There's something I've been noticing lately at Welcome Hall Mission—something that reminds me of spring itself. It happens when a young mom in crisis takes her first step toward stability. It happens when someone moves from our emergency services into a transitional apartment. It happens when a senior who felt isolated gets connected to a community group and makes new friends. What I'm seeing is hope taking root. Not an intangible, surface-level, feel-good hope. But a deep-seated belief that life can and will change for the better. And just like the spring flowers now blooming across Montreal, this hope exists because of the right conditions—conditions that you help create through your support. Let me put it this way: your generosity is fostering our ability to say "yes" more and more. Yes to expanding programs that work. Yes to trying new approaches to persistent challenges. Yes to individuals who need just a bit more time or a different kind of support than traditional systems offer.

I think about our healthcare initiatives that now reach people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Or our employment programs that don't just help people find jobs, but help them discover their own capabilities. Or our community spaces where people from all walks of life gather and remind each other of our shared humanity.

Your support isn't just sustaining our work; it's allowing us to evolve and respond to our community's changing needs. As Montreal leaves another winter behind, I'm filled with gratitude for the springtime of possibility you create at Welcome Hall Mission. I'm thankful for you. Thank you for bringing this season of hope to those who need it most.

 With gratitude for all you do,

Do you ever wonder if your gifts truly make a difference? Sylvie Noe knows they do without a doubt. Even though she lives outside of Montreal in the Eastern Townships, she wants to give back to the community where she grew up, studied, and thrived for many years. Because her generosity, like yours, is rooted in understanding that everyone deserves help, no matter what they’re facing. Whether that’s an urgent situation, mental health challenges, or financial difficulties... Sometimes people just need a small push of encouragement from generous neighbours like you and Sylvie.

 Sometimes people just need a small push of encouragement from a generous neighbour like you.

Now, Sylvie sends her gifts to her beloved neighbours in Montreal each month. She understands that the needs are greater in the city—it’s the impact that she truly cares about. She knows monthly giving is so powerful because it’s reliable and ensures help is always available when Montrealers need it the most.

“It’s a simple commitment, yet it profoundly touches lives,” reflects Sylvie. “I highly encourage anyone considering monthly giving to take the leap.” Are you interested in joining Sylvie with this simple commitment to monthly giving?

Do you know just how far your generosity travels? For Milena and her family, your support has been echoing through their lives for years—and still is to this day. In 2019, she and her family had just arrived from Colombia. Along with the fear of starting a new life in Canada, they felt alone and were looking for a little bit of solidarity and kindness. Without their family and friends... with language barriers... with uncertainty for how they’d find a job…

Milena and her family were at a loss. But you were there. Showing your kindness without reservation. And without knowing Milena and her family would be the recipients of your gifts.

They first came to Marché and received free groceries—a true relief since they didn’t yet have stable jobs. Then, Milena started taking French courses at The Mission—yet another relief to help her overcome language barriers. The kindness they felt through every service and every helping hand prompted Milena to immediately give back. Though she and her family were still benefitting from our services, she became a volunteer, sorting and distributing food at the Marché. It was that volunteer role—that small desire to share the kindness she received from people like you—that grew into a whole-life passion for helping others and working with volunteers.    Because each time Milena watched a nervous newcomer walk through our doors, she saw herself reflected in their eyes. She remembered that first day—the mixture of hope and uncertainty—and how your generosity had made all the difference. This deep empathy became her greatest strength when she went from a part-time volunteer role to leading and supervising volunteers at The Mission full-time. Now, because of her hard work and your generosity, your shared kindness multiplies through Milena every day. From her family's quiet suburb in Laval, where their daughter now thrives in high school and dreams of CEGEP, Milena travels to Welcome Hall Mission each day carrying your compassion with her. She brings it to countless immigrant families who find her guidance especially meaningful because she truly understands their journey. Having walked in their shoes, she connects with newcomers in a way that transforms your support into something deeply personal. What makes Milena's story so remarkable isn't just how far she's come—it's how she carries your shared compassion forward, transforming it into authentic connection with every person she serves.

When you give to The Mission, you're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with volunteers who become the hands and heart of your generosity. Their warm welcomes, patient interactions, and cheerful service while providing hot meals or sorting fresh produce might seem like simple actions—but because of your support, these gestures snowball into whole-community impact. Volunteers come for various reasons: to meet neighbours, practice French, gain work experience, or simply make a difference. Yet they all share something in common with you—a desire to create positive change in our city. As donors and volunteers work together, the cycle of giving grows stronger. Your kindness enables their service, touching thousands of lives daily and creating a better Montreal for everyone. 


You probably know that the rising cost of food, housing, and basically everything is making living harder for everyone these days. You’re probably seeing evidence of it every time you go to the grocery store. Or sit down to pay utility bills. Or turn on the evening news. What sometimes goes unnoticed in all the talk about this, though, is where people turn when they can’t afford their basic necessities. Plus de personnes que jamais auparavant se tournent vers la Mission pour obtenir de la nourriture, un refuge et d’autres articles de première nécessité. Elles se tournent vers nous. Et nous nous tournons vers vous. If you’re able to give again today, you can be the lifeline your fellow Montrealers need. Any amount from you will keep our doors open and programs running—from serving daily meals to expanding programs like transitional housing. If you’re willing and able to give, please go to welcomehallmission.com/donate today to share a little bit of kindness and care with those who need it most right now.