Coldest Night of the Year 2026

It is another cold, windy, winter and I am writing to ask if you might be willing to sponsor me as I raise funds for the vulnerable in Kelowna and surrounding area.  Between our shower program, laundry service and providing hot drinks, meals and sandwiches we are seeing approximately 140 folks a day.  Our goal this year is to raise $150,000 which would mean we can keep providing these services for the next year.  

My usual day to volunteer at the Café in Tuesday.  Each week I try to connect with different people or get to know someone a little bit more.  Here are some of the highlights of relationships that I am nurturing:

• Wade (40 ish) spent Christmas for the very first time in 11 years with his family.  And since November he has his own little apartment with basic furniture, a microwave and kettle.  He now has a place to call home.

• Several weeks ago we had a memorial service at the Cafe for a young man (30 ish) that passed away from an overdose.  Just a few days before his service, I had met the young man’s father and his exact were to me were, “I am so grateful for Metro who loved and cared for my son.  You fed him every day and were there for him when I could not. That has been a great comfort to me as I grieve. ” 

• Then there is Aaron (30 ish) and Duke who I met in January 2025.  (Duke is Aaron’s beloved dog.)   Aaron spent many of his early years in and out of foster care in Grande Prairie.   We had an instant connection because of my years of living in Grande Prairie. Aaron had fallen on hard times and was trying to get back on his feet.  Each week, when I would take the prayer requests out of our Prayer Box, Aaron would have written out a prayer request asking God to gently provide a home for himself and Duke.  Well, Aaron is now in a tiny home with Duke. The last visit I had with him was to drop off some basic stationary so he could get his paperwork in order.  Before I could give him his stationary – he said, “first things first” and smothered me with a big bear hug.  He wanted to share that he had been able to reconnect with his birth Mum.  Needless to say he was soooo happy.  He was smiling from ear to ear.

There are so many stories like these and lots of sad ones too.  

I hope you will consider supporting this amazing ministry.

Carole