Community raises $750K for Shepherds of Good Hope since run-in with truck convoy protesters

It's been two weeks since the Shepherds of Good Hope had a run-in with truck convoy protesters demanding food, but the Ottawa community has since come together to raise about $750,000 for the shelter.

The soup kitchen made the announcement via its Twitter page on Thursday, February 10, adding that more than 13,000 people made a donation.

“The past two weeks have brought unprecedented challenges to our city, especially to our most vulnerable residents,” Doug Gourlay, head of philanthropy for the Shepherds of Good Hope, said in a video posted online. “We watched as our community came together to respond to recent events, demonstrating what we all know: that this is a community of compassion and care for people experiencing homelessness.”

“We will never forget that.”

Shepherds of Good Hope is so grateful to the more than 13,000 people who donated to us over the past 2 weeks. As a result of your generosity, we have raised approximately $750,000! pic.twitter.com/ZtkQvFczV9

— Shepherds of Good Hope (@sghottawa) February 10, 2022

“Thanks to this incredibly, unanticipated support, we can accelerate our efforts to end homeless in our city by building more housing,” Deirdre Freiheit, president and CEO of the Shepherds of Good Hope, added.

The bulk of the money raised, Shepherds said, will be used to build supportive housing residences for 105 people who use the shelter.

The shelter already has six locations across the city, including four supporting housing residences with two more on the way.

The location at 1095 Merivale Road is among those two locations being renovated. It will house 57 people in apartment-style units.

The other location is at 216 Murray Street and it will house 48 people currently living at the shelter. That building includes six floors of supporting housing, a purpose-built community kitchen and a new 16-hour per day drop in space.

Between the soup kitchen the four supportive housing residences, the Shepherds of Good Hope said they are able to service more than 1,000 meals a day.

The donations received as part of the $750,000 raised will lower the cost of buying essential, “less often donated” items like milk powder and cooking oil.

“Your compassion has shown us people caring for people matters to us all,” Gourlay said. “Our vision at the Shepherds of Good Hope is homes for all, community for all and hope for all. To everyone who has contributed to us in recent days — our neighbours in Ottawa across Canada and all around the world —you are now part of that vision. We are closer now to that reality and we’re not stopping until it’s done. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

During the first weekend of the truck convoy protest, staff at one of Shepherds of Good Hope’s soup kitchen locations downtown experienced harassment from protesters demanding food.

Friends, it's been a difficult 24 hours. Staff harassed for meals. A service user and security guard assaulted. Through it all, you have donated and filled our hearts with gratitude. Every cent will support people experiencing homelessness. Thank you. See our statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TYHD8r8aLo

— Shepherds of Good Hope (@sghottawa) January 30, 2022

Both a service user and security guard were assaulted, according to an earlier statement from the shelter on Saturday, January 29.

The protesters were given meals in an attempt to diffuse the conflict, but not further meals were provided after management was informed of the situation.