How we're all connected

How grateful are you?

Research has shown that the average person says thank you about six times a day, or nearly 2,200 times per year. As polite Canadians, we often say "thank you" as a basic reflex. In that way, it can sometimes become unconscious - you don't even think about why you're saying it!

Ancient thinkers understood something important about gratitude. Cicero famously called gratitude “the parent of all virtues,” recognizing that when people appreciate what they have received from others, they are more likely to act generously in return. The Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger wrote that gratitude is not just about saying thank you, but about recognizing the web of relationships that sustain our lives.

In many ways, charities like ours exist within that same web. None of what we do happens because of one single person. However, our collective impact can be expressed in the radical examples of lives transformed.

That's what makes the art exhibit on display in Kingston right now so special. Hosted by longtime friends and supporters of our work, A Sheltered Life: Portraits of Resilience is a series of paintings, pictures, and stories of some of the people who have experienced homelessness, worked with us through our shelters and other programming, and are now part of our transitional housing program or have transitioned back to life on their own.

When you support our work, you're connected to these people and their stories. When they thank us for how we've helped them, they're really saying thank you to our donors, our staff and volunteers, our supplier partners, and all those in that web of relationships that makes Lionhearts what it is today.

Gratitude, as the ancients understood, is not merely polite language. It is a way of recognizing that we are all connected, and that good work happens when people support one another.

For the role each of you plays in that shared effort, I am truly grateful.

Travis Blackmore
Founder and CEO, Lionhearts

HQ

A Pretty Cool Result!

Thank you to everyone who supported this year's Coldest Night of the Year campaign. At last check, we had raised $119,526 across our three cities, and engaged nearly 500 walkers! Funds raised will support our work to eliminate hunger in our communities through our food and household goods recovery efforts. Thank you once again.

Kingston

A Sheltered Life

That art exhibit Travis mentioned is running for a few more days at the Tett Gallery. Just visit the Tett Centre at 370 King St West and head to the bottom floor, where you'll find the Tett Gallery. It's open on weekdays between 2 and 8 p.m. "Portraits of Resilience" will be available until Friday, March 20. It's also open today (Sunday, March 15) from 2 - 5 p.m. The paintings are available for purchase at the conclusion of the gallery.

Order Up

"Hey, did anyone order seven skids of produce?" Turns out, yes, they did! Our friends at Tony Deodato & Sons Ltd., working with the Ontario Produce Marketing Association, sent us about 6,500 pounds of fresh produce to redistribute. We started shipping it out on Tuesday to our Student Food Box families. Thank you to our volunteers for stepping up to help with this unexpected blessing!

Ottawa

Big Game Eats

Sens hockey is back, and that means so are generous donations from the Canadian Tire Centre! We redistributed 35 trays of food as well as bottles of pop to the agencies we support. (Between us, we're amazed they got that much past Spartacat) Join us in wishing a happy 30th to our friends at the CTC! And go Sens go!

Life is Like...

They're going to have to change the saying. Instead of "life is like a box of chocolates", we'll have to start saying "life is like a Lionhearts rescue". Never know what you're gonna get! Popcorn, soda, candy, cookies, potatoes, and tea all showed up recently, and is making their way out to local frontline agencies.

London

To The Rescue

We were pleased to make a delivery to our friends at Mission Services of London recently, dropping off soap, household cleaners, pop, and non-perishable food from our rescue efforts. Thank you to the Mission Services team for all the work you do to support our vulnerable neighbours.

Making Our World Go Round

Thanks to the Rotary Club of London Hyde Park for your $1,500 donation made at our Coldest Night of the Year walk! We so appreciate your generosity, your volunteerism, and that you joined us to walk on February 28!

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