Friday, March 30, 2012

A woman of substance - Octavia Hill

Who is the woman you ask? I was reading the UK's National Trust Spring 2012 magazine about one of their three founders, who died 100 years ago.She is regarded as one of the greatest social entrepreneurs the UK has ever produced and the legacy she left. All the more extraordinary for a woman in Victorian Britain. John Bird, fouder of the Big Issue is quoted as saying "Octavia believed in making a hue and cry in order to see something happen. And she didn't believe in doing things for people. She wanted to enable them to help themselves - to own the solution to their problems". Working for te Ladies Guild from 1852 she identified with those in poverty and in need of social housing in London. She began with a series of properties saying that the poor had to be helped to help themselves. By the mid 1870's she was providing social housing for 3,000 tenants! Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk and click on Octavia Hill.

15,000 page views

Wow! In six months we have had an additional 5,000 page views of this blog and it tells me that the interest in the project continues to grow and grow. Thank you to all who are reading, following and commenting. Please keep it up and share on facebook and twitter when relevant.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Our sponsors

We would like to recognise all of our sponsors. Four levels have been established.
GOLD ($10,000+), SILVER ($5,000+), BRONZE ($2,500+) and FRIENDS ($1,000+) levels.

GOLD SPOON SPONSORS:
MinMaxx Realty | www.minmaxx.com

SILVER SPOON SPONSORS:
St. Paul’s United Church – Mission & Outreach | www.stpaulsmilton.org
U-Need Storage Storage Corp. | www.uneedstorage.ca

BRONZE SPOON SPONSORS:
Simply Creative Pottery Studio, Milton | www.simplycreativestudio.com
The Storage Spot, Milton | http://www.storagespot.ca

FRIENDS:
Boston Presbyterian Church Ladies Fellowship Group
Grace Anglican Church Community Outreach | www.gracechurchmilton.com
Milton Affordable Housing Coalition
Milton Area Christian Churches Working Together | www.miltonchristianchurches.ca

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Milton Rotary Club

We are very grateful to Milton Rotary club who have agreed for us to address their members to share the vision and progress of HSH-M. Thank you. We will keep you updated. We believe this will mark an opportunity for the two organisations to work together to support the Milton community

Friday, March 9, 2012

Storage Spot

We would like to formally thank the Storage Spot for their generous contribution in kind by allowing us free use of a 10 x 10' climate controlled unit at their Milton location. This will allow us to temporarily store furniture depending on the needs of the HSHM clients and also allow us to take donations in anticipation of our next unit.

Champion photozone: 2012 Milton Empty Bowls fundraiser

See the photozone on the InsideHalton website for great photographs by Graham Paine from last Sunday's 2012 Milton Empty Bowls fundraiser. Click here are search for 2012 Milton Empty Bowls fundraiser further down the page. There are 11 great pictures.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

We are Emmaus

I was very interested to come across a 'I am a peice of paper' leaflet from Emmaus in the UK Guardian newspaper. It is for a charity called Emmaus, which appears to me to have very similar mission to our own. Take a look by clicking here
I would propose we drop them a line and link up through our wesbites, twitter, blog etc to exchange ideas for fundraising and rasing awareness. They describe themselves as the homeless charity that works

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Empty Bowls 2 “soup kitchen” raises over $6,300







Sunday's EMPTY BOWL brought in over $6300. This second annual event welcomed more than 125 diners in MinMaxx Hall, Milton Centre for The Arts. The $50 ticket treated diners to a wide selection of gourmet soups and breads from 16 local restaurants, caterers and bakeries. In addition, diners chose their own pottery bowl and took it home with them afterwards, and will receive a charitable donation receipt for $25 from the Home Suite Hope Milton Transitional Housing organization.

The community support for this new Home Suite Hope Milton transitional housing initiative also grew considerably this year over last. As a “gold spoon” sponsor and host sponsor, MinMaxx Realty covered all of the costs for the use of MinMaxx Hall for this event and was instrumental in helping to promote it. Simply Creative Pottery Studio, as a “bronze spoon” sponsor donated many of the bowls and provided a wonderful opportunity for community volunteers to paint the bowls. St. Paul’s United Church Mission and Outreach continue to support the program as a “silver spoon” sponsor, and another local business, U-Need Storage, has also generously stepped up as a “bronze spoon” sponsor. “Friend” supporters include: The Storage Spot, Boston Presbyterian Church Ladies Fellowship Group, Grace Anglican Church Community Outreach, Milton Housing Coalition and Milton Area Christian Churches Working Together.

Sixteen restaurants, caterers, and bakeries donated the delicious soups and breads for the event: A Catered Affair, Allison’s Catering, Bistro on Main, Boston Pizza, Brunello Ristorante, Casey’s Grill Bar, Japan Buffet, Kelsey’s Restaurant, La Rose Bakery, Lynda’s Catering, Montfort Mediterranean Cuisine, Osso Bucco Ristorante, Shoeless Joe’s, Swiss Chalet, and Walker’s Fish Market. Other businesses supporting the event were Milton Home Hardware, Delacourts Gifts and Tableware, and Troy’s Diner.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Get down to Milton Centre for Arts

Looking for something meaningful to do today. Come down now to Milton Centre for Arts. Starts at 11.30. This is a fundraiser for those at risk of homelessness in our community. If you haven't yet been to the new arts centre - then go now

What you doing today?

If you are in Milton today you should be heading to the Milton Centre for the Arts for the 2nd annual Empty Bowls between 11.30am and 2.30pm. Please come down to the fundraiser to raise awareness and money for the project helping return those at risk of homelessness in our community to regain their independence and dignity. We have our first client in our first unit in Milton. This is a truly amazing achievement for the project team and for the Milton community. Photos will be posted as soon as possible after the event.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Vision is realized

A client has now moved into the first Home Suite Hope Milton unit.

My sincere congratulations to the team for their drive, determination, passion and persistence in bringing this vision to fruition. The journey started back in October 2008 and it has taken over three years to find a solution for those at risk of homelessness in Milton.

The work really only now commences to support our new client to help them regain their dignity and be able to live independently in the future. The vision remains to establish 7 units at the end of 5 years. Thank you to the OTF and all our sponsors and donors for their faith in our aspirations.

Come to the Empty Bowls event on Sunday March 4th at the new Milton Centre for the Arts to show your support and learn more. See the other posts or log on to the website

Empty Bowls SUNDAY March 4th

Don't miss out on the opportunity to help those at risk of homelessness in your Milton community. The Canadian Champion continued their support, with the following coverage last week. Click here to see Inside Halton online

"Soup fundraiser to help homeless

Nothing warms the soul more on a cold day than a hearty bowl of soup.

That’s why organizers of the second annual Empty Bowls Soup Lunch are hoping for a chilly day on Sunday, Mar. 4.

The fundraiser, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Milton Centre for the Arts on Sunday, is the primary source of funding for Home Suite Hope Milton.

The non-profit organization provides transitional housing to Milton’s homeless people. Last year, more than 160 people dined on soup, and it’s hoped this year’s event will draw 200 people.

Tickets cost $50, with a charitable tax receipt for $25. Not only does this include soup from 14 different restaurants and caterers, but also the bowl.

Simply Creative Pottery Studio is donating most of the bowls, which were hand-painted by volunteers in the studio.

Soups will be donated by: A Catered Affair, Allison’s Catering, Bistro on Main, Brunello Ristorante, Casey’s Grill Bar, Japan Buffet, Kelsey’s Restaurant, Lynda’s Catering, Montfort Mediterranean Cuisine, Osso Bucco Ristorante, Shoeless Joe’s, Swiss Chalet, Symposium and Walker’s Fish Market.

To go with the soups is an appetizing selection of breads donated by: Boston Pizza, La Rose Bakery, and Swiss Chalet.

Visit www.homesuitehopemilton.com for information"