Northern Lights recipient – Streets Alive

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Location: Lethbridge, Alberta

Streets Alive is a Christian mission in Lethbridge that provides for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the poor and empowers them to change their lives. Streets Alive operates a number of programs, including separate shelters for men and women, a mobile unit that offers sandwiches to transient people, a distribution centre for food and clothing, and a learning centre. The volunteers at Streets Alive are a special group of people who have continued with the organization during COVID-19.

Through the good work of its volunteers and staff, Streets Alive is able to maintain its commitment to this marginalized and vulnerable population during a challenging time. Some of these special volunteers include:

Harvey and Kathy Pepneck, who drive 100 km from their farm to Lethbridge every Friday to make 120 bagged lunches for distribution to the hungry on the streets.

Chuck Lebanc, who helped Streets Alive and oversaw the set up of a COVID Community Donation warehouse at the request of the City of Lethbridge to ensure that local agencies have access to clothing and hygiene supplies. This warehouse has been crucial in helping the city to rapidly re-house many of the street population.

Bev Rempel, who stepped up and volunteered to fill in at the Streets Alive women’s transitional shelter during a time of staff shortage. As a result of Bev’s volunteering, the shelter was able to stay open without interruption, and the existing five clients could stay and maintain their recovery programming.