Students Build Relationships with Homeless Population in Timmins to get Better Understanding of Struggles  

Getting students to relate to the daily struggles of those living on the street is the goal of the Youth in Policing Program. The partnership between The Salvation Army in Timmins and the Timmins Police Service has five high school and university students participating in the summer program.

Students Aleah Miller, 16; Kira McGee, 15; Brooke Gauthier, 17; Sidney Del Guidice, 15, and Youth in Policing Student Program Coordinator Alexa Madore, 20, have joined The Salvation Army’s Street Ministry and Community and Family Services meal program this summer to support and assist the city’s homeless population.

The collaboration with The Salvation Army has students preparing sandwiches and soup, making and handing out meal program lunches and taking part in the street ministry to pass out water bottles and juice boxes to people who are homeless or in need of support.

“The experience has been a real eye-opener to the reality of some of our community members,” said Brooke Gauthier, a political science student at the University of Ottawa. “For me, this puts a complete different perspective on what homelessness is and the importance of the work The Salvation Army does to help those in need.”

Del Guidice is a Grade 10 student at O’Gorman High School in Timmins. She said the program “provides an opportunity to get to know the homeless population better by interacting with them in a positive way, while representing the Timmins Police Service and The Salvation Army.”

McGee, a Grade 11 student at Timmins High and Vocational School, said all the students hope to have the opportunity to come back to assist The Salvation Army after the program’s completion.

“I get personal satisfaction in being able to help others by making sure they are fed, while putting a smile on their face just by interacting with them,” she said.

Miller said the experience with The Salvation Army will stay with her as it has allowed her to build relationships and connect with the community.

“This collaboration allows me to learn new skills, to interact with locals and to get to know people in need in the city of Timmins,” said the Grade 11 École Secondaire Catholique Thériault student.

Robbie Donaldson, Community and Spiritual Care Coordinator with the Kirkland Lake and Timmins Salvation Army Community Ministries, said the program gives the students an understanding of the homeless situation on a personal level.

“It gives students the chance to learn how those that are homeless live on a daily basis and how to build relationships and trust,” Donaldson said. “This changes their perspective of the homeless and now they are able to speak about it with a greater understanding that will help to eliminate the stigma of homelessness.”

Madore said the Youth in Policing Program also assists various organizations in the City of Timmins including the Anti-Hunger Coalition, the Timmins Food Bank, Friends of the Porcupine River Watershed, Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre, Community Living and the Downtown BIA.

To provide financial support to The Salvation Army, donations can be made online at www.salvationarmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, where donations can also be directed to a specific program or location.

By Chris McGregor