Starting July 1, the URM will be running their new month-long campaign UnderAWARE, with hopes of collecting underwear, a basic necessity that most of us take for granted. The Mission’s Outreach Department has noticed the demand for both men’s and women’s undergarments are very high, while the supply is very, very limited, often absent. For […]

VERNON, June 7, 2017 – A grant from the Ministry of Employment and Social Development has allowed the Upper Room Mission to extend their hours of operation for the summer. Two summer students have been hired, all made possible by the Canada Summer Jobs grant application through the Federal Government. Having two additional staff on […]

Three years after taking over leadership of an organization that is now successfully feeding Vernon’s hungry in so many ways, Upper Room Mission executive director Rick Lavin announces he is retiring and has already passed on the torch to not just one but two colleagues—Lisa Anderson and Lisa Church. Lavin joined the Upper Room Mission […]

Four years ago, Carolyn Smith was at a meeting for Probus Club—a Rotary Club off-shoot for retirees—when she heard outreach worker Bev Henke speaking about the Upper Room Mission’s work, and how a Vernon volunteer could make a difference there. Six days later, Carolyn was in The Kitchen, chopping carrots and dicing fruit for pies. […]

On a Tuesday afternoon in April, Suzy and Leon are sitting at ‘their spot’— two seats at the end of the table closest to the Upper Room Mission’s back door. They’ve been sitting here for lunch and dinner most weekdays for three years, ever since Suzy got sick. She got sick and Leon tried to […]