I was thinking about ‘why’ recently. 

Why do I get up every morning to come back to this work for Montrealers in need, no matter how hard and challenging it is? 

Why do you choose to give your gifts, time, and commitment to this cause, when there are so many worthy others? 

Why do we all come together across Montreal to make our city better, one meal, bed, or act of love at a time? 

It’s because of every single Montrealer who walks through the Mission’s doors and takes even just one step closer to a better life. They are why we do this.

It’s every man who comes in for a warm meal and finds community. Every new mom who feels a bit lighter after a support group. Every family whose back-to-school season is more affordable this year. Every woman who finds just a moment to breathe now that she has a safe place to sleep. 

Each one of these women and men (and every single other Montrealer who has been helped by this important work) is our shared ‘why’. 

So for all the big and small ways you come alongside us, whether it’s been for more than a decade or less than a month…

Thank you for being with me, with Welcome Hall Mission, and with the people and families we serve across Montreal. We’re better together. 

With deep gratitude,

Do you remember how old you were when you first wanted to do something kind for someone else? Or when you knew you wanted to use your talents to help others? Or when you made your first donation?

When she’s older, we hope Molly Kaufman will remember that she was just 5 years old. 

As a budding artist and budding philanthropist, she recently used her creativity to make a BIG impact for Montreal. With the help of her mom, she sold her paintings at Café 92 Degrés in NDG and raised $300 for the Mission!

Now, every meal served and every warm welcome shared at the Mission will have a little bit of Molly’s love, creativity, and kindness in them. Thank you, Molly, for showing us you’re never too young (or old, for that matter!) to show Montrealers how much you care. 

Maybe you’ve been here yourself: watching someone you care about struggle, wishing you could do more than just hope things work out. That feeling of wanting to extend a hand, to be part of someone’s comeback story.

Now, that feeling has become a reality.

The PRISM (Homelessness and Mental Health Reaffiliation Program) for Women, in collaboration with the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, has officially opened!

This specialized program addresses the unique challenges that women face when experiencing both homelessness and mental health struggles—challenges that require care designed specifically with women in mind.

For many women, this will be the first time they’ve had a space where they can access this holistic care and be treated as a whole person with complex needs yet incredible potential.

The program represents a thoughtful expansion of the successful PRISM model for men already operating at our Macaulay Pavilion. Now, there will be a space where women can access comprehensive mental health support, stable housing, and the community connections essential for lasting recovery.

This expansion wouldn’t exist without the sustained commitment of people like you who believe deeply in second chances. 

Every time you gave, with each step you took with us, whenever you told someone about our work… it’s all contributed to this moment. You’ve helped us prove that the PRISM model works, building the foundation of trust and evidence that made expanding to serve women possible.

To understand the impact you’ll have through PRISM, you need look no further than Jeff (pictured, above 2nd from the right).

When the pandemic hit, Jeff—a food blogger—found himself without stable housing as restaurants closed and his income disappeared. Mental health challenges compounded his situation, leading to hospitalization and an uncertain future.

Through the existing PRISM program for men, he found comprehensive support from Dr. Vincent Laliberté and his team. Over three months, he rebuilt not just his housing situation but his entire life. He formed lasting friendships, stabilizing his mental health, and eventually returning to work. 

Today, he’s one of PRISM’s most dedicated ambassadors.

“This will be an amazing gift for these women who might just need a second chance,” he reflected at the new unit’s launch. “It’s not a cliché—this could happen to anyone, and everyone deserves a second chance.”

Thank you for believing with us and Jeff that everyone deserves a second chance—and for making it a tangible reality through PRISM.

Picture this: right now, we’re preparing 1,200 meals a day for Montrealers who walk through our doors. 

They might not have eaten in days, could be facing their toughest moments, or simply need to know someone cares. 

Yet as homelessness grows in our city and the number of Montrealers in need of care increases, so does the need for delicious, nutritious meals. 

That’s why we’re excited to share with you that construction on the Mission’s new industrial kitchen is about to begin! Once this kitchen is complete, we’ll be able to serve over 6,000 meals every day. That’s a 400% increase!

But it’s not just about numbers. It’s the thousands more people who’ll have a warm meal, a moment of dignity, and proof that they haven’t been forgotten by their community, or by kind people like you.

The new kitchen will also become a training hub where at-risk youth can learn the culinary trade under chef Gabriel’s mentorship. 

Imagine being able to offer someone not just a meal today, but also skills that could change their tomorrow. Exciting, isn’t it? 

This kitchen represents everything Welcome Hall stands for: meeting immediate needs while building lasting solutions. And it’s happening because people like you believe that everyone deserves both a warm meal and the opportunity to rebuild their life in a meaningful, long-lasting way.

Thank you for making all of this possible. We can’t wait to show you more delicious, nutritious impact when the construction is finished!

Can you see their confidence and pride? Can you see their joy and excitement? 

It was all over the faces of over 2000 kids across Montreal at our two Rentrée La Tete Haute (Come Back With Your Head Held High) events. They received backpacks, played sports, made puppets, practiced boxing, ate delicious snacks, learned about plants, and most of all—started the school year knowing their entire city cares about them! 

Thank you for giving generously to make the 2025 Back to School season an unforgettable, laughter-filled success for kids and their families!