The $2 Million Miracle

Miracles Come in Many Forms...

What does it mean to have faith? In our turmoil, challenges, and strife, we look to something beyond ourselves to tell us that "everything will be alright." In our most troubled times, that message can come in the form of a miracle.

There is how we live in hope.

The Story So Far...

Since 1984, The Ark Aid Mission has been connected to the community through its services. Primarly this has been through providing meals to the community. In 2019, the board of directors, along with new Executive Director Sarah Campbell, decided to change the direction of the Ark. This new direction: focuses on the Homeless Crisis in London, Ontario.

The Ark has been working on expanding its services to meet the needs of the nearly 400-600 individuals who are sleeping rough (unable to access shelter).

Some of the work we have focused on:

We have plans to do even more, but we need your help. Our services are expanding towards offering more social enterprises, transitional housing and community care to London, Ontario.

We have run into hurdles...

Closing our 696 Dundas location for renovation has come with some challenges along the way...

On May 17th of this year, a fire in our back parking lot of 696 Dundas caused an estimated $50,000 in structural damages and was updated to closer to $150,000 upon further investigation.

Supply chain costs have increased amid our renovation, coupled with shortages of labour and supplies. This and the fire have paused our ability to proceed with our reno work.

The generous congregation of First Baptist Church has worked in cooperation with Ark Aid to provide our community with many basic needs and life-giving services to the homeless and those using low-income support.

This work includes:

Through this work, we have provided:

However, the older space costs have amounted to plumbing issues, outdated appliance repair, electrical issues, and overheating of our communal spaces. Though First Baptist Church has made it ideal for the Ark to run all its services in one place, the upkeep cost has been considerably surmounted.

We do not receive any funding from the city of London.

How will the funds be used?

With these funds, we can return to our 696 Dundas location; renovations completed and ready to get back to the important work of revitalizing our community. We are looking for an additional $1 Million in funding.

Funds will also support our core operations:

1) Community Programs: Basic Needs Provision

2) Be Home London: Housing and Homelessness Services

3) Out of the Cold Emergency Overnight Drop in Space

We are looking for a miracle.

Though the dollar amount looks lofty, this is an investment into the future of London.

This is how we show love for all people. This is God's love. This is the love for our basic humanity.

This cannot be a hard decision to make. We owe it to the people who have been let down by systematic injustice.

We owe it to ourselves to walk alongside the suffering.

We owe it to ourselves to create a miracle.