Does Kelowna need the Gospel Mission?

[squirt10]

Do kelownians need this service? Do we need a soup kitchen? Is the location a eyesore for the downtown core?

[oneh2obabe]

Do kelownians need this service? The people who use it need this service.
Do we need a soup kitchen? Apparently we do if the number of people receiving meals or having a bed when needed is any indication.
Is the location a eyesore for the downtown core? Where would you suggest putting it? If you're concerned about it being an eyesore why not offer your service to help paint or spruce it up?

[Captain Awesome]

Well, I do like soup...

[pssts]

No.

[Walking Wounded]

No.

Obviously someone has ever gone hungry or had to wonder how they would survive a night outside in sub zero temperature.

[Bsuds]

No.

Then you can open your doors to the homeless and hungry!

[vinnied]

The beds are full and they're having to lay out mats on the floor. I'm guessing its needed, and well used.
And as the price of everything keeps going up, and more and more people end up homeless, well probably need another one in town.

[just popping in]

Do kelownians need this service? Do we need a soup kitchen? Is the location a eyesore for the downtown core?

Perhaps if you were kind enough to volunteer you would understand the need.

[kelownawriter]

My family needed the mission two summers ago when my mother's tooth needed to be pulled and there was no way we could afford dental. Too poor for dental, not quite rotting and infected enough for medical to cover removal at ER. It was hardly a comfortable experience, but a big relief. Yes they are needed.

[janalta]

YES...it most certainly is needed!
In fact, there are several shelters in town...and all are needed.

I volunteered at Inn From The Cold before I moved to the west side.....and anyone who thinks they are an eyesore that are not necessary, needs to do the same.

[OREZ]

No.

Oh, really? Do you mean that you don't need it or Kelowna doesn't need it? Or is it that you just don't care whether or not anyone needs it? Possibly, it's that you're uncomfortable that there are people who need it? Is there something, perhaps more trendy and upscale, that you would like to see in that location?

By all means, share your ideas with us.

[Queen K]

Do kelownians need this service? Do we need a soup kitchen? Is the location a eyesore for the downtown core?

Are you *removed* serious? And who is this "we" who may or may not need a soup kitchen?

I know working people who are getting by on fewer and fewer resources. One pay day the payroll was screwed up and there were many worried people concerned about several things, not the least of which was that their account would be dinged with charges for going below a certain level and the fat Banks would get more of their money.

The Gospel Mission has to put out information packages constantly due to *removed* people *removed* putting them down as "not needed."

Did you know the GM helps people get homes? Get clothing? Get household goods? Helps with employment training and placements?

Are they needed?

*removed*

[Piecemaker]

Unfortunately yes.

[JayByrd]

The beds are full and they're having to lay out mats on the floor. I'm guessing its needed, and well used.
And as the price of everything keeps going up, and more and more people end up homeless, well probably need another one in town.

Not to mention, the addiction and mental health issues that cause many of our homeless to end up that way, aren't going away anytime soon.

[okanagan_sports]

One of the main benefits of this Castanet discussion forum is, it's a kind of a social thermometer to guage the amount of disdain and/or lack of compassion for the Okanagan's poor or so called "lower middle class."

It reveals a darker side to many of you, after you scrape away the pseudo friendliness and the alledged good weather of this area. What is left is an inherrent nastiness about people here and therefore, "screw unto others."

From what we have seen, so far, some Okanagan residents are apparently quite uncomfortable with the fact that the poor really do exist at all and therefore, steps are taken to a) pretend that the matter doesn't exist or b) strip away all social services, altogether, and get tougher on crime, by throwing all poor people in jail. LOL

That Stephen Harper slash Victor Toews philosophy is clearly b.s. and is the main reason why a change in government is perhaps needed in 2015.

You don't really improve social conditions by throwing the entire lower class in jail. Instead, to permanently conquer poverty and hunger, we must tackle the real roots of poverty, which is to create a higher standard of living and also, training the population to realistic careers where the community badly needs workers in certain areas.

In other words, no point in training to be widget makers, if there is an innate shortage of health care workers in this area, which there is.

Since many of you who oppose social programs for the poor are frequently supporters of the Conservative Party of Canada, I find this arrogance about you right winged people towards social injustice and poor people in general.

So yeah, instead of taking that extended out of town trip to Vegas or Palm Springs, maybe also consider volunteering a few hours at the local food bank or women's shelter while you still happen to live here ?

That doesn't require money, but just a small donation or your time and you'll feel better doing it.