How We Make A Difference

Click here to see a video of how your donations to St. Jude’s has had an impact at Food For Life (FFL).

Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI)

In 2020/2021, BMI provided the following programs to achieve their objectives:

• Propel Mentorship
• Let’s Talk Mentorship
• Leadership Training – Tools to Propel
• Career Readiness & Transition Series
• Moms Empowerment Program
• Combating Systemic Barriers
• Black History Month
• Building Inclusive Communities

St. Jude’s initial 2021 grant supported their Black History Month program and the Let’s Talk Mentorship Conference, and together those programs impacted 1,000+ professionals and provided free virtual sessions to the vulnerable populations BMI serves at no cost to them.

Specifically, our donations helped BMI provide mentorship to Black professionals and entrepreneurs to improve their ability to reach their potential and to provide a historical perspective of the Black culture, heritage, and contributions to building Canada, which, in turn, helped program participants feel connected to a broader community.

BMI’s overall impact is impressive. With only 18 months in existence, BMI has:

• Supported over 2,000 professionals – overall number who registered, liked, or watched our sessions.
• Matched 30+ Mentorship relationships.
• Provided over 20 virtual sessions fostering self-esteem and self-awareness for students and professionals.
• Generated international interest with viewers from all over the globe
• Established partnerships with key local partners including Sheridan College and the Halton Region Police Services

Our second, end-of-year grant will support BMI’s continued reach into the communities they serve and help them accelerate achievement of their goals.

We look forward to a long and productive relationship with BMI.

                                                                                                     – – –

Home Suite Hope (HSH) is an Oakville based charity whose focus is giving help to single mums to help them to break the cycle of poverty and insecure shelter, and help them and their children upgrade their academic and job skills.

With your generous help, Justice and Servant Ministries were able to give support again to a young family, Melissa and Max.  Melissa is enrolled in the Human Resources Management courses. HSH really values your support in this redemptive work. Thank you.

Dear St Jude’s,
I hope this letter finds you well. It is crazy to think it has been almost a whole year since the last letter I
wrote to you. This year has been a busy one for us, but a successful one thanks to the help you and
Home Suite Hope have provided for myself and Max. This past year Home Suite Hope has provided me
with everything I’ve required for my studies, have helped with some resources for coping since the loss
of my father, helped me when I had to move as my previous landlords sold their house last winter,
helping me afford housing while attending school and have really just been a great support during a
busy time of a lot of transitions.
I am still studying HR at Sheridan. It’s wild to think I am in my last year and looking at building my
resume to apply for jobs in March, crazy!! I have taken on a couple extra courses as well since studying
through summer has allowed me to. I am hoping to also obtain my CHRP designation and the extra
courses I am now taking as I finish my diploma will allow me to be qualified to write the exam for this
designation once completed. I am feeling confident in my studies and eager to enter this new world of
business that without the help from people like you and those at Home Suite Hope, well I wouldn’t have
ever thought it to be obtainable, but I am so happy and grateful that it has been.
I also started a part time job in the summer, just working twice a week at the restaurant to help get
through this last year before I am able to work fulltime again. It was challenging at first juggling work
and school and the mom life but I think I have managed it well and am definitely more organized as a
result. Also I have to say the adult face to face social interaction has been healthy and nice to experience
again.
Max is keeping me busy as always but also makes me laugh daily. Toddlers are funny I got to say, I love
his curiosity and there is just something about new life and seeing the world through their eyes that
keeps you grounded. We are entering the potty training phase which I am terrified of but I’m sure we
will figure it out eventually. He still loves toy cars, also animals and reading. He is not talking as much as
he maybe should be but my case worker at Home Suite Hope has directed me to a speech pathologist
that can help us with that. I am so grateful for all the supports we have received to give Max the
brightest future possible and to allow me to work towards being in a position to provide this for him as
he grows. I have attached an updated photo of him for you to see how much he has grown since last
January.
I am so very grateful to your congregation for sponsoring my family the last two years. I hope you are all
doing well and have enjoyed some time with friends and family as we slowly get back to some normalcy
these days. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season and sending you all a heart filled thank you for
all that you do for me and my small family.

Kind Regards,
Melissa and Max

– – –

We were also able to give a $500 bursary to Gabby, who is enrolled in the Computer Engineering course at Sheridan. He used the money to buy updated computer hardware and has expressed his sincere appreciation of the help.