Bob and Joanne Vandergrift.

“We do this to help the poor and needy and the homeless” In their own words, this
is the reason Joanne and Bob Vandergrift do what they have been doing since
1981.

Joanne and Bob Vandergrift are affiliated with the House of Refuge Mission Organization based in Edmonton. When this organization started up in 1970, the House of Refuge Mission had four locations and served meals to those in need.

Over the years, three locations were shut down. The last one was destroyed by arson. First, one half of the building was severely burnt and then shortly
afterwards, the second half of the building was burnt down. The city changed the Bylaws and they were not allowed to rebuild unless they bought two adjacent lots and they could not afford the cost.

For the past 14 years, Bob, Joanne and six or seven volunteers set up tables in the parking lot of the Edmonton Cash Register Co. Ltd. on 95 street and 103A avenue every day (except Christmas Day) and serve food to the homeless. They depend
entirely on donations since there is no Government funding. Some cash donations come through Canada Helps.

Bob Vandergrift and Somesh Moorthy, Gandhi Foundation Board Member

Joanne and Bob Vandergrift

Since there is no kitchen for cooking, individuals or other organizations usually donate pre-packaged prepared food, e.g. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre.
Bob, Joanne and the volunteers arrive at the Edmonton Cash Register Co. Ltd. parking lot around 5:30 pm every day. People start lining up and, after a short prayer, the volunteers start to hand out the food at 6:00 pm. There are usually about one hundred people lining up: men, women and children. Bob said that it is very
sad to find out that some people had not eaten for days.

When they run out of meals, the volunteers hand out fruits, vegetables, bread or whatever they have left. When available, they also hand out seasonal clothing and other essentials. Generous donations from the community enable this service.

They obtain bread and other donated food from Sobeys, Cobbs, Superstore, Safeway and H&W. Other organizations, like the Food Bank, also donate food so volunteers go to the Food Bank five times every week to pick up donated food.

Sometimes, they also obtain donations of clothes, baby supplies and other
essentials.