In Gratitude for Erinn

Every August, for most (all?) of the nine years I’ve been at The Dale, Erinn goes away. This month off is a very important part of her annual rhythm; it helps her to rest, recharge, and return in the fall with a new spring in her step. So…every year in late July, I feel myself…

Umbrella gift

Last Sunday was sunny and HOT. We had our big green tent canopy set up, and had positioned chairs in the shade, in anticipation of our outdoor church service. The service began, and the chairs filled up. More chairs were fetched as more people showed up, and eventually there was no more room in the…

One dose at a time

If you’ve been following the journey of the Dale for any length of time, you’ll know that we’re ALL about partnerships. We are so grateful for the many meaningful relationships we have with individuals and organizations in Parkdale and beyond (including with you, dear reader!) One of the partnerships that we’ve seen deepen over the…

Chevy

As I write this I still can’t quite believe that it’s true: our dear friend Shannon “Chevy” Timmerman has died. Chevy is someone who has been on death’s door any number of times, but we’ve usually been right there with her. I don’t even know how many times I’ve said goodbye to her, thinking it…

When things work out

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all grown weary of bad news. It’s been a looooong year, and COVID fatigue is hitting all of us, in one way or another. Even if things are relatively okay in your little sphere, it’s likely that you’re still feeling more irritable and frazzled than seems reasonable,…

Getting to Know the Neighbours

One of the many adjustments that The Dale has faced this past year is that we mainly operate out of one space, rather than somewhere different every day of the week. Thanks to our new van (lovingly known as Morrison), we are able to carry lots of supplies with us when we engage in street…

An office of our own

During the eight and half years that I have worked at The Dale, we have operated without our own walls. All of our programming, and all of our admin work, has taken place in a huge variety of spaces. This is been pretty amazing, and pretty complex. When I first started at The Dale, Erinn…

Boots!

Last Sunday was a bit of a magical day. The Dale held its first ever Boot Fitting Clinic, thanks to some amazing folks from The Meeting House with whom we’ve been in relationship for many years. These folks raised money, purchased over forty pairs of winter boots, delivered them to The Dale, and then showed…

Love Letter

I feel a little cheesy posting this on Valentine’s Day, but I was recently reminded that St. Valentine was executed for his staunch belief in the importance of covenant love, and that no matter our relationship status we are all invited into a covenant relationship with Love. So, here’s a little letter that I wrote…

From Rob to you

Today, being Thursday, is “Brunch-in-a Bag day” at The Dale. People line up, a community volunteer stands behind a table (to ensure physical distancing), and a bag with an egg and bacon sandwich, fruit, yogurt, juice and a muffin passes from one set of hands to another. Erinn, Meg, Olivia and I spread ourselves out…