The AG House Journey
Helping Women and Children
This experience began with a need identified within our community. AG House is a facility for homeless women and children to seek shelter and re-build their lives. The shelter is in need of some big repairs. The idea was to make the community aware of the need and to see who would come forward with time, resources and love to be a part of something bigger than any of us individually. The stories begin….
The Kelowna Rockets Midget Hockey Team wanted to be a part of this experience after we spoke to the coach about the AG House. The coach wanted the children to give back to those in need and to begin a journey of “leadership” and making a tangible difference in the world. There was a mom connected to the team that used to work in a woman’s shelter that established a list of needs to help AG House. I was home one morning going about my “mom” sort of tasks when the door bell rang. It was the manager of the team with a huge truck load of goodies to fill up my entire garage. The gifts were to give to the women personally and to supply the shelter with long term toiletries, bedding, first aid and more.
A senior visiting from Vancouver named Warren asked if he could give his time to organize it all and to package everything for delivery. Hours later there were 30 full bags of gifts for each woman that would be staying at AG over Christmas and boxes of necessities for the year. Warren helped pack and transport everything to AG for the holidays.
When we arrived at the AG house we learned that a young 8 year old boy would be there for Christmas. With a little further investigation we discovered that he LOVED Spiderman. He wore his cape daily in hope to rescue his mom. Warren and I perked up with the thought of creating an incredible Christmas for this young boy. We got in the car and headed right to Toys R US and requested to speak to the manager. Gord, the manager came promptly offering his services. We told him the story of this little Spiderman fan and we asked Gord what he could do for us. He smiled and said, “manager’s special” coming up! As Gord went to gather the code to receive the special price, a woman standing in line who overheard the story, reached into her purse to pull out a donation to the project. BEAUTIFUL!!! To top it all off the story came out at a Christmas party we attended and a Spiderman Hockey jersey appeared on my husband’s desk the next day to deliver to this little boy. Riley, the 8 year old, best-dressed Spiderman in town, had a wonderful Christmas with his mom.
Marian Berry and her mobile treat making ministry, planned a date to bake and visit the women at AG to bring some spirit and conversation in to the mix. Baking with Marian is always a good day. She brought sweet and savory recipes to create and enjoy with the women and children in AG House. While she visited and went about making all the snacks a new arrival to AG pulled me into her room to share her photos. She had photos of her family and especially her daughter. As I admired the photos, she opened her heart to share her story. She was sexually abused by her father before the age of 10 and the journey to painful drug addiction and prostitution began. Her daughter went to a corrupt foster care family and is now on the same road as her mom. Oh, the cross to carry. This woman came all the way across Canada, leaving all who know her and love her behind, to get sober and back on her feet. She cried, I cried. We went to sit on the couch when the Hayes and Delcourt family children presented a singing debut of beautiful Christmas songs for all the women. When the voices echoed through the house more and more women came out to gather around; Some smiling for the first time in weeks and months. One put her head on my shoulder crying and said, “Now this feels like home.” There was a beautiful spirit in the house that day that really made it feel like a home.
A young girl named Makenna from the West Side got wind of this Women’s shelter through the press releases before Christmas. She asked her mom to go and visit AG House. After the visit, Makenna was appalled how some people have to live; she especially didn’t like how the rooms were so basic and lifeless. She decided to make a difference and started to raise money at school. She raised over $100 and delivered it personally to the shelter. Makenna then braved applying to “Extreme Make-over” to have the team come and re-build the AG House. The “Extreme Make-over” team actually responded to her and sent a first-time application across boarders. Makenna is 10 year old and what a difference she has made in the world already. Way to go girl!
I received a few ambitious messages from Jack Mclaughlin in November, anxiously waiting my response. He leads a seniors group that took AG to heart. This group wanted to go over their regular giving amount to help pay for new windows to go into AG House. Jack requested a member from the ActNOW team to present the project goals to the group. I volunteered to join this supportive and loving group for what I thought would be a brief intro and some inspiring comments. Three hours later, after meeting some absolutely incredible people and enjoying a five course turkey meal, I shared the dream for AG House. With smiling faces and generous hearts, new windows were sponsored that day. Best three hours I spent!
A random woman’s book club felt that they would sponsor a good cause for their wind-up dinner. They collected money at their party and delivered it personally. The woman said, “Now this feels good,” when she handed it over.
I received a call from a woman named Deb a couple of months back. She is new to Kelowna, living here just over one year. She noticed the project through the press release before Christmas and it pulled on her heart strings. She has a passion for discipleship and she wanted to share this with me. We went for coffee one morning and she asked if her small church can be a part of this journey. I just hugged her and opened the door. She offered proceeds from their potluck dinner that they do annually and she asked if the people can be the arms and legs for labor down the road when we need to haul away garbage or old items. She then went one step further and circulated the cause throughout the high school her girls attend. She placed an ad in the school newsletter to inspire the community her children participate in. We have received anonymous donations along the way. Hmmmmmm.
This project has brought opportunity to get to know some of the heroic women that stay at the AG House for a short time. I exchanged my e-mail with one that spiked my interest one day. I shared with my ActNOW team a poem that came from the inside of AG House and it goes like this……..
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its décor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp—
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from 7th grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, “what’s the deal?”
I would love to hear Your take
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.
And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber – give me a clue.
‘Hush, child,” He said, They’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d be seeing you.”
JUDGE NOT! Remember…..just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST……
EVERY SINNER HAS A FUTURE!
My daughter’s grade 6 class at Anne McClymont takes on the responsibility of recycling for the school. The bonus of this stinky and dirty job is they get to practice the art of democracy voting on a good cause to give the money to. My daughter Hannah had the opportunity to present the AG House journey to her class as a nominee for some recycling money. Many other causes were brought forth that day as well. The whole experience of social entrepreneurship was amazing to witness among these young people in our community. The class voted and AG House was nominated to receive the gift of money raised from the recycling program of Ms Boyd’s Grade 6 class. Leaders of the future in action! Way to go team!
A local family bought a new home and was in the process of moving when I received a call. I see these people on a regular basis and had many conversations around the AG House. The house they purchased was decorated with beautiful furniture that could not be used due to space and size. This family asked to donate these quality items to the AG House so it could be put to good use. They could have made thousands on Craig’s List or Castanet but they chose women and children. LOVE IT!
I was sitting in Starbucks on morning after a work out. Four ladies and I were chatting about dreams, goal, holidays and day to day stuff when a young man named Dave requested to sit along side us. I told Dave that he had to share a dream that he has if he wanted to take the chair. He actually bought into my playful manor and showed us this incredible tool table that he invented. This thing was awesome. He plugged away on his lab top while my friends and I kept chatting. I was talking about some brand new cork floor that was donated to AG House but I needed to get into the space to lift it all and ship it to storage. Before I could elaborate at all on the project Dave asked for my contact number and volunteered to lift the entire floor that evening for me. The only condition he had was that he needed to tuck his children into bed before he went. What a guy!
There is an elderly widow in town that I and my family spend some time with once in a while. She has very little in terms of monetary BUT she has a heart bigger than the entire universe. She placed $20 that I definitely know she CAN”T afford in a card addressed to the AG House in my mailbox because she wants to help make a difference in the lives of women that are broken. I am sure God has the most beautiful place for her prepared! This gift was her food for the month. Bless her heart.
There is a local school in town that puts on a Spring Fair every year and this year they have decided that they will share the proceeds of the Fair with the AG House. This little school is going to make a difference in their community and in the lives of all the families that get to be a part of something so life-changing.
There has been many anonymous donors give to the cause through their businesses. The gifts come as labor, items or corporate sponsorship; all beautiful ways to join this team in the journey to fix up AG House to be a safe place for women and children to re-build their lives.
Some very gifted and local talent has stepped up to offer a benefit concert on behalf of the AG House. Robert Fine and his friend Jackie are performing a swing/jazz number in April at the Kelowna Community Theatre. They even have a marketing rep that aims to pack the house!!!! There are 860 seats available and you are all invited. Stay tuned!
Women are notorious for wanting to get together with other women. Yes, we have an ambitious bunch putting on a shopping, swapping and eating night in a local women’s store in town. Auction items, old and new quality clothing, dandy diva jewelry and more……shopping galore! What a night!
Yes, the stories go on and what a privilege to tell them. When the project has glitches or time delays that cause long hours and many meetings, we often reflect on the relational journey of how God does things through His people. He always reminds us of His faithfulness and His presence in all of this. We know He’ll get it done no matter what any of us do because he cares about women and children and He knows the desires within the hearts of this community. We know it can be frustrating when the visual eye can’t see change or results and time clicks by; but we can’t forget that heart change is happening in this community and that’s what it’s all about. When the last piece of the puzzle fits, namely the HVac, the structural changes will be completed by the end of June. The teams and the timeline is set to go…….
