The Together We Can Street Reach Project is a staff and volunteer-led initiative dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in Vancouver and surrounding areas. Our team assembles care packages filled with essential items, along with resource booklets listing shelters, treatment centres, and other vital services. During our outings, we walk along the Downtown Eastside, handing out 100–200 care packages at a time. In Canada, nearly three-quarters of people experiencing homelessness are also facing mental health and/or substance use challenges , highlighting the urgent need for accessible, compassionate support in the community. We’ve also extended our reach to the Whalley District in Surrey, partnering with our friends at Back On Track Recovery to ensure more people have access to the support they need. Last year, we hosted a special event at Oppenheimer Park, inviting other organizations to provide resources and information to the community. Together, we handed out pizza, care packages, and shared the work of Together We Can with those we met.
Recovery circles often talk about the “pink cloud” — that early phase of sobriety where everything feels new, bright, and full of promise. Or, we talk about the rock bottom. We see the dramatic before-and-after photos, the “day one” versus “year ten.”
The holidays. A time for family, friends, and festive cheer. But for those of us in recovery, the holidays can also be a time when the ghosts of Christmas past come back to haunt us. Memories of holidays spent in the throes of addiction, of strained relationships, and of missed opportunities can surface, casting a shadow over the present.
