At Cordova and Dunlevy, the junkies still shoot up, prostitutes stake out their territory, spare change is in demand, and nomadic street people hawk objects of dubious legal origin. Things dont change quickly in the Downtown Eastside.
But they do change.
Since the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement next door stopped their sandwich and clothing service earlier this month, the adjacent Door is Open has become the Catholic presence on the block. Volunteers inside the drop-in centre are making hundreds of sandwiches for the noontime rush.
Within hours, hundreds of street people will descend on the Door is Open operated by Catholic Charities. Some will take their lunch in hand and head back out to the sidewalk to eat it. Others will sit a few minutes at one of the centres tables and eat with neighbours.
A few will collect non-perishable groceries from the centres food bank, while others might need to pick up some fresh clothes from the centres clothing room.
The Door is Open has experienced some impact from the Sisters departure, especially mid-afternoon, when the Sisters traditionally handed out sandwiches mid-afternoon. By that time the Door is Open has stopped serving lunch and visitors have to make do with pastries and other snacks with their coffee.
But the Door is Open has been able to accommodate its new guests who are grateful to have a place to eat just metres away from where the Sisters distributed sandwiches.
At a farewell mass and celebration at Holy Rosary Cathedral Sunday, Aug. 28, the Archdiocese of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»bid the Sisters of Atonement adieu for 85 years of unparalleled service.
The Sisters, in return, thanked the many donors and volunteers who have supported them more than eight decades and also expressed their appreciation to the Archdiocese of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»for committing to continue service to the Downtown Eastside.
As the Sisters retire from decades of serving the Downtown Eastside with everything from sandwiches to clothing to counselling and schooling, some people are disappointed that the Archdiocese of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»didnt take over the Sisters service.
The Archdiocese, however, wants to use the opportunity to get a fresh perspective on the neighbourhood. As Catholic Charities continues to operate the adjacent Door is Open, it is talking with other churches and charities in the Downtown Eastside to see where the areas of greatest need are.
The Archdiocese has committed to building on the Sisters legacy. The exact form that service will take isnt known yet. But as the Sisters of Atonement leave an appreciative Church and neighbourhood behind, Catholic Charities gets set to roll up its sleeves to see how it can best remain a critical partner in the neighbourhood.
Its following the example of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresas nuns who are moving into the convent left behind by the Sisters and being purchased by the Archdiocese. The Missionaries will relocate to the community and get to know it before determining how they can best serve their new neighbours.
The Archdiocese of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and the Missionaries of Charity are among more than 100 organizations serving the Downtown Eastside. The Catholic Church wants not only to be a partner, but to make sure its providing a service every bit as valuable as what the Sisters were doing.
Thats the way to ensure a legacy as valuable as the Sisters of Atonements isnt lost.
Paul Schratz is the communications director for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
