa “toast” to The Salvation Army for this act of service!

- Tricia Turner (expeditionsbytricia.blogspot.com)

GAMES GIVE THIS SHELTER REASON TO CELEBRATE

‘It feels good to be part of something again’

Written by Petti Fong
Toronto Star, February 28, 2010 

VANCOUVER–When Kevin Acker was asked if he wanted to see an Olympic hockey game this week, the Salvation Army facility resident assumed he would watch it on television. He never thought he’d get donated tickets to the men’s Finland-Slovakia match Saturday.

“A year ago, if someone told me I was going to be sitting in a nice place and watching the Olympics, I wouldn’t have believed them,” says Acker, who is recovering from a cocaine-and-alcohol addiction at the Belkin House in Vancouver.

“To learn I’m going to one of the hockey games, man, that was one of the greatest moments of my life.”

Despite the different pasts that have brought them to the facility, Acker said watching the Games has been a good way to bond with the other men and women at the shelter.

A week before the opening ceremonies, the Belkin House set up a 176-inch screen for its more than 225 residents to watch the events.

“Before whatever happened, many of us remember watching other Olympics and remember sports,” said Acker, who is originally from Nova Scotia and moved out to B.C. 11 years ago.

Captain Jim Coggles, executive director of the Salvation Army’s Belkin House, said there was anxiety about the Olympics at first. Administrators didn’t know how the residents – some released from jail, others in addiction recovery or living there as an emergency shelter – would react to watching the Games.

Coggles said the Salvation Army kept the viewing plans for the Games low-key, not putting up signs or pressuring residents to go and watch the events.

But the day the torch came down the street in front of the facility and residents rushed out to see it go past, Coggles said he knew the decision to bring the Olympics into the shelter would be popular.

Dozens came to watch the opening ceremonies in the facility’s auditorium.
“As the Games go along and the spirit catches on, there’s been more and more growing attendance,” said Coggles.

He added that curling are the most popular events.

Just before the first hockey game, Coggles said, one of the residents stood up and encouraged everyone else in the room to stand for the national anthem. As soon as the music started, everyone in the crowd got up and began singing.

During the curling semi-finals, James Chisholm gave a play-by-play, explaining the difference between the team’s skip and the first, second and third positions.
It’s a language that prairie-raised Chisholm knows well, but hasn’t used much in recent years. He is three months into a detox from a cocaine-and-alcohol addiction.

“It feels good to be part of something again,” Chisholm said.

OLYMPIC FEVER HITS HARBOUR LIGHT

During the Olympics, Harbour Light has been hosting many special events and offering some exciting extra programming. 

Throughout the Olympics, the Drop-In Centre is serving its clients with extended hours. Monday through Saturday, the drop-in will be open from 12pm-7pm, and on Sundays, it will be open from 1pm-7pm. The drop-in has been providing a safe, welcoming space for downtown eastside residents to relax and enjoy the spirit of the Games. Services include refreshments, decorations, live music, and best of all: live Olympic action on a 65” big screen TV! The drop-in has been so successful that there have been articles in the Vancouver Sun and Globe and Mail over the last week. 

Throughout the Olympics, Harbour Light is enjoying the talents of local musicians who are playing on the food line and in the drop-in centre. We have also supported one of the More Than Gold Canada Line/SkyTrain hospitality sites. 

Perhaps most exciting of all, Harbour Light has been given more than 40 tickets to Olympic and Paralympic events through VANOC’s Celebrate 2010 program. Our thanks to Family Services for arranging these tickets. Several clients attended the women’s curling on February 17^th and they say they are very grateful for the opportunity to experience the Olympics in-person.