Union Gospel Mission (Vancouver)

What is addiction? The term ‘addiction’ pops up often in daily conversation. “I’m just so addicted to reality TV, it’s such a guilty pleasure”; “We are so addicted to our phones as a culture.” But while we use addiction as an easy shorthand for repetitive behaviour, the term holds real medical meaning. In the broadest understanding of addiction, we know that people can become addicted in many ways, whether to a specific drug, a specific category of substances, or a behaviour like gambling. Here at Union Gospel Mission, we’ve focused our care on supporting people who are navigating alcohol and drug addiction. People struggling with drug and alcohol addiction are identified by the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as suffering from substance use disorder, “a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.” Our team has put together “What is Addiction? | An Overview of Addiction in British Columbia” a guide to help anyone get a better understanding of addiction, especially alcohol and drug addiction. From highlighting some common causes that lead to addiction as well as some personal testimonies from folks who have completed the recovery program at UGM of what it felt like to struggle with addiction. With International Overdose Awareness Day approaching on August 31, it is all the more important that we continue to raise awareness and commemorate those who are struggling with addiction, who have overdosed, and who we have sadly lost to a fatal drug overdose. Click the link to read the full article: https://bit.ly/4cEnJOA

Embrace new changes this fall by making meaningful choices this summer! 🙌 Working at UGM is life-changing for both those we serve and for you. Discover exciting career opportunities with us: https://ugm.ca/careers Take a look at our current openings: 🙏 Front Desk Worker 🙏 Community Outreach Worker 🙏 Analyst, Financial System & Planning 🙏 Counsellor, Men's Recovery 🙏 Retail Associate and more! Apply for a job at UGM today: https://ugm.ca/careers

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd! ⚾ One thing we love about our volunteers is that they never drop the ball on serving our community so, what better way to show our gratitude than free tickets to a Vancouver Canadians game? 🎟️🏟️ We are so grateful for our volunteers! Volunteers are the backbone of UGM and the work we do in the community. From preparing and serving food, to sorting and organizing in-kind donations, to serving in the many other roles we have throughout the year - our volunteers help to transform lives every day. 💙🩵💚

Do you know someone who lives in Victoria, or is willing to relocate? We're looking for two compassionate women to join our team in Victoria at Arrow Home Women's Recovery! 🙏 Recovery Care Worker, Victoria You'll provide support and care for UGM Victoria program participants on their journey towards recovery. Your responsibilities will include accompanying to appointments; organizing program activities; assisting with daily routines; addressing emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs; providing mediation facilitation; and conducting searches and screenings. 🙏 Administrator, Victoria You'll provide administrative support and handle clerical duties for the Victoria team and facilitate excellent communication within UGM's Women & Families Program, across the organization, and with outside agencies. Dive into the full job descriptions and discover more opportunities in Vancouver and Langley at ugm.ca/careers. 📝If you're ready to provide support and care to our neighbours in need through your skills and compassion, we can't wait to hear from you!

Help your neighbours stay safe during the extreme heat coming making its way to Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. This coming week, temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s – putting many folks at risk of sunburns, dehydration, heat stroke, and other serious heat-related illnesses. UGM’s outreach teams are prepared and ready to provide sunscreen, hats, and water to community members in need of immediate relief and long-term care. With your help, we hope to ensure that as many of our friends in the community can stay safe and protected from the extreme heat and sun. You can help provide your neighbours with the resources they need to get through the heat this weekend as well as the opportunity to get connected with UGM staff and life-changing supports. Give now: https://bit.ly/3ymXEpg

“When people think of themselves as removed from the problems in the Downtown Eastside, it’s important to remember all of us are a divorce, a job loss, a personal tragedy away from similar circumstances” At 69, Patrick is a retiree with many hobbies. He’s an avid gardener. He’s a car enthusiast, taking his mother’s 1965 Mustang to car shows throughout the Lower Mainland. And he dedicates time and resources to his community, most frequently to organizations including Simon Fraser University and Union Gospel Mission, where he’s been a donor for 35 years. “If you’re in a situation in life where you’re in a position to do something, do it. Get involved. Give back. Gratitude begets gratitude.” Patrick’s passion for contributing was sparked during his childhood, where he saw firsthand what it meant to have enough. “I grew up in the Canyon Heights area in North Vancouver. We were five minutes from Grouse Mountain; we went skiing every day after school.” Recreational activities like skiing were recent for Patrick’s family: his father had immigrated to British Columbia from Ireland at the age of six and lived in poverty, moving from house to house when the family couldn’t make rent. Patrick’s father instilled the values of service and caretaking in his own children, even after the family was comfortable. It was in his mid-40s that Patrick hit his own low season. “If I had an addiction, it was workaholism,” he recalls. When his first marriage came apart, Patrick experienced depression and took time away from work, drawing on his disability insurance and seeing a psychologist. “Had I not had that disability policy, I too would have lost everything.” It’s the desire to lift people out of hard seasons that led Patrick to become a Legacy donor, including UGM in his will and ensuring his giving will continue to benefit families in his community. “You never know when that one meal will bring someone inside, connect them with other people. And all of a sudden they have shelter and food and you know, that’s the gift. You don’t need all the money in the world, you just need boots on the ground.” Patrick’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of kindness and support. Every day, we are honoured to know people like Patrick — and people like you — who want to bring their values to life through meaningful contributions. Consider leaving a legacy that impacts your neighbours and community for generations to come. Learn more about becoming a legacy donor here: https://bit.ly/3A67gVX

We're looking for two compassionate individuals to join our Langley team full-time at Cedar Haven Women's Recovery! 🙏 Cook, Cedar Haven You'll be responsible to research, plan and prepare daily meals and snacks that meet both municipal health regulations and the high standards of UGM. You'll also have the opportunity to teach program participants essential cooking skills and safety. 🙏 Administrator, Fraser Valley You'll provide administrative support for the Fraser Valley team and facilitate excellent communication within the team, across the organization, and with outside agencies. You'll also play a direct role in supporting program participants, helping them get oriented and settled into the program. Dive into the full job descriptions and discover more opportunities in Vancouver and Victoria at ugm.ca/careers. 📝If you're ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of our neighbours in need through your skills and compassion, we can't wait to hear from you!

A couple weeks ago, we had our annual block party at UGM’s New Westminster Resource Centre! From burgers and hotdogs to a raffle and fun party games, it was a great day of connection and community! UGM New Westminster’s Resource Centre offers a wide range of programming and support to help community members move forward in their journeys, finding ways to eliminate barriers and provide advocacy. These programs and services have been carefully tailored to best meet the needs of community members, many of whom struggle with poverty, homelessness, addiction, or mental health hurdles. Some of the ways staff at UGM New Westminster support the community include providing meals, assisting through a UGM Mobile Mission Van, referrals to shelters and recovery programs, as well as other community resources, and much more! UGM New Westminster offers a place for connection. Staff members are always available to be a bridge for community members both on-site at the Centre and in the neighbourhood. Thank you so much to Queens Hotel for sponsoring the block party at UGM New Westminster! Thank you so much for helping support community events like this!

Last Saturday wasn't just any regular summer BBQ; it was UGM’s 25th Annual Summer BBQ! 🎂 During the BBQ, we served around 3064 meals, including 3064 burgers, 3064 hotdogs, 3064 servings of potato salad, 3064 bottles of water,  and 3064 freezies! It wasn’t just the weather that kept our hearts warm during the BBQ. The day was filled with so much laughter, smiles, dancing, and connection! Beyond a delicious and hearty meal, events like our Summer BBQ are so important because they often serve as the first point of connection between our community members and UGM staff and programs. We are so grateful for the team at Glowbal Restaurant Group who not only donated the delicious burgers we served at the event but also helped make the event possible in the first place! We also want to thank Concert Properties, Acera Insurance, City Wide Mortgage Services, JSA Sales Inc., Quality Move Management Inc., 123Dentist, and Knight Piesold for being a part of making the event the success it was! Whether it was supporting the event or sending volunteers to help cook, serve meals, and ensure our community members stayed cool, we could not have done this without your generosity and heart for our community! Check out some of the photos from the event below!

With school out for the summer, kids are spending more time at home – having more meals and snacks at home than they would during the school year. This means that parents are in charge of providing more meals and snacks that would have otherwise been provided by school-based food programs. Food hampers can help support families and individuals in our community who might otherwise go hungry this summer. Your support goes a long way for folks in our community who are trying to stretch every dollar to provide for themselves and their families. Click the link to support your neighbours this summer: https://bit.ly/3S6LmrB