Angels in the Night

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Langley Advance - December 11, 2007
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Angels bring shelter aid; A local firm is helping the homeless tonight. A convoy of motorhomes leaves Langley tonight, crammed with goods for the homeless at shelters around the Lower Mainland. Mortgage brokers from Langley-based Invis are taking part in their fifth annual effort to help people spending Christmas on the streets.

Called Angels in the Night, it's a one-day event that is the culmination of months of fundraising and planning. "Unfortunately, we're finding there's so much need everywhere," said Mark Ingram. Ingram has been an enthusiastic participant in the program since it began in 2002. The first year, the firm's employees had just two weeks after the idea was suggested, and still managed to raise $17,000. That money was spent on items like blankets, gloves and clothing and distributed in the weeks before Christmas.

This year, the Lower Mainland offices have already raised $80,000, and Invis has raised $275,000 nationally. Over the past five years, more than $1 million has been raised across Canada. That money will be used with partner Army and Navy, said communications manager Steven Moyes. "It's driven by what they need," Moyes said. What the shelters request is bought through wholesalers, to make every dollar go farther.

In many cases, the volunteers have found themselves buying diapers and baby clothes, something that is shocking, Moyes said. The company picks up the expenses involved in distributing the goods. "So 100 per cent goes out to the street," said Ingram.

This year some of the clothing will be sets of black slacks and white dress shirts, suitable for wearing to a job interview. "I'm really proud to be part of a company that does give back," said Ingram. The employees who contribute work hard all year for their own food and shelter, and it's good to do something for the community as well, Ingram said.

Angels in the Night visit homeless shelters to deliver $200,000 in new supplies

Many shelters asking for children’s clothing and baby formula, organizers find

Toronto, December 13, 2005 — Today and into the evening, as part of Angels in the Night, hundreds of volunteers will take to the streets to deliver $200,000 in supplies specifically requested by 68 homeless shelters in nine Canadian cities.

“Many people think that homeless shelters are most in need of warm clothing, but the harsh and tragic reality is that many of the shelters we visit also need baby formula and diapers,” says Andrew Moor, president and CEO, Invis. “The face of the homeless today is too often that of a child.”

Nationally, 15 per cent of the supplies purchased by Angels in the Night volunteers for shelters are for children and youth, with another third going to women. The most requested items include gloves, coats, scarves, boots, blankets for both adults and children, plus personal care products such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste.

“With Angels in the Night, our goal is to spread the warmth and generosity of the season so that everyone, especially children, can enjoy the holidays,” says Maureen Campbell, an organizer for Angels in the Night, Toronto.

For the past year, mortgage consultants at Invis, one of Canada’s largest mortgage brokerages, along with their friends, families, and business partners, have been raising money in support of Angels in the Night.

Angels in the Night began in 2002, when a Vancouver employee of Invis rallied his colleagues to help the homeless of the city’s downtown eastside. Now in its fourth year, Angels in the Night has expanded to nine cities from coast to coast raising more than $450,000. Volunteers will make deliveries in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and Cranbrook.

Start times and locations
Members of the media are invited to lend a hand as volunteers take to the streets and visit shelters in the following cities:

City	Location	Start time (local)
Halifax	Byrony House 2786 Agricola Street, Suite 119 (Bloomfield Centre)	6:00 pm
Montreal	La Maison du Père 1090 St-Hubert (corner of René-Lévesque E.)	3:00 pm
Ottawa	Salvation Army Booth Centre 171 George Street	6:00 pm
Toronto	95 King Street East, Suite 100	6:00 pm
Calgary	Army & Navy Store 1107 33rd Street NE	6:00 pm
Edmonton	Army & Navy Store 10411 Whyte Avenue	5:30 pm
Cranbrook	Mental Health Association 45 13th Avenue	4:00 pm
Vancouver	Army & Navy Store (rear loading bay) 36 West Cordova Street	6:00 pm
Victoria	Salvation Army 2695 Quadra Street (corner of Quadra and Hillside)	5:30 pm

For Immediate Release:

Media Advisory: Angels in the Night to benefit homeless shelters in seven cities on December 14

TORONTO (December 13, 2004)

Invis mortgage brokers have raised money to buy clothing and supplies to give to homeless shelters
We have raised over $140,000 nationally for supplies for the homeless.
Tonight approximately 350 volunteers from Invis and partner companies are distributing clothing and supplies to over 50 homeless shelters in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.
We’re joining with partner companies to make this happen.
We’re truly excited about the opportunity to help the homeless in our community directly – we didn’t want to simply write a cheque.

Past Releases:

Angels in the Night purchases $100,000 in clothing and supplies for Canadian homeless

TORONTO (December 16, 2003)

In 2002, Bruce Coleman, a Senior Mortgage Consultant at Invis, had a vision. If mortgage brokers around Vancouver could use their resources to raise money, then they could make a significant impact on the poor and homeless living in and around the streets of the city's downtown eastside. His idea seemed fitting: who better to help the homeless than those make a successful living providing services in the housing industry.

Others at Invis quickly joined Bruce in his plan to raise money through our brokers, financial institutions, partners and other service providers. Invis and First National matched donations and the initial goal of $10,000 was set. The idea was rounded applauded, and donations flooded the organizing committee. Army & Navy Department Store, also located in the downtown eastside, gave a 15% discount on the supplies purchased, facilitated the warehousing, and provided a home base for the volunteers that night. With the help of our partners, an astounding $17,000 was raised to buy blankets, outerwear, and undergarments for the homeless.

On a cold night in mid-December, 2002, over 30 volunteers flanked the loading bay of Army & Navy, picked up hundreds of blankets and other necessities and delivered these supplies to many shelters and drop-in centres throughout Vancouver.

"I'll never forget a woman I met at one of the shelters," said Meryll Goodman, Invis Marketing Manager. "All she wanted was a pair of dry socks. It was deeply moving." Many volunteers had profound stories of their experiences that night."

Invisians and partners working together to load motor homes with blankets and coats, hands reaching out to receive the gifts, a man serenading us with a Christmas carol in thanks, a shelter filled with joy and gratitude ... these and many more moments and thoughts capture the essence of our night of giving.

This year, we have expanded the program to Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montréal as well as Vancouver, and we aim to give even more to the homeless on Tuesday, December 16. Help us make it happen, by donating or volunteering!