Vancouver Harbour Light

Since last year, The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light partnered with Bandage and Beyond—a student-led group focused on accessible wound care— to enhance residents' health and well-being by providing on-site wound care kits and education. Since last year, this student group, with team members: Joy Yang & Vanesse Li from UBC, and Raj Saini and Jane Tjandra from SFU, has helped us make essential care accessible, enabling individuals to manage injuries safely and with dignity through increased health awareness by providing educational flyers and info booths on wound care. When the group was looking for community partners in the early stages of Bandage and Beyond, The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light immediately stood out to them. VHL is one of the central community hubs in the Downtown Eastside, and they knew VHL provided a wide range of essential services for residents with different needs. It felt like a natural and meaningful place to begin to distribute wound care kits to reach people who would truly benefit from them. “From our very first conversation, we were struck by the warmth and dedication of the staff. They took the time to listen to our ideas, understand our mission, and welcome us into the community with both patience and care. That initial interaction made it clear that Harbour Light was exactly the kind of partner we had hoped to find.” The first kit distribution session was the first time Bandage and Beyond felt real outside of all the planning and preparation. The group’s hope is that Bandage and Beyond can help reduce preventable wound infections through empowering self-management; to reduce stigma and barriers around wound care, and create a safe space where people can ask for help and take care of their health. Plenty of thought was put into the materials and presentation of the kits, but actually being there was different. At first, the group was a little nervous. During the shifts, they set up a table with their wound care kits, and educational materials. Each kit includes six basic wound care items: a wound wash, soap, antimicrobial dressings, gauze pads, a tensor bandage, and tape; and an infographic guide within each kit explains how to use the items, and our other materials include tips on wound care and infection prevention. Anyone is welcome to come by, take a kit, or ask questions. They did their best to make the table feel approachable, so clients feel comfortable accessing resources without judgment. As people came up to the table, the initial butterflies turned to more natural interactions. Everyone who comes to the table is different: some people ask what the kits are for, some just need the supplies and take the kits quietly, and some stay to chat. You never really know what each interaction will look like. “Before we started, we thought a lot about how to communicate with clients and explain the kits properly. But through our shifts, we learned that it does not always have to be complicated. A lot of the time, it is really simple: being genuine, being vulnerable, and actively listening.” One time, during a distribution session, a client came up to learn more about the kits. He seemed interested, but there was a bit of a language barrier. One of the members knew some Mandarin, so they started speaking to him in Mandarin, and his face immediately lit up. After that, the conversation became so much more comfortable with smiling and laughter. This interaction stayed with the group because it is again a reminder of how connection can happen through something very simple: meeting clients where they’re at. “What stuck with us most was how small interactions could turn into real moments of connection, either through a greeting, a smile, or a short conversation. That is when we realized that the kits were not just supplies, but also a way to start conversations and build trust with the community…. every time we see someone take a kit, or hear a quiet "thank you," we are reminded of why we started. These are small moments, but they fill you with a genuine sense of purpose, because you realize the work is reaching real people.” The group says this experience helped their team learn the importance of staying open and humble. Every conversation is a reminder that each person carries a different story and a different need. As students, they recognize they are not people who are from the DTES community, and are visitors in this space, so they do not assume they know what is best. Spending time in the DTES has introduced the team to so many remarkable individuals, each with their own story, which the team said it has given them a much deeper understanding of the community than they ever could have gained from the outside looking in. There is still so much to learn, which is why they see their work with the Salvation Army and other community organizations as an iterative process: one where they actively seek feedback from community members and staff, and use it to reflect on and refine their approach. On a more personal note, the team pointed out how volunteering made them more aware of how easily it is to take basic things for granted. Before this, supplies like bandages, wound dressings, and saline wash were things they assumed anyone could simply pick up at a pharmacy. At our Shelters, they have come to understand that for many people, even those essentials are not always within reach. “We would like to sincerely thank all the staff at The Salvation Army Harbour Light for supporting us throughout our journey. Thank you for answering our questions, sharing the on-the-ground perspective, and welcoming us into the space. We truly cherish this partnership and look forward to working more closely!” The members felt that working with The Salvation Army has allowed us to contribute to the community, but it has also changed them personally in ways they did not fully expect. They say it has also reinforced something important: this community needs and welcomes volunteers, and showing up, even in a small way, genuinely matters. - Cindy Cheung, Bandage & Beyond Team: Joy Yang, Vanesse Li, Raj Saini, Jane Tjandra

Tiffany has been a group leader for her volunteer group at our community meals programs for several years. This year, we had the privilege to welcome Tiffany to skill-based volunteer role, to facilitate one-on-one piano lessons for our Men’s and Women’s Treatment clients. Our clients sign up through Chaplain Robbie in the Music Department in our Spiritual Care Program. Tiffany was surprised that clients kept signing up. She thought the beginner nursery songs she teaches might feel boring to clients and discourage them from continuing, but found that people are willing to start small and build up to more complex songs. This reflects our encouragement to many clients’ path to recovery. To take it one day at a time, especially in the beginning. Then one day, when you look back, you will see that you were laying the building blocks for a beautiful new road that leads to a lifestyle in recovery. As the lessons went on, our client’s piano skills improved and Tiffany started seeing clients starting to play the piano with both hands. Together with efforts from Chaplain Robbie, clients built confidence in learning new things. Clients also told Tiffany how the lessons remind them of their childhood. Tiffany found that volunteering with a faith-based organization gave her more opportunities to share and practice her faith through songs. She taught faith-based songs like “Amazing Grace” in the lessons and found a different way to serve God here. She also feels that the way VHL structures programs destigmatizes what DTES is like. Before she started sharing her experience at VHL, people used to be worried about her for coming to this area to serve vulnerable clients. After interacting with clients first-hand, Tiffany saw how VHL has a very “human-approach” in serving the community. She noted that while other DTES organizations might not focus on long-term solutions for social issues, she noticed that clients she met at VHL actually get better in time. This past summer, Tiffany taught her last lesson with our clients as she is moving out of the city to pursue further education. We thank her for all she has done in Vancouver Harbour Light and wish her all the best in her future endeavors! — Cindy Cheung, Community Engagement Coordinator

Picture Source: besafe.ma (Read "Chaplain's Corner: Our Living Hope") I first joined JOHS to make a meaningful impact on the workplace. I appreciate that the JOHS committee is most effective when the JOHS members care about their colleagues. In our 119 location, clientele is diverse and comes from many walks of life. Often, we work closely with individuals who have a history of substance use or criminal histories, thus putting our staff in situations with heightened risk. Not only does the JOHS committee become an integral part of maintaining staff safety concerns, but it is also a presence that provides comfort to staff. Our JOHS committee is safe and confidential, and we let staff know they are welcome to file concerns anonymously. It provides an avenue for staff to express concerns without feeling like they are confronting management. JOHS has seen quite a few changes since I joined. I think the most noticeable change is the participation of JOHS members. We have worked hard to foster an environment that allows JOHS members to have accountability, which has motivated them to be more active. Some safety items we address include ensuring staff arrangements align with safety best practices, improving air quality, and adding additional safety features and policies in the building. In my opinion, the best way staff can support JOHS is to understand that we are all one big team. If an issue is affecting you, it most likely is affecting others! --- Josiah, Co-Chair of TSA 119 JOHS Committee (Union Representative) I joined the JOHS committee to learn how to support the staff better and contribute to a safer work environment and gain valuable learning experience. As the DTES can be an unpredictable and potentially volatile area to work in, I want to make sure that we are all prepared and knowledgeable in our safety plans. A JOHS committee allows us to have a productive collaborative team that helps maintain a safe work environment. I also believe it contributes to the company culture around safety as it gives our staff piece of mind that things will always be addressed as needed. If staff would like to contribute to the health & safety of the workplace, staff are always welcome to bring repairs or safety concerns to the JOHS! -- Steve, Co-Chair of TSA 108 JOHS Committee (Employer Representative)