The Upper Room Mission is a day shelter for the poor, unsheltered and marginalized people in the community of Vernon, BC. Our day shelter is a safe place to be during the day, a place away from the stresses of living on the streets or isolation from the community.
The core services we provide are based on the basic needs of a person in need; food, clothing, washrooms, shower, and essential hygiene products.
The services we offer our guests are guided by what Jesus tells us in Matthew 25: 35-36, 40. This reads; “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
What is your goal, your mission?
Our mission is to care for the poor, unsheltered and marginalized in our community by providing food, clothing, a place of belonging and hope through the love of Jesus Christ.
What do you mean by a place of belonging?
We all seek to belong, to be seen and heard. For most of us, our place of belonging is with our families, friends and in our homes. But for our guests, for whatever reason, this is not the case. Their support network has been broken. The Upper Room Mission is their place of belonging, their support family in their time of crisis.
How is hope achieved?
By providing people in crisis with the basic needs for a day, week, month or year, we allow that person to take a deep breath from the stresses of living a life in poverty and despair. Giving people the opportunity to think beyond their basic needs allows them to have hope for a better future.
We support our guests with the information they need to take their next steps during this time. This might be information on getting a new ID, gaining access to housing, writing a resume, getting rental support, or getting substance use support. Whatever it might be, we will try to guide our guests in the right direction, equipping them with the information to take the next steps.
Why should I care?
People from all kinds of backgrounds and ages struggle from time to time to be able to care for themselves. We care because the person walking through our doors can be our son or daughter, our brother or sister, our parent or grandparent. We love and care for our community! The Upper Room Mission is the first place people come to when in crisis. Most of our services are free, and guests do not have to register to get access.
Will you lend us a hand in 2022?
This vital support means we can continue to provide essential services to people in need in Vernon, BC. We do not receive local or provincial government funding for our work and rely on generous donations from the public. However big or small, every contribution powers our future and directly supports people in need. Donate now.
