A ministry to families and individuals living in motels in the Burlington area
The Motel Ministry is an outreach to people living in motels. Circumstances and length of stay vary, but common among guests are the needs for acceptance, hope, interaction and understanding.
The Motel Ministry began its first outreach on Thanksgiving Day 2006, in the parking lot of a motel on Plains Road in Burlington. Since then, volunteers from Burlington’s faith community have been serving together to reach people at 3 motels across the city.
Why Motels?
Halton Region lacks a family shelter.
When a family becomes homeless, Halton Region may choose to place them in a motel in Burlington. Burlington becomes the catch-basin for families from Acton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville and Burlington. Often this arrangement displaces a family from their community: the children’s schools, employers, medical care, faith community, family and friends. Many poor families do not have cars. This creates challenges for parents seeking housing in their community of origin.
In addition to caring for homeless families with children, our community also includes: sex trade workers, alcohol/drug addicts and dealers, the mentally ill, senior citizens, individuals running from the law, journeymen, immigrants who have crossed the border into Canada seeking a better life.
What is an Outreach?
Each outreach is an opportunity to connect with guests, and identify needs to ease their suffering: physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Each outreach includes a freshly made hot dinner served onsite at each motel. Available also are donations of canned goods, dry goods, basic toiletries, small children’s toys, books and reading materials and resources to connect guests to additional support in the area. In the winter hats, mitts are kept onsite.
In November 2008, the Salvation Army approached the Motel Ministry to partner in the launch of a drop-in center at one of the motels.
On December 15, 2008, “The Room at the Inn” was launched at Room #14 of the Crestwood Motel, with Burlington Major Cam Jackson and Aldershot Counsellor Rick Craven participating in the ribbon cutting celebration. The Burlington Post and Hamilton Spectator covered the event.
The Room at the Inn is supported financially by The Salvation Army, Compass Point Bible Church, Forest View Church Without walls and Wellington Square United. The drop is open Monday and Friday afternoons, Wednesday and Saturday evenings as well as by appointment.
Opportunities to serve include:
Please consider how you or your small group can get involved:
·Pray
·Volunteer to train as on-site leaders for once/month or occasionally, Saturday nights
·Volunteer to help serve on-site once/month or occasionally, Saturday nights
·Cook- We need people to cook 1 crock-pot of hot food or a dessert once/month or occasionally
·Volunteer at the drop-in center (Crestwood Motel) for 1 hour on an occasional Friday afternoon
·Talk to Frank Lupton about helping move furniture (Trading Spaces Ministry)
Immediately needed...
50 boxes of chocolates - wrapped - to be given away on SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 during our turkey dinner. Must be delivered to the church by SUNDAYDECEMBER 11.
Mittens or gloves - Adult size. Unisex dark colours. We have lots of hats & scarves. We have NO mittens. Dollar Store styles are welcome.
Men’s and Women’s DEODORANT. Thank you to our mystery donors for your extremely generous donations of toothpaste - this need has been met until the summer!
Please note; WE DO NOT ACCEPT CLOTHING DONATIONS.
Please consider donating your clothing to The Compassion Societybecause we refer our friends there because they are located across the street from our motels.
For more information about the ministry or how you or your small group can get involved, please contact:
