People can hear ‘Stories of Hope’ from single mothers during an upcoming fundraiser in Chilliwack.
That’s the name of the April 20 event hosted by the Sardis Doorway for Mothers and Children Society, a not-for-profit organization that offers weekly free programs for single moms.

“We want people to come and hear the stories that will be told,” said program director Karin Rempel.
In addition to it being a fundraiser, and a place to listen to what some of the moms have to say, people will hear about the programs offered.

Sardis Doorway offers a huge range of services and information including: income assistance, funding, debt management, free food hampers, free clothing for moms and kids, immunizations, and dental care. They help moms with going back to school, status cards, getting their driver’s license, first aid and food safe courses, and more.
The also offer free childcare so moms can focus during the weekly classes. Women who apply must have at least one child under the age of Kindergarten, and be parenting alone or are under-supported.

Ashleigh Ottley, 20, was fresh out of high school when she had her son Colt. She heard about Sardis Doorway but was reluctant to join because of her age – many moms in the program are in their 30s.
“A lot of the life experiences are different,” she said.

But then she heard about the Young Moms program which launched in October and decided to give it a shot.

“I find a lot of the young moms kind of stay away from the public groups because there’s a lot of stigma to it. This group has been really helpful because I can see I’m not the only one, there are other moms my age.”

One thing she loves about Young Moms is it’s more of a social program.

“It’s not super structured…it’s a lot more casual, a lot more chit-chat, a lot more open. You don’t have to feel like you’re in a class.”

READ MORE: Volunteers are the backbone of Sardis Doorway
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Another class is called When Love Hurts. It’s a program for survivors of abuse in a relationship.

Initially, Ashley Dedels didn’t think the program was the right fit for her as she was not physically abused.
“As you get into it you realize that… it wasn’t a healthy relationship on either part. It made me realize, too, that I was also doing things that were not contributing to a healthy relationship.”
She said When Love Hurts helped her validate the fact that the relationship ending was positive.
“It was an incredible therapeutic experience at the perfect time in my life,” Dedels said, choking back tears.

“It opens up your eyes. I know what to watch out for – the red flags – and to not be in those abusive situations, especially with my children,” added classmate Melissa Stennett.

Gina Hunter said Sardis Doorway “saved” her.
“I spent so much of my time trying to fix things. Coming through these programs, I’m realizing it wasn’t my fault…(but) I’m not perfect,” she said.
“I wish every woman could come to Doorway. These programs are amazing. They lift you up when you’re falling apart…and they carry you in a way that I’ve never been carried before,” Hunter said. “I owe how I’m doing mentally to these wonderful women. I beat depression…and it’s because of the support that I have here.”

For more information ~  email [email protected] or call Karin Rempel at 604-819-6556
or go to sardisdoorway.com.

People can hear ‘Stories of Hope’ from single mothers during an upcoming fundraiser in Chilliwack.
That’s the name of the April 20 event hosted by the Sardis Doorway for Mothers and Children Society, a not-for-profit organization that offers weekly free programs for single moms.

“We want people to come and hear the stories that will be told,” said program director Karin Rempel.
In addition to it being a fundraiser, and a place to listen to what some of the moms have to say, people will hear about the programs offered.

Sardis Doorway offers a huge range of services and information including: income assistance, funding, debt management, free food hampers, free clothing for moms and kids, immunizations, and dental care. They help moms with going back to school, status cards, getting their driver’s license, first aid and food safe courses, and more.

The also offer free childcare so moms can focus during the weekly classes. Women who apply must have at least one child under the age of Kindergarten, and be parenting alone or are under-supported.
Ashleigh Ottley, 20, was fresh out of high school when she had her son Colt. She heard about Sardis Doorway but was reluctant to join because of her age – many moms in the program are in their 30s.
“A lot of the life experiences are different,” she said.

But then she heard about the Young Moms program which launched in October and decided to give it a shot.
“I find a lot of the young moms kind of stay away from the public groups because there’s a lot of stigma to it. This group has been really helpful because I can see I’m not the only one, there are other moms my age.”
One thing she loves about Young Moms is it’s more of a social program.
“It’s not super structured…it’s a lot more casual, a lot more chit-chat, a lot more open. You don’t have to feel like you’re in a class.

Another class is called When Love Hurts. It’s a program for survivors of abuse in a relationship.
Initially, Ashley Dedels didn’t think the program was the right fit for her as she was not physically abused.
“As you get into it you realize that… it wasn’t a healthy relationship on either part. It made me realize, too, that I was also doing things that were not contributing to a healthy relationship.”
She said When Love Hurts helped her validate the fact that the relationship ending was positive.
“It was an incredible therapeutic experience at the perfect time in my life,” Dedels said, choking back tears.

“It opens up your eyes. I know what to watch out for – the red flags – and to not be in those abusive situations, especially with my children,” added classmate Melissa Stennett.
​
Gina Hunter said Sardis Doorway “saved” her.
“I spent so much of my time trying to fix things. Coming through these programs, I’m realizing it wasn’t my fault…(but) I’m not perfect,” she said.
“I wish every woman could come to Doorway. These programs are amazing. They lift you up when you’re falling apart…and they carry you in a way that I’ve never been carried before,” Hunter said. “I owe how I’m doing mentally to these wonderful women. I beat depression…and it’s because of the support that I have here.”
______________________________
Stories of Hope, a fundraiser for Sardis Doorway for Mothers and Children Society, was held on Saturday, April 20,2024 If you would like more information about the programs offered through Sardis Doorway for Mothers & Children Society,  email [email protected] or call Karin Rempel at 604-819-6556.  www.sardisdoorway.com.

Sardis Doorway relies on the generosity of our community through donations and volunteers.  For more information, visit our website or contact us. 

by Sarah, 4th year student at Trinity Western University 

​​I began attending Sardis Doorway with my then 1-year-old son in January 2016.
I was a single parent of 2 boys, supported by income assistance and dependent on public transit.  I struggled with PTSD, past addiction, and anger issues. I was at a place in my life that I was unsure how to move forward and uncertain if I would succeed even if I tried.

But I had a lifelong dream ~ to become a Registered Nurse. 
At Doorway, I started to look into what it would take to become a nurse.  I found that this program was not approved for funding through the Single Parent Employment Initiative (SPEI), due to its length, nor did I have the prerequisites needed to apply.  I kept pushing through.  I underwent different training, assessments, and seminars through Work BC to find out where this new path might lead myself and my children.

At Doorway I was reminded that anything is possible when you put your mind to it, work hard and have a strong support system around you.  
I started on my journey to become a Nurse by first becoming a Dental assistant through UFV. I had always been a strong student, but I surprised myself when I graduated from the 10-month program with a 4.33 GPA and a place in the Deans list.
It felt so wonderful to finally be on a path of success once again.

Because of the support of Doorway I have continued to work towards my life-long dream using all the lessons in my past and the education I was now receiving, to further my success.

I knew that we all get knocked down sometimes, but Doorway was something that I could always count on to remind me of  my strength and help me pick myself back up to continue my journey.  Even though I graduated from Sardis Doorway in June 2016,  I have been able to received multiple first aid certificates, my Food safe and this past fall ~ my class 5 license.

And I am truly thankful for all the wonderful people that I have been blessed to meet along the way.
My sons have grown a lot in this past 5 years, as children tend to do, Kingston is almost 6 and Chance is 13.
They have watched me push forward towards my dreams and goals coming from what I describe as rock bottom.
I hope that when they are older they can look back and see that mommy was able to push through the troubled waters and reach the beautiful shore of success.
Since graduating from UFV, we have returned to Church thanks to a lovely human that I had the pleasure of working with at my first dental office. Chance is involved in Youth group, Scouts and swims competitively.  Kingston plays soccer and swims as well. Both boys are doing well in school and life.

Currently I am waiting for a seat in the very competitive BSN program (Nursing) and while I wait I am taking courses at UFV that are either part of my future degree or that will benefit me as an individual and a Nurse in the near future.

There is nothing easy about this journey, but I will continue to push forward until I reach my goals. 
I know that Karin and Doorway will be here to cheer me on every step of the way and this gives me great comfort because I know that I am not alone. 

Over the past 5 years I have come to realize that everything comes into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. God is good and even when times are hard there are lessons in every experience we have and many successes are along the way, even through the darkest of tunnels.

I want to thank every person at Doorway and in my life that has held my hand and encouraged me when I had no courage or strength to keep going.
Sardis Doorway is a big part of the reason I am where I am today ~ and I so greatly appreciate you all!!

Published on October 1, 2020  http://ufvcascade.ca/community-spotlight-sardis-doorway/ufvcascade.ca/community-spotlight-sardis-doorway/
By Danaye Reinhard

Covid-19 was out there but it didn’t seem like a big threat as we planned to reopen in a few weeks. 

When Spring Break was extended ~ we encouraged our families to use the time at home to complete some of the tasks they didn’t usually have the time to do: clean out the closet, organize the toys or match all the lids to containers in the Tupperware drawer. 

Then everything changed again and it became clear that we would not be all together again before the end of our program year in June. 

We knew that the summer would be so long for our participants.

           How could we encourage them in a time when everyone is being told to stay apart and stay          home in order to stay safe?  What could we say to them knowing that home is often lonely, isolating and sometimes not a safe place? 

With all this in mind, we had to make a new plan for Sardis Doorway. 

Weekly video workshops provided the women with an opportunity to continue learning the Respectful Futures curriculum we had been working on as well as introduced new topics on 'how to survive being isolated with young children' and 'how to parent through these crazy times'.
 
Fresh and meat hampers continued to the end of our program year and then were extended through the summer introducing the 'Cooking Class Hampers'. 

Support workers connected with each mom through text, phone or Facebook every week and encouraged them to speak with our counselor or reach out to us if they ever needed to chat. 

As the usual program year was coming to an end in June, we knew that we couldn’t take a summer break ~ After all, we are all in this together.
  
With Covid-19 Relief grants from the Vancouver Foundation, Canadian Women’s Foundation, Mazon Canada, Mennonite Disaster Services and the VanCity Community Connections Fund, we were able to continue to offer support through intentional connection and food hampers all summer. 

We were able to facilitate a small When Love Hurts group for women who have experienced abuse and continue a Home Improvement group that had started before everything was shut down. (Home Improvement is a facilitated group for men who recognize that they have hurt women with their words or actions and are willing to change) www.whenlovehurts.ca

We added an outreach worker to connect with those who were struggling or needed extra support and encouragement during this time. 

                All of this was done in an effort to build on the relationships that we already had.
 
And now here we are on September 2nd with no clear picture as to what the fall will look like. 

     Again we are asking: how do we serve those who are being told to stay apart and stay home in order to stay safe? 

Through all of this, the mission of Doorway has not changed and continues to guide the work we do ~
              To walk with high-risk single mothers towards health and self-reliance.                                                            This is done as an expressing of  God’s love for us all.

BUT –– how do we carry out this mission when we can’t be together? 
             When we can’t chat face-to-face with participants as their children safely play with their Doorway friends? 
                     When we can’t offer a hug when tears fall or a high five when good news comes?
                             When we can’t welcome our many volunteers who want to serve and also be together?
 
     ~ We call, text or use Facebook weekly to check in, offer referrals and give encouragement
     ~ We offer over-the-phone or in-person counseling
     ~ We deliver milk and bread 
     ~ We deliver monthly fresh hampers, frozen meat hampers and our new ‘Cooking Class Hampers’
     ~ We facilitate small When Love Hurts groups to women and Home Improvement groups to men
     ~ We seek other resources in our community for additional support if needed
            And we plan for the day when we can be together again. 

Doorway looks very different right now.  There is more planning involved as there is so much more to consider.
But we continue to build on the relationships we already have with our families and volunteers
 ~ and we move forward (staying six-feet apart).

We pray, leaving it all in God’s hands.

Until we are all together again, thank you for your ongoing support. 

                                                                           Volunteer ~ Donate ~ Pray