8th Annual Homeless Outreach Vancouver Initiative

All are welcome to join us for the Camp Kerry Society’s 8th Annual Homeless Outreach in Vancouver on Christmas Eve.

We’ll be giving out hugs, clothing, toys and food to hundreds of people impacted by loss residing on the downtown east side of Vancouver. In addition, we’ll be lighting some candles to represent the more than 1100 overdose deaths in BC this year.

Donations of clothes, sandwiches, and other food items are greatly appreciated and can either be brought to the park on the day of the event, or delivered to our Charity Thrift Shop on or before December 23 during business hours – CharityThriftShop.com

Don’t live in the area, but would like to get involved by leading this annual outreach initiative in your community? We’d love to hear from you!

Why does the Camp Kerry Society reach out to the homeless populations?

At the very foundation of our unique model to bereavement care is the notion that one must commit to the service of others in order to heal. It is by reaching out and sharing our experiences with others impacted by loss that we can be empowered in our own journeys of connection, healing and hope.

In Canada, the majority of our homeless and incarcerated populations have been impacted by loss and consequently reside with unresolved grief. These people come from all walks of life and are representative of all ages. Those who don’t have adequate supports in place to help with the coping of a significant loss are more likely to develop life-impeding symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, chemical dependency, and are at an increased risk to die by suicide. These challenges can and do affect families for multiple generations. Most services mandated to assist the homeless population are designed to respond to crisis and deal with the presenting issues at hand as opposed to the root causes.