St. Michaels CARES for the needy, the hungry, the downtrodden, the sick, the addicted, the homeless, the mentally challenged, and the lonely.
Through her nearly-a-century-old hall entrance, 1300 people come every month. Close to 1100 of these people fall into at least one these categories. The hungry are fed twice a week through the Soup Kitchen. Two other days a week, those meals are prepared in her kitchen. Those with addictions meet in our hall four nights a week. We built each user group their own “rolling cupboard” for their individual supplies.
The downtrodden and the homeless are offered warm clothing from the racks of donated items right at their own fingertips…to choose what they need. This season, we are handing out 75 bundles of mittens, gloves, scarves, hats and socks; and 125 bags of personal-need items to these folks.
The sick are offered free flu immunizations and advice from a public health nurse within the walls of the church sanctuary itself.
The mentally challenged and the elderly or lonely always find a smile and a meal, and a huge dish of CARING when they enter our building; our church “home.”
The City (through mayor Roline) and 67 “volunteers” showed up at a meeting regarding the institution of a “shelter from the cold” program to be instituted in Merritt. This was the second meeting of interest that included ASK Wellness and city leaders. It is my understanding that no particular place was mentioned aloud, as a possible place, although “hopes” for a church to volunteer rested in some hearts. It’s a “hot topic.”
There has been considerable dialogue on another “hot” topic: Country Music Capital of Canada. I am bold enough to suggest a better name for us to begin to live up to: Compassionate Capital of Canada.
The homeless of Merritt are citizens of Merritt; no matter whether they have lived here for many years, or arrived on one of the busses out of Vancouver, since April of this year. These are the citizens that need much more than those of us who already have a heated, lighted home on one of Merritt’s streets. And it is our responsibility to work towards equal opportunities for these poor, downtrodden, and disaffected persons.
It is our compassionate response as Merritt citizens. Our compassionate response as taxpayers. Our compassionate response as “privileged” members of this community.
The perfect place for overnight stays for the homeless in Merritt is a building which is already heated and lighted throughout the nights: A security system is in place and it has a well-lighted and large entrance.
Multiple door entrances would make it easy for any emergencies, or use of stretchers.
No ramps or steps. And insurance coverage is always in place.
Warm carpeted flooring for those cold feet to have a rest. Couches to sit on.
Twelve toilet stalls, and plenty of room in the washrooms for a sponge bath.
A huge kitchen and an always-running walk-in cooler ready for food storage.
A rear-entrance door for loading/unloading supplies.
Tables and chairs on wheeled carts for easy use. Even a pay telephone for any of those who want to make a call.
Loads of places to store mats and blankets safely out of the way, along with cleaning supplies and food for the 2 meals to be prepared with each overnight.
And no user groups would have to be moved from their rental spaces if the foyer was used.
The Civic Center was built for the people of Merritt. Let’s use it for those Merritonians who are most in need. Let us not hope to foist this situation into one of our small worship places. It is not just the responsibility of those who have a neighborhood place to worship. It is time for a grass roots movement to place our “brothers and sisters” in the best of all locations, and say to them that they are important, and that we are compassionate people. This would put Merritt on the map in a way that Country Music and its proposed museum never will. Word of this kind of effort would spread across Canada like no other subject. Visitors would come to see what a compassionate community we were.
Yes, think about this and call City Hall. Let’s move as soon as possible to make ourselves the Compassionate Capital of Canada. After all, we are warm and they are cold.

Suzy Ireland
Merritt