An elderly man in his 80s who had no family often visited the New Life Mission and always referred to it as his “club.”
It was a safe place for him to go to in order to play cards as he drank his morning coffee or to have a hot meal at lunchtime. He was fond of going to the church service in the chapel to listen to Dwight discuss the scriptures or to listen to his sermons.
He infrequently made use of the medical services and liked to get his flu shot there. He spoke well of the mission as it was a warm place to relax among people he felt comfortable with.
As the years passed, he deteriorated in health but often managed to walk the short distance to his “club.” When he did not turn up for several days this past January his absence was noticed and a member of this retreat phoned the rooming house where he lived asking them to check on him.
It was only then that he was found deceased — he had died from natural causes.
The New Life Mission held a lovely memorial service in their chapel in which a few friends and people from the “club” attended. They even made little memorial cards which included a photo and a little write-up of the deceased.
At this gathering, I noticed that one of the men looked so much better than when I had seen him in front of Cooper’s around Christmas time. I commented on this, and was informed that individuals at the mission had also noticed this and investigated.
When they discovered that this gentleman was not taking his medications as
required, the medical services provided at the mission intervened and made the necessary adjustments and made certain that the medications were taken as needed. The change in his appearance was very noticeable.
He was his old jovial self — thanks to this intervention.
I was always aware that men, women and children were provided a warm, clean place to go to, where they could relax, eat, and even get donated clothes for free.
However, I did not realize the personal attention they take of various individuals in order to monitor their well-being. It is a clean, flexible and well-run place that serves many people in many different ways and they are to be congratulated. I wish to thank them for all the good work that they do, especially for how helpful they had been to my elderly friend. Their positive, compassionate efforts are to be commended.
A big thank-you to Barbara, Dwight, Terry, Jim and all the others who comprise this excellent team.
ANNE KELLY
Kamloops
