Our Stories of Success
You can't imagine how much we have positively impacted the lives of our guests. From a nutritious lunch to a friendly conversation to a safe place to be genuinely heard, we impact our community daily through our compassion and support. We'd like to share some of our stories.
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Tearing down the language barrier.
Susan is a young girl from our Homework Club. English is not her first language, and no one at home can help her finish the assigned homework. The volunteers at Homework Club help her with assigned work which has significantly increased her confidence and knowledge of the English language. This, in turn, has boosted her confidence and helped her make friends.
Now, she is making full use of the programs, and she even brings other children to the Centre including newcomer children struggling to fit in.
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Math isn't magic.
Annie had no problems doing math at St. Felix Centre but was still flunking the subject in school. In her mind, she couldn't get rid of the label "stupid", thinking "I can't do it!" Our volunteer tutors didn't understand it either.
Annie's tutor spoke with her teacher to see what the problem was. Through their joint efforts, Annie was finally able to perform well on a test. From then on, her tutor was able to prove to Annie that math isn't a magical ability that can only be done at St Felix Centre.
Math is about building confidence. Tutoring is about showing kids that they are capable of making personal improvements. So when they succeed, they can recognize it on their own and feel a sense of accomplishment.
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Help when you've got nowhere to turn.
Janice came into St. Felix Centre desperately fleeing from her abusive partner. We got her to a nearby hospital where she found a secure place to live. Later, we took her to get a mattress for her room. After we talked with her, she decided against resuming her relationship with her partner who was just getting out of jail. Janice periodically calls us to say how well she is doing.
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A friend when you need one.
Jay, a vibrant young man, had visited the Centre a few times wishing to volunteer. Then one day he came in with a horribly bruised eye. He had been beaten, robbed and was without a job or a place to live. We provided Jay with bus fare and food so he could return to his home town a couple of hundred kilometers north of Toronto. Recently, he sent a postcard thanking us and saying he has found somewhere to live and a place of employment.
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To every end, there is a new beginning.
Henry was ready to get off the street, stop using drugs and build a life with the woman he loved. On the day he was set to move into his new apartment, his girlfriend passed away. His heart was completely broken.
Henry found solace in St. Felix Centre's staff amidst moments of grief and despair. After months of counseling and conversation, Henry became a volunteer and started to help other people living on the street.
He is now an advocate for the homeless, speaking out when he sees injustices. He also designs and creates jewelry in order to purchase necessities for anyone in need.
Did you know...
...many of the children involved in our programs are newcomers to Canada? The support of our staff and volunteers, help children settle into their new environment and adjust quickly.
Did you know...
...not all of our drop-in lunch guests are homeless?
In fact, many of them have a stable job but cannot make ends meet on minimum wage. Hunger is a major
problem in our city.
