Gandhi was once heard saying: “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” What better example of such ‘determined spirits’ in our own community than the Table Soup Kitchen Foundation. They’re ambitiously pushing for Muskoka’s first men’s shelter.
Led by Heather Berg, The Table’s board and the perseverance of its incredible volunteers, the not-for-profit, non-denominational Christian organization is quietly helping the needy in our community and sometimes, it seems, against all odds. It has managed to secure a location for its food bank, which serves about 180 families plus individuals per week. It has an area which serves as The Table Exchange Store providing items such as clothing, toys and household goods. It has also built an admirable commercial community kitchen from where it runs classes which teach people how to eat healthy on a budget, and it loans the kitchen to community organizations and individuals in exchange for a donation. It runs soup kitchens at Trinity United Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church each week, which serve about 50 people each. Now, it has pretty much completed the construction of Muskoka’s first men’s shelter, thanks to the support of various businesses and individuals in the community.
The Table Food Bank (above left) and The Table Exchange Store serve families in need in our community.
The men’s shelter is a stand-alone building. Local artist Rudi Stade will create a patio at the shelter’s entrance with stone donated by Algonquin Natural Stone and Delta Contracting, said Berg. Stade has been commissioned by a private donor to create a stone table and bench, while artist Brenda Wainman Goulet has been commissioned to create a bronze sculpture of a life-size man sitting at the table. His name will be George.
“He’s named after my dad who has been a huge help to me at The Table and a number of us have family members named George, so it was very fitting,” explained Berg.
George will join Norman Bethune, Rene Caisse and Tom Thomson in Muskoka as the fourth bronze sculpture.Heather Berg, founder of Table Soup Kitchen Foundation
She plans to recognize major donors who have helped make the shelter a reality by placing their names on the side of the building.
(Clockwise from above left) A window looks in on the reception area; the sitting area will later have a television; the shelter is a warm and inviting space; The Table’s community kitchen is used for a variety of programs; a communal room can sleep up to 16 men in bunk beds.
The shelter itself is a small but welcoming space. As you walk into the building there is a small reception area, which faces an open window. Berg explained the window will not be glassed over, but remain open to make it more welcoming. It is there that those in need of a bed will ask the intake person if one is available.
From there, personal items will be stored in a secure area, while the men are provided with clean clothing, towels and bedding. There is a small sitting area to the right, comprised of a series of mismatched couches and chairs, which Berg says will eventually have a television in it. There is a private accessible washroom and two shower stalls. The small dining room, which leads to The Table’s community kitchen, will contain a donated pool table that will be turned into a dining table where men will take turns eating.
Next to the dining room is the shelter’s largest room containing bunk beds for up to 16 men ages 16 and over. Two of those beds will be wheelchair accessible. The colours and lighting are soft and inviting, intended to create a safe and quiet environment where men can lay their weary heads in the shelter’s beds.
Berg said many of the men using The Table’s other services ask about accommodations.
It’s getting really difficult emotionally to turn people away. We’ve had people stay in our shade shack, we have visited people in their campgrounds, I’ve met people who are couch-surfing, and The Table has put people on the bus to shelters outside of Muskoka. Heather Berg
She thinks there’s a need for more than one men’s shelter in the area. For example, noted Berg, Muskoka has no place for men in need of detoxing. They are sent to Barrie. “Moving outside your community can be tricky for people.”
Berg attributes homelessness to a variety of factors. She said there isn’t enough affordable housing or housing geared to income in the community, so people find it difficult to secure a roof over their heads. Other factors include marital breakups, domestic violence, job loss, issues related to mental health, addiction or people moving to the area to start a new life. She anticipates winter will be busiest as many of the single men she sees who are in a housing crisis camp during the warmer months. The shelter will also complement existing shelters for women and children in the community by housing the men. She said that, as a general rule, men will be able use the accommodations for up two weeks in a row and for a maximum of 28 days out of the year, but exceptions will be made depending on the circumstances. “We would never turn anyone away if there’s a bed.”
In terms of staff training, Berg said the shelter’s key workers will have the skill sets to handle people in crisis. She also said communication between agencies will be important in order to get the men the help they need. Berg said The Table reached out to a number of service providers as it was planning the men’s shelter. “And as we’re getting closer to our open date we’re circling around again and letting people know what’s going on as we’ll be serving a lot of the same clients.”
There is no set date for the shelter’s opening. While the capital component is pretty much done, The Table is struggling to secure operational dollars. Berg said the shelter is looking for new dollars as opposed to pulling from other programs and funding is needed for things like hiring a full-time shelter manager. It is running a special fund-a-bed program where individuals or members of the business community can fund a bed for one year at a cost of $1,000. The Table will also be hosting its second annual outdoor carnival and music fundraiser at its property at 11 Hanes Street on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you have suggestions where The Table can access operational dollars for the men’s shelter, or if you’d like to volunteer and/or make a donation, you can contact Heather Berg at 705-787-1091. Visit the Table’s website here.
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