Since January, The Lighthouse has been operating an emergency homeless shelter in North Battleford.
It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unique to the Battlefords, this facility provides three meals per day, not only to the homeless but to numerous children of the working poor. Without The Lighthouse, these individuals would be without a meal that day. Immediate shelter is provided to those who need it, and to those who seek it. Long-term life skills programming is offered to help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Local businesses, with support of Downtown North Battleford, The Lighthouse and the City of North Battleford are planning to build a neighbourhood that is a welcoming community that everyone can be proud of. Together, they are building a community garden that will provide some of the vegetables used in The Lighthouse's daily kitchen. Jim LaFreniere from Bee-J's Office Plus is encouraged by this partnership saying “It is a good step in the right direction, working with everyone around you, beautifying the area”.
July 11, the public is invited to volunteer their time and help with the installation of the raised community garden that will transform a rugged alleyway into a beautiful community garden. Please come out between 9 a.m. and noon, to lend a hand, put names to faces of people of the area and enjoy new connections.
Everyone is welcomed to the unveiling of the garden and to a barbecue July 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For $5 you can get a burger and a drink, with all the proceeds going to The Lighthouse.
The art of growing a garden is one of patience and close attention to needs. These particular traits have led to empathy and understanding. People are now more than individuals in an area, going about their business. They are now people with faces and names within a community.
“Social issues are community issues,” Caitlin Glencross from The Lighthouse says, and with the foundation of a strong community being laid, social issues can be effectively addressed. Anyone is welcomed to grow in this garden. If you are interested all you have to do is contact Caitlin Glencross of The Lighthouse.
