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Issue 12. October 2023
Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of BloomBuzz!
Program Spotlight
One Woman’s Journey to a New Life in Canada
Upon leaving her home country of Azerbaijan in March 2022, Humay and her 4-year-old son arrived at the Vancouver airport expecting to be met by her husband who was living in the city. After waiting at the airport for nine hours, with $100 in her pocket, and no friends or other family in Vancouver, Humay sought refuge at Springhouse emergency women’s shelter. Her husband never showed up.
According to Humay, “My Canadian life started after that”.
Springhouse staff and program activities helped her “to quickly rehabilitate” so she didn’t “feel alone”. For Humay, Springhouse means “safe, family, home”. See why “Every woman who faced experience like me should … find like these places”.
Celebrating 20+ years at Bloom
Employee Anniversary Series Part V
Mike Flynn has been building relationships with tenants at Cordova House in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for close to 25 years. Beginning in 1999 when he was employed as Custodial Security, to today’s role of Tenant Relations Worker, Mike has supported those living with mental health and addictions with humility and grace.
According to Mike, he has built a relationship with every tenant who he describes are often “characters” with “idiosyncrasies”.
Mike shares his experience working in a “home for the hard to house”.
Donor Corner
The Bloom Group is grateful to our many individual, corporate and foundation donors. We are the recent recipient of new grants from the following funds:
Hockey Helps the Homeless
Hockey Helps the Homeless donated $50,000 for the Transition Fund to help set up women for success once they are ready to leave shelter for permanent housing.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Dylan Curtis, Elisabet Aarre and Jonathan Davies Vancouver Fraser Port Authority donated $10,000 to the Transition Fund. The program provides basic essentials like appliances, bedding and furniture for women transitioning out of shelter.
Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund
Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund donated $20,000 for Music for Mental Health to provide music therapy for residents with mental health issues.
Y.P. Heung Foundation
Y.P. Heung Foundation donated $54,000 to purchase a new passenger van for our residents. The van will connect residents to the community by providing transportation to events, activities and appointments.
After a family member received wonderful end of life care at the Cottage Hospice, we learned more about The Bloom Group’s residences and services in the Downtown Eastside and beyond. We’re so pleased to help support hundreds of other individuals and families through The Bloom Group’s work to improve lives on a practical, daily basis and provide hope for a better future.
Elaine Fairey and Bruce Jelstad
Donors
Inner Garden/Inner Peace
The Inner Garden/Inner Peace Campaign raised $32,000 to build a restorative garden for residents of Powell Place women’s shelter and Santiago Lodge in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your gift will create a garden of healing, comfort and peace for those living with homelessness and/or mental health issues. A special thanks to the Lovete Foundation for providing a matching gift up to $30,000!
New Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities
The Bloom Group Community Services Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Mason Worth, Vice-President of Real Estate & Facilities.
Mason is an accomplished real estate and corporate finance professional with more than a decade of experience managing commercial real estate assets, developments, and investments. He is joining The Bloom Group from Vancouver Coastal Health’s real estate division where he led a number of healthcare related leasing transactions. Prior roles include overseeing acquisitions for a Vancouver-based real estate development firm and leading asset management and development initiatives for a large multinational retailer. Mason began his career as an Associate within the Macquarie Group responsible for analyzing companies in various sectors. Mason is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Queens University.
The Bloom Group is thrilled to have Mason join our team and looks forward to working with him.
Introducing the New Donor Portal
The Donor Portal allows you to take control of your giving and makes donating easier than ever.
What can I do in the portal?
- Give one-time or recurring gifts.
- Save payment methods to make future giving quick and easy.
- View details about previous online and offline giving, including cash or cheques.
- Update your name and contact info to keep our office up-to-date.
Since our first walking tour in July this year, The Bloom Group hosted six tours of several residential housing sites and programs operated by The Bloom Group in the Downtown Eastside.
The tours were well received and guests appreciated the opportunity to see our work in the community first-hand.
The next tour will take place in 2024. Please check back with us in the new year for the 2024 tour schedule.
Thanks very much for giving me this opportunity for the inside look on some of the facilities that Bloom Group operates for the good folk that are lucky enough to have Bloom Group’s care and encouragement.
I was very impressed and am grateful.
The residents and the staff are challenged to make life better……………and the positive results are there to be seen.
Ken Gracie
Tour guest
Since 1961, The Bloom Group has led many of our community’s most progressive social services to reduce homelessness, provide end-of-life care for individuals with mental health challenges and addictions, ensure women-led families in crisis can stay together as they rebuild their lives, provide financial management for at-risk seniors, and much more. Our ‘low-barrier’ services are inclusive and available to all individuals in need, regardless of their circumstances, and without conditions.
We rely on the generosity of our donors to help fill the gaps in areas that are critical to building a resilient community.
If you have questions about donations and gift options, please email Ridge Zhang, the Development Coordinator at rzhang@thebloomgroup.org or call (778) 899-1336.
Your support is most appreciated!
CRA: BN108021544RR0001
The Bloom Group
391 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1G4
