Settling Into Spring!
Welcome to my May Newsletter
Hello, Support Team! Welcome back to my newsletter. I hope you are enjoying all the sunshine and signs of spring. It has been a busy couple of months around here. Let me tell you all about it, and you can join me as we travel back in time to the depths of winter!
We started the year off with a lot of snow, and a lot of time intentionally being together as a community. This brings us so much joy in what can be a dreary winter season. In between our regular programming, we hosted an Open Stage (talent show situation) and a movie day (we watched a movie about a rescue dog that involved a lot of cheering from community. I might have shed a tear or two). We were also invited to the annual pancake supper at Christ Church St. James to mark the start of Lent. We love joining their community and feasting together.
As many of you know, The Dale has to fundraise everything - from money for our general fund to run programming and care for individuals, to all of our individual salaries. In order to raise money for our general fund, we try to have a couple of big fundraisers a year. In the winter we sold our infamous Dale toques and just at the end of April we launched our Community Care Catalogue where people could “online shop” for things that are most useful in caring for our community. We surpassed our goal of $10,000 with YOUR HELP! Thank you so much!
As we eased into Spring, we grieved the deaths of three community members… Peter Lamb, Barry Hubick and Phil Wolfe. We miss our friends so dearly, as they were each such integral parts of The Dale and Parkdale. Each person was woven into the fabric of this place, and the streets are emptier without them. We are grateful for times to remember them at memorials, and be invited to participate in funerals and sacred fires. We really believe that everyone deserves a dignified time to be remembered and honoured.
The final update is that our wonderful Erinn is on Sabbatical from May 1st through to September 2nd. We have been preparing for this moment for a while now! It is strange that the time is here and it is just the three of us Dale Girls for the summer. We miss Erinn so, so much… AND we are beyond proud and happy that she is taking time to rest, care for herself, and spend time with her family. I am so glad that we got to go together as a team to Montreal before she left to attend a Story Night conference put on by our friend, Jenna. Attending the first Story Night event in another city was so awesome, and we got to tour around together at the same time. What a great way to end our time together!
In personal news, Ian and I celebrated our seven year wedding anniversary in March! Somehow the time flies by, and yet seems to stand still. I am grateful to be with Ian and learn so much together as a couple every day. Thank you for all of the prayers over our marriage the last couple of years. As May moves along, it means that we are getting closer to the end of the school year. In September, Charlotte will be starting grade one! This will be such a huge transition for her, one that we are all excited and nervous about.
“And on the seventh day, God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” - Genesis 2:2-3
Prayer Requests
Prayer for Erinn as she enters this time of Sabbatical to rest and fill her cup
Prayer for Joanna, Olivia, myself, and our community as keep things going here at The Dale for the summer - that we would have a fun and safe time
Prayer that I would be able to find new folks to share The Dale with that could help with fundraising
Prayer for Charlotte as she finishes off her last year of Kindergarten and prepares to enter Grade One
Links to Share!
Ian was featured in an article in the Salvationist Magazine in which he talked about his mom and their journey with the Salvation Army near the end of her life. I am so proud of his vulnerability in sharing this story, which is not an easy one to share. I will link the story here so you can take a look if you missed it.
The Dale’s Annual Report is a great way to find out what we have been up to in the previous year, all the partners and organizations who help support this work, our organizational details and more. If you would like to take a look, you can check it out here. Erinn puts together the report very beautifully.
Olivia and I are working on a general newsletter for those that support The Dale and want to stay in the loop. Check out The Dale Digest here.
Thank you for all of your continued support! We have a great summer ahead of us here, and I am looking forward to updating you again in the Fall. Wishing you much peace and joy in the sun!