Apr 15, 2019

Freeschoolin': Helping The Homeless

With Privilege Comes Responsibility

Our family has been volunteering with a group called "Friends of the Homeless Living in Barrie!"

It all began with Hope and a local library back in November 2018.

We were passing by one cold night and saw a row of people camped outside the doors. Hope asked what they were doing and I explained they had no other place they felt was safe to sleep. I had been a part of the group mentioned above for a while, but this moment invoked action. I asked if Hope and Jaze would like to volunteer at a dinner for the homeless during the Holidays and they eagerly agreed. We called out to our Un/Homeschool Club and some families were happy to join in. We did attend the dinner but only for 30 minutes as Hope became suddenly ill. She had wanted to help so much that she didn't tell us she'd felt sick from the moment she woke up that day. So we signed up for February and had a great time volunteering at a Valentine's Day themed dinner with homeschool friends that also attended.

This Past Saturday

There was another dinner we were so happy to volunteer at and even more homeschooling friends came out! Hope served food, chatted up other volunteers, played with the kids and had a great time, even with next to no sleep the night before due to reverse cycling.

Proof that when Hope is passionate about something, and she chooses it, she's got endless energy for it, in spite of any challenges.

Thanks to all our friends who made this event fun and fulfilling and we're so grateful to be of service to those in need in our community.

This Week

Hope got into some art, we played some cards and did puzzles together and we've all be monitoring Hope's Caterpillar friend. Hope's been reverse cycling, but we managed to get out to a really cool Animal show run by a Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue and Little Ray's Reptile Zoo and Nature Centre. We learned about animals native to Ontario, Canada and how these organizations are helping raise awareness and rehabilitating wildlife. Hope was really into card making so she made a card for Jaze and my 10th Anniversary and her friend Shane's birthday. Yesterday, she did some origami with her Dad and started this neat diorama.