Remembering Daniel’s Journey with The Salvation Army’s Street Ministry

The Salvation Army in Orillia, Ont., has been running a weekly street ministry since 2016, providing essential help to the vulnerable population. Every Friday, a parked Emergency and Disaster Services (EDS) truck serves meals to anyone who drops by.

Led by EDS Coordinator, Ron vanDeursen, the street ministry team has not missed a Friday run since its implementation.

Before discovering the street ministry, Daniel Crissinger was experiencing some personal challenges in solitude. He suffered from a terminal illness that caused an inoperable growth in his face, he was homeless, and he didn’t have anyone to come to for comfort or simply for company.

Despite keeping to himself, members of the community knew of him and informed the street ministry of Daniel’s situation. Ron, along with his team decided they would try to locate Daniel and help him.

“We are giving a glimmer of hope to the misfortunate, vulnerable, homeless and lost by just being there every Friday.”

“We found him. He was buried between a whole stack of mattresses, and he was sleeping between the top two mattresses. We had a conversation with him, and he was very shy,” Ron said.

Daniel explained his situation to the team. His doctor had informed him that he did not have much time to live.

At first, Daniel did not feel comfortable enough to go to the EDS truck, therefore, the team would deliver his meals each week. However, after Daniel got to know the ministry’s team better, he started attending himself.

“We encouraged him, and he finally showed up on Friday nights. We would give him a meal and sit with him and chat,” Ron added.

“We would give him a meal and sit with him and chat.”

For over two years, volunteers and staff who worked for the ministry built a close relationship with Daniel.

“When he passed away, he was surrounded by us as his friends. And that was the goal for us, to find someone who had no family, who had fallen through the cracks of society, and to be able to help them throughout it,” Ron explained. “Daniel has been our inspiration to continue every week, each passing year, with our street ministry. It was an honour to know him and help him through his life journey.”

The street ministry helps an average of 200 people each Friday. In 2023 they have served over 9,000 meals. The program runs all year round. While hot meals are the main focus of the program, there is also an emphasis on additional support such as providing thrift store vouchers, toiletries, or sleeping bags. In the summer, cold drinks are given out while in the colder months, winter gear is provided to those who need it. There is also mental health and first aid support available.

While most of the people they serve are experiencing homelessness, Ron says there is an increase in families with young children and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet. The street ministry team tries to get to know each client to see how else The Salvation Army can assist them.

“The hot meal is just the start of the whole process. From there, depending on our conversations, we sometimes refer them to other assistance opportunities. We are giving a glimmer of hope to the misfortunate, vulnerable, homeless and lost by just being there every Friday,” Ron said.

By Juan Romero