In Transition

Taught me skills that I still carry with me

August 2018

There are no words to describe how thankful I am for the support that I have received from the staff at Youth

Without Shelter (YWS). I would not have been able to stand on my own, and enter post-secondary life

at Queen’s University if it were not for the encouragement, and help that the staff have provided.

Everyone, with great ardor, have taught me

skills that I still carry with me to this day.

If it were not for those routines and schedules

YWS got embedded in me, I strongly believe

I would not have survived student life in

Kingston. Student life was difficult and

overwhelming, trying to find a balance

between my academic, social and

extra-curricular life.

Having learned time-management from YWS

has led me to a successful completion upon

my first year at Queen’s University with a mark

around 3.0 GPA. I’ve landed a Summer

Student Administrative position at

a corporate law firm.

I was also diagnosed with depression due to personal circumstances I was in, but the staff at YWS has taught

me how to cope with it, and not let it interfere in other aspects of my life. Especially my goals and dreams.

YWS has not just supported me in my future endeavors but has also given me hope and inspiration.

So, with my genuine and sincerest gratitude, thank you Youth Without Shelter.

- C. Past YWS Resident

Inside this issue

6 Warrendale CourtEtobicoke, ON M9V 1P9

Youth Without Shelter

www.yws.on.ca

To receive this newslettervia email subscribe at:

Tel: 416.748.0110

To end homelessness, one youth at a time,

one step at a time

Our Vision

Charitable Reg. No.

11930 7817 RR0001

1

Taught me skills that I still 1carry with me

Back to school wish list 2

I love the breakfast today, what’s the recipe? 2

Sending our youth back to school looking and feeling their very best 3

Youth on each team were able to lead the charge 3

Notes from the kids you’ve helped 3

1

GRAPHIC MURAL GREETS STUDENTS UPON ENTERING YWS STAY IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

It’s early in the morning and the Youth Without Shelter (YWS) kitchen is hopping. Youth are serving up a

favorite: Banana French Toast Casserole. Each week day morning at YWS kicks off with a hot breakfast

prepared by youth with leadership from Roxanne, in a new role as part-time Life Skills & Culinary Facilitator.

Youth voiced: we need a full morning breakfast to move forward with daily goals; and we don’t know

enough about cooking and kitchens. Thanks to a partnership with The Home Depot Canada Foundation

youth residing at YWS are now provided with a sound nutritional base

to launch the day and empowered with the nutritional knowledge

and life skills to live independently. With The Home Depot Canada

Foundation’s focus on supporting initiatives that prevent and end

youth homelessness through renovation and repair projects and

programs that provide youth access to safe, stable shelter and

support services – funding was provided to complete a full renovation

of the YWS kitchen this summer! The kitchen has been transformed

into an open, accessible space for youth engagement and life skills

acquisition along with serving more than 88,355 individual meals and

snacks annually.

What are youth learning to prep for breakfast? They have tried their

hand at breakfast burritos and quesadillas, yogurt parfaits, scrambled

eggs (boiled and all types of eggs), breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and egg pizzas, to name a few menu

items. While creating, youth are getting hands on experience in how to use basic kitchen equipment such

as blenders, mixers, and really enjoying discussing how smaller versions of these appliances may help them

in their own kitchens.

Roxanne shares a few of the youth experiences:

“We have a gentleman here who came to the breakfast counter on his first morning at YWS.

He inquired about the breakfast, and quickly shared how “wonderful it was to have real eggs served in the

morning.” Asked if he liked eggs, he said yes. He had never had any.”

“A refugee claimant residing at YWS was excited to venture into the kitchen and become a regular

volunteer.

He enjoyed his experience in the kitchen and felt he learned many new things. He was not bothered by the

early hours (6 am start). Interacting assisted with his English language development. He is now employed in

an apprenticeship.”

From our kitchen to yours, savour this Banana French Toast Casserole recipe:

• Enough bread pieces to fill 4 baking pans

• Custard (egg mixture): 45 eggs, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 lb melted

butter, ¼ cup vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 2 cups

heavy cream, 3 cups milk, 2 tsp. salt, pureed bananas.

• Topping: chopped mixed nuts coated in melted butter

and brown sugar

• Sauce: simmer frozen berries for 30 minutes; add 1 tbsp. vanilla

extract; puree ¼ of fruit and return to pot. Stir to combine.

In Transition

Back to school wish list

• Mechanical pencils

• White out

• Index dividers for binders

• Pencil cases

• Agendas*

• Duotang folders

(with the interior pocket)

• Soft/hard cover 3 ring binders

• Toothbrush holders

• Soap holders

• Lined notebooks

• Combination locks

• Laundry bags

• Gift cards: Staples

• Knapsacks

• Belts

• USB keys: all sizes

Large size:

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Body wash

I loved the breakfast today, can I have the recipe?

2

YOUTH BREAKFAST CREATION

YOUTH BREAKFAST CREATION

In Transition

Sending our youth back to school looking and feeling their very best

3

The Clothing Connections Room at Youth Without Shelter (YWS)

is one of the first places a new resident will visit. Youth often

arrive at the shelter with only the clothes they are wearing.

New clothing is an important first step in getting settled and

feeling good about oneself. The goal for the Clothing Connec-

tions Room is to provide a pleasant, respectful and stress free

experience while the youth “shop”. We have volunteered in the

Clothing Connections Room since 2010. Our volunteering has

included transforming the Clothing Connections Room into

more of a retail environment. The clothing is presented neatly

by size, category and is colour keyed. This organization allows

residents current and past to quickly and comfortably select what they require. YWS partners with a number

of clothing suppliers as well as generous donors like you to provide new clothing for the room. For health and

safety and most importantly youth self-esteem YWS only accepts donations of new clothing. We have

observed first- hand the confidence and boost of self-esteem that residents gain when selecting new, clean

and current clothing. It is especially important during this back to school season that the residents feel good

about what they are wearing as they face the challenges of a new school year. Your donations of clothing

and gift cards are most welcome and allow us to continue to keep the Clothing Connections Room

operating. Items of clothing that are always in high demand are jeans, plain T-shirts, hoodies and sweat

pants. Walmart gift cards in particular allow us to purchase a wide selection of well-priced items.With your

generous support we look forward to sending our youth back to school looking and feeling their very best!

- Cathy Campbell and Adrienne Lapinsky- Clothing Connections Room Leadership Volunteers

Notes from the kids you’ve helped

WELCOME TO THE CLOTHING CONNECTIONS ROOM

Youth on each team were able to lead the charge

Who said games and ice cream trucks are just for kids?!?

That was surely not the case on one summer evening this past

July. It was our third annual games night where the YWS board

of directors hosted an evening of fun and games for all the YWS

youth at the shelter, along with a special treat to cap the night.

The evening was filled with smiles and laughter as four teams,

each including a combination of YWS youth, staff and

members of the board, rotated through four different games.

A point system was in place to bring out a little competition,

and that certainly got everyone motivated. The YWS dining

room was converted into a ping-pong hall where teams were

challenged with their ping-pong skills. Then in the spirit of the

summer heat, a limbo contest was held to see “how low can

you go”, and the talent came shining through with some amazing acrobatics and flexibility. Next came the

photo scavenger hunt where teams were sent off in different directions throughout the shelter to find and

take photos of specific items. That is where the youth on each team were able to lead the charge, knowing

where these items could be found in the place they call home. And finally, it was the ladder toss game

where precision, and a little hand-eye coordination, could go a long way. In the end, it was a tight race

amongst the 4 teams with the winning team being Team Infinity. But that wasn’t all, since everyone then

gathered outside with the arrival of the ice cream truck. The smiles continued as each player ordered their

favourite treat – from a banana split to a chocolate dipped cone, and all those who gathered realized that

it is through moments like this that we get to know and understand one another that much more.

A big thank you to the staff and board members who came out, but most importantly to the YWS youth

who joined in with such energy and enthusiasm.

- Halinka Dybka Director, YWS Board of Directors Chair, Development & Engagement Committee

YWS BOARD MEMBERS GET COMPETITIVE WITH PING PONG

Yes! I/We would like to provide a safe haven for a youth tonight at Youth Without Shelter.

You can make a difference in a youth’s life by returning this form with cheque (payable to Youth Without Shelter) or credit card informa-

tion to: Youth Without Shelter, 6 Warrendale Court, Etobicoke, ON M9V 1P9 or donate online at: www.yws.on.ca

YWS respects your privacy and adheres to all legislative requirements with respect to privacy. We protect your personal information and

do not rent, sell or trade our mailing lists. From time to time YWS will send you updates on our solutions to homelessness and other oppor-

tunities for your involvement. If at any time you would like to be removed from our list, please call 416.748.0110 ext. 26.

Thank you for “ending homelessness, one youth at a time, one step at a time.”

$25 will provide a youth with a safe place to sleep for one night at YWS.

$75 will provide a Stay in School Starter Package including a blanket, pillow, sheets, towel, alarm clock, hygiene kit.

$127 will provide milk with each meal for one week for all 53 youth.

$160 will provide an “Equipped for Employment” Package including safety shoes, transit fare and any requiredwork clothing.

$206 will provide juice for one week for Youth Without Shelter’s 53 youth.

I prefer to contribute $ I would like to Adopt-A-Bed by contributing monthly $

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