
Help me help Wisner start a new life in Canada
Donation protected
Hi, for those who don’t know me my name is Kim. I have always had a burden for the down and out and for those who suffer in this world. It isn’t possible to help everybody but I felt led to help Wisner about 3 weeks ago when I first met him shortly after arriving by train from Montreal, Quebec. Wisner is from Haiti and came to Canada about a year ago to start a new life with the goal of attaining solid employment so that he can send money back to his disabled Mother who lives in Guadeloupe (an island in the Caribbean which belongs to France.). And yes I have spoken to his Mother on the phone and we faced timed with her today. He worked for about 6 months in Montreal but that work fell through. He searched and searched to secure employment but nothing seemed to work out.
He arrived in Moncton with the cloths on his back and a couple of suitcases that hold all of his belongings and with very little money.
I, along with another friend, bought him $300 dollars worth of groceries and he was able to secure a room temporarily for the past 3 weeks by giving the last of his money to someone who wouldn’t allow him to be there during the day and could only return at night to sleep. He walks the streets daily looking for work but to no avail. He was told he needed to be out of there by April 1st so I immediately started looking for a safe room for my friend to live.
In the meantime I was able to get help from other community members to help Wisner with such things as writing a resume to make finding employment easier. He completed an intensive construction focused health and safety program in Montreal and has work experience so I am confident that with the help of my contacts and organizations such as MAGMA we will be able to help him secure gainful employment.
So here is where I could use your help. I found Wisner a room where he shares the kitchen and bathroom with others. It’s dry, clean and the people who live there are kind. I had to pay (out of pocket) a damage deposit and the first month’s rent to secure this space for Wisner.
John bought him some basic furnishings including a small used bar fridge, for his very small room to store his food, and a used shelving unit for his belongings and his clothing. I was mortified at the very small size of his room at first but today after putting his things in there and making the bed with cozy blankets it really is going to be a comfortable space as he starts to build his life here in Moncton.
So I am asking you today to help me help Wisner.
The $2000 will go toward paying for what has been spent thus far for the damage deposit and rent. The remainder I will hold in trust for items Wisner may need to purchase for potential work opportunities such as work boots, rain gear etc.
Special thanks to Cathy for donating that really funky retro dresser for Wisners room. (I wanted it for myself ;) ). To Rick for helping me pay for the groceries. To my sister Candi for buying brand new bed sheets (we all deserve new things once in awhile). Thank you to Graham for writing the resume and coaching Wisner for job interviews. Thank you to my friend Amanda at MAGMA for coaching me on how to best help my new friend. Last but not least, Thank you to John for running around, sourcing and paying for Wisner’s bedroom furnishings. One of the favourite things John bought was a set of Buffalo Plaid flannel P.Js. His eyes lit up when I pulled them out today.
Please keep Wisner in your prayers as we continue to help him find work.
Organizer
Kim Wilmot
Organizer
Moncton, NB