Bissell Centre: Edmonton

A valued and needed service in Edmonton. Working at Edmonton’s Food Bank we see the challenges regularly. We have the people struggling with mental health. We hear the stories of people struggling and fighting addictions. Challenges that are beyond just food. Edmonton’s Food Bank is amazing at sharing and food raising in the community – we are the Band-Aid.  However, despite the great work being done by the Food Bank, it is the work being done in partnership with our most vulnerable like the Bissell Centre. The work being done by the Bissell is the “antiseptic” of a Band-Aid. One without the other will not be as good; however, together we hope to see a difference.

 

I was pleased with the message that was shared with our club. People at the Bissell Centre are there because of “broken relationships”. Simple, straight to the point and true. Specifically, the relationships with our friends and family who create our support network as individuals. Our lives are not meant to be lived separately but intertwined. If you have the “relationships” in your life, you will not end up on the street or struggling like those at Bissell. If you have those strong ties and relationships than you will most likely not end up on the street or struggling. I had to ponder this as some people have the perceived relationships and they end up on the street because of addictions or mental health. If you really truly have the relationships, those people will look out for you and help you. This isn’t to say that you might fall and need the Bissell’s help but the likelihood of you being there for a prolonged period of time is very rare.

 

We are all social beings and crave, even at minimum a small amount of “relationships”. For example, my father who left my wedding before the father –daughter dance, who loves his books, needs at minimum, a small amount of “relationships” in his life to help him.

 

One of the stories shared was that of a former homeless man. He slept on his balcony until he got used to sleeping indoors. He first threw his blanket off the balcony and was told to not do it again. After a while the mattress was also tossed from the balcony and almost hit someone. The building manager, workers and staff got together to try to figure out what to do – evict him? Tell him to stop? Call the police? But it was speaking with him that showed the true reason why he threw his mattress off the balcony. He said he did it because “you came”. A true testament that we need to find the root causes. The man had lived on the street for many years. He had a community with others who were homeless. He had relationships which he lacked now that he had a home. Bissell then coordinated volunteer visits to meet with him – to start rebuilding his community and his relationships. Bissell Centre is providing a safe place for people needing relationships or needing help rebuilding them. They are providing a valuable service in helping people find themselves and their positive relationships.

 

Well done Bissell! Keep up the good work. For more information about Bissell Centre, their work, or to donate, please visit: http://bissellcentre.org/