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Mission and Service Story – November 22: A Place to Turn

House of Lazarus in eastern Ontario supports people facing homelessness, food insecurity, and financial hardship. Through practical services and a welcoming community, it helps individuals and families find stability and hope. Here is the Mission and Service Story for November 22, 2026.

“Coming here feels like coming home.” 

That’s how one visitor described the Warming Centre at House of Lazarus in eastern Ontario, after spending two years living on the streets. 

It’s a simple statement, but it speaks to something we all need: a place where we feel safe, where we’re treated with dignity, and where we know we don’t have to face everything alone. 

For people experiencing homelessness, families struggling to afford groceries, or individuals trying to make ends meet, House of Lazarus offers practical support and a welcoming community. The work is guided by the mission: Building Community, Sharing Hope. 

At the Community Hub and Warming Centre, people find a warm place to rest, access to showers and laundry facilities, opportunities to share a meal, and connection with resources in the community. In 2025, the Warming Centre welcomed visitors over 900 times. Some people also received personalized support that helped them find housing and take steps toward stronger stability. 

For families with children, the challenges look a bit different, but the need for support is just as prominent. Through Operation Backpack, House of Lazarus sends food home with students every Friday during the school year. Each bag contains food for two breakfasts, two lunches, and four snacks. In the 2025–2026 school year, over 12,500 bags were distributed to 295 students across 16 local schools.  

Sometimes, the help that makes the biggest difference is financial. House of Lazarus offers a free income tax program so people can access the benefits and credits they’re entitled to. Last year, volunteers filed 580 tax returns, helping community members receive more than $1.4 million in refunds, credits, and benefits. 

One single mother received more than $20,000 in backdated benefits and refunds. For her and her children, that support was life-changing in creating greater financial stability and a more secure path forward. 

Each of these services responds to a different need, but the heart behind them is the same: meeting people where they are and helping them take their next step. 

Through Mission and Service, we help support House of Lazarus and its work alongside people facing difficult circumstances. Thank you for helping make these essential services possible. 

Together, we can help ensure that when someone needs support, there is a place to turn. Let’s give generously. 

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Use the accompanying PowerPoint slides for a visual overview.

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Access this story as a printable PDF here.

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More Mission and Service stories are here!

Mission and Service Stories were previously called Minutes for Mission.