Dignity for all at The Salvation Army Caring Place.

This beautiful, crisp weather is a welcome change for many from the usual dreary, damp winter days in British Columbia. But for a small number of people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, this sharp cold means adversity, vulnerability and fear. The Salvation Army Caring Place in Maple Ridge is committed to helping these people, and others still; others who face poverty, drug addiction and mental illness. Once a year for the last three years, The Caring Place has asked the community, local businesses and other non-profit organizations in our two cities to sit down with us, enjoy a delicious breakfast and help to raise funds to restore faith, hope and dignity to the people we serve.

And today, we did just that. Over 100 people gathered this morning at 7:30am at the South Bonson Community Centre to celebrate the third annual Dignity Breakfast. Keynote speaker, Janice Martin, delivered a high energy address on “Dignity for All”, which brought many to tears (of inspiration). Sponsored by Envision Financial, the Maple Ridge News, Haney Rotary Club, EPR and the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times, the Dignity Breakfast raised over $6000.00 to help The Salvation Army Caring Place’s Community and Family Services; programs that are dedicated to helping vulnerable families and individuals in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows 365 days a year.

A huge thank you should be given to Envision Financial, the Maple Ridge News, Haney Rotary, EPR, the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times, Canadian Tire, the City of Maple Ridge, the City of Pitt Meadows, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Magnum Consulting, the Keg Steakhouse, Triple Tree Nurseryland, Nicole A. and pianist, Peter Tam.

Without their support, the Dignity Breakfast would not have been successful in raising these much needed funds.