Diamond Group has stepped up corporate giving by partnering with NightShift Street Ministries to support their outreach initiatives. NightShift relies on individuals and organizations to help make a difference to the poor and homeless in our community, by providing food and clothing, emotional and spiritual support.

1. The Care Project

NightShift is developing a holistic care-giving plan that builds on their current street outreach initiatives. As the various aspects of the Care Project come together, it becomes clear in just how many different areas the group is active and where they need our support to help the homeless exit the streets.

A: Care Outreach Mobiles

Once a month, Diamond Group hosts a corporate “Pizza Night’ with NightShift by underwriting the costs and having Diamond’s dedicated staff serve pizza dinner to between 100 – 150 people who are struggling with poverty and homelessness in our community. In addition to serving hot pizza and beverages, Diamond volunteers distribute clothing, blankets and personal hygiene kits. Check out Diamond staff beaming faces! They are thoroughly enjoying ‘giving back’ to the community.

B:  Care Bus

The Care Bus is a new initiative that will hit the streets this fall season. Diamond Group has been integral to this project and is committed to the renovation of a donated 34’RV. The Care Bus will operate as a mobile counselling centre and will eventually provide basic medical and dental care. It will be manned and operated by appropriate volunteer professionals who will provide one-on-one or group counselling, and a Twelve Step Street Recovery program in addition to a variety of referral services. The Care Bus will also house a mobile library with resource material about addiction, recovery, mental and physical health. It will offer spiritual care for those seeking spiritual direction and will advertise employment opportunities in the city. Further, visits to the Care Bus will be recorded and will aid in compiling statistical data on the movement of the homeless in the Surrey area. The Care Bus will work in tandem with The Care Centre, a counselling centre staffed by licensed professional counsellors that is already located within NightShift’s corporate offices on King George Boulevard.

C: Community Help Bus

Diamond Group has a second bus project in the works! This one is a Community Help Bus which will be travelling throughout Whalley and the Downtown Eastside by the end of the year. It will be distributing weather–appropriate clothing, coats, scarves, socks, foot attire, blankets and personal hygiene kits to those who are unable to provide these basic necessities of life. Kudos to Diamond Group for taking this corporate initiative to help those who can’t help themselves in our community!

2. Sisters

When NightShift relocated earlier this year, Diamond Group was on hand to move not only the administrative and outreach warehouse facilities, but the entire contents of its thrift boutique, Sisters!

Not only is Sisters a fundraising initiative to support the workings of the ministry, it’s actually a great place to browse and shop, both on-line www.SistersThriftBoutique.com and in-store at 10635 King George Boulevard. The new and nearly new consignment-quality clothing and accessories are donated for resale at Sisters and all net proceeds help NightShift and other charitable causes. Whichever items are not sold on-line or in-store are recycled to go to a good home, both locally and internationally. Sisters Thrift Boutique also provides work experience to job hunters interested in trying their hands at retail.

3. Clothing Bins

NightShift is launching a new, long-term fundraising initiative: clothing bins to assist with the sustainability of the organization to help the poor and homeless in the community. Clothing bins, placed in strategic, high-traffic areas will gather clothing donations and these will be collected, sorted and distributed through Sisters and NightShift outreach volunteers.