Street Hope Victoria
Staff, volunteers, and some of our clients on a Tuesday evening on Pandora Avenue.
Street Hope Victoria is a Christian organization that builds personal relationships with people who face multiple barriers and marginalization and encourages them to seek wholeness in all aspects of their lives. These people may be facing poverty, a lack of supportive community, homelessness, addictions or mental health issues. Street Hope Victoria began in 1986, with a particular focus on youth who were experiencing homelessness. Since then, the ministry has shifted venues and broadened its focus to include people of all ages. Pre-pandemic, Street Hope operated out of a motor home, parked in downtown Victoria on a couple of weekday evenings. People were welcomed into the motor home and served homemade soup, sandwiches, hot chocolate, juice, cookies and fruit. A small stock of essentials such as warm clothing and toiletries was also available. These help establish and nurture meaningful connections with folks, and encourage them towards healing in their lives. Since the pandemic, Street Hope staff and volunteers go out on foot along Pandora Street, pulling carts full of soup, sandwiches, juice and warm clothing. It is a tangible way to show people they are cared for, loved and accepted. It is also a tangible way to show that Jesus loves them!
Street Hope Victoria is led by Deborah (Debs) Moyo, who is the local Outreach Director. Street Hope Victoria operates under the umbrella of Threshold Ministries. This is a national organization and the national office is located in New Brunswick. Here in Victoria, volunteers join Debs on Tuesday evenings providing food, clothing and support to folks along Pandora Street. The financial, practical and prayer support of the Table Church is much needed and appreciated.
Christmas 2022, a Street Hope friend with her gift box from the Table Church community.
Ways to get Involved:
• Pray. The people on the street need healing, nurturing relationships, stable shelter, protection from the hazards of life on the street, and the transformation that comes through knowing God’s love and power in their lives. Please pray for Debs, as she transitions into the role as Outreach Director, that she will develop meaningful relationships with the Street Hope community, make good connections with other agencies in town, and for wisdom in running Street Hope Victoria. Contact Tim Hardy if you want to be on an email list of prayer requests.
• Make some soup. Street Hope’s amazing soup lady (Barbara from COOL) always appreciates buckets of frozen home-made soup and can provide recipes for Street Hope favourites. Contact Debs if you would like to make some soup. deborah@thresholdministries.ca
• Join the outreach team. Contact Debs if you would be interested in helping out on Tuesday evenings, on a regular or fill-in basis.
• Pack a shoe box (and/or get your work place colleagues to join in) full of much needed supplies that will be given out to folks in December. Pass the box on to Tim to distribute.
Street Hope Contact Info:
Website: victoria.streethope.org
Email: deborah@thresholdministries.ca
Financial donations can be made through the Table Church or through this link. Select “Street Hope Victoria” from the list of funds.
Table contact: Tim Hardy - tim@tablechurch.ca