Our Place/Chez Nous Drop-In Centre
Our mission is to accept and celebrate the goodness of each unique individual and to help each other recognize our dignity and develop our self worth.
“We do not serve the poor because they are like Jesus. We serve the poor because they are Jesus.” |
Our Place is a warm and welcoming community which seeks to create a safe, friendly, nurturing environment for all those who choose to come.
The main problem of the poor lies in the depths of their hearts, in the depths of their spirit. It is known to them simply as pain. There is a myriad of understandable reasons for that pain. For some, it’s life long abuse, for others, family rejection or separation, and for some perhaps forms of mental or emotional illness.
A person's choice of medication for that pain, whether it is drugs, alcohol, solvent abuse or some other numbing agent underpins their present condition. Violence, prostitution, loneliness, poverty and homelessness become a way of life.
Yet in each one the Son of God lives and dies. Through them God shows His face. He comes to us in the hungry, the lonely, the alcoholic, the drug abuser, the sniffer, the prostitute.
About Our Place/Chez Nous |
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At Our Place / Chez Nous ("The Cross", as it is affectionately known) we are simply privileged to walk with these people along the way. Loving each one as God surely does, as they are, where they are, and in whatever they are doing.
Our Place operates only through the hearts of others, existing totally on the generosity of a caring and loving community and the extraordinary dedication of volunteers.
A warm friendly place has been created where people can be alone or with others. Games, puzzles, reading material and computers are available. Coffee and tea are always served for a minimal cost (or free). When donations of cakes, cookies and other treats are available, they are served to the people.
Showers (male/female) are available to meet personal hygiene needs. Towels, soap and shampoo are provided for this purpose.
Clothing is always available in emergencies, however once a week people are given the opportunity to obtain free clothing and household goods. Some toiletries only are sold for a very minimal cost.
People are invited to participate in different crafts which they keep or give away as gifts. Every Christmas we celebrate as a community with a feast and gift giving. Each spring we enjoy an outing for the day somewhere outside of the city with barbeque, games and free time to roam.
Chez Nous Annual Picnic 2010
Our volunteers include a number of St. Chalres Parishioners, but you do not need to be a member of St. Charles to support Chez Nous. If you feel called to partner with us in this service of love either as a volunteer, financially, or through food and clothing donations please contact us at:
Our Place / Chez Nous Drop-In Centre
676 Main Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1E4
676 Main Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1E4
(204) 956-1359
opcn@shaw.ca
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opcn@shaw.ca
St. Charles Catholic Parish
320 St. Charles Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3K 1T7
Tel: (204) 889-3248 Fax: (204) 885-1997 Email: stcharls@mts.net