By Barbara Paleczny, SSND
On Thanksgiving weekend, 12 residents and six of us volunteers from A Better Tent City in Kitchener, Ontario ventured on a two-hour bus 'pilgrimage' of sorts to Niagara Falls.
At a restaurant, these formerly unsheltered women and men could order what they wanted as we sat at tables together, an unusual experience for them.
Already, their morale was lifting.
Later, as they carefully chose some items in a souvenir shop, I was drawn into conversations as if I had been a long-time friend.
We went down to the Niagara River for an exciting ride (my first time) on the Maid of the Mist, near both the American and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
Finally, each could choose a fun attraction, e.g. Ferris wheel or go-karts. Exhausted and grateful, we were home by 11:30 p.m.
Truly, this was a risk well-taken; their self-confidence seemed to blossom and trust grew.
Learn more about A Better Tent City, where each formerly unsheltered person has a 2 x 3 meter cabin. They also enjoy access to a common area that includes a commercial kitchen, lounge, 4 toilets, 2 showers and 2 laundry for residents, along with 50 visitors/guests per day.
