ADVENT … It means “coming”, and it’s the period before Christmas we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus – Emmanuel – God who came to dwell in the neighbourhood among us. This Advent season, we will be sharing with you a daily picture, from December 1-25, giving you a look into “God with us” at NightShift.

#25

Merry Christmas from the staff here at NightShift! In our joys and in our heartaches, and in the everyday, God is with us — Emmanuel. Today we celebrate Jesus, and the truth and light He shines on our neighbourhood — friends on the street, volunteers, donors and staff.

Matthew 25 v 35-40 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me…. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”

#24

With the help of generous sponsors and kind volunteers, this year NightShift served Christmas dinner, gifts and love to about 240 vulnerable friends in Surrey and Langley. There is comfort that comes from being together in a safe community – especially during the Christmas season. In addition to sharing a Christmas meal and gifts, we pray for all who are missing loved ones or feeling the pain of social disconnection. Read more…

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’” – Luke 2:10

This Advent season, we celebrate our NightShift community – friends in the neighbourhood, donors, volunteers and staff who all come together to make our corner of the world a special place.

#23

At NightShift, we love a good field trip and our visit to the Township of Langley’s Fire Hall #4 last week brought lots of smiles and warmth. NightShift was honoured to be part of Township of Langley Firefighters’ Charities 12 Days of Christmas giving bonanza. The Township of Langley Firefighters’ Charitable Society aims to benefit the citizens they protect as firefighters, through local charitable programs and to assist other charities with similar objectives. The LFCS is comprised of approximately 100 career firefighters, 100 paid on-call firefighters, as well as fire department administration staff. Since 2014, these big-hearted firefighters have been dedicated to working diligently to help their community. This Advent season, we celebrate those whose lives and careers are dedicated to public safety, service and giving back to the community. Thank you Township of Langley Firefighters!

#22

Meet Barbie, a dear friend in the NightShift neighbourhood. Years ago, trying to cope with painful childhood events and the passing of her son, Barbie started using drugs. Life felt hopeless. The team at NightShift really got to know Barbie earlier this year, when she bravely started attending NightShift’s recovery and life skills group, called On Purpose, designed for people who are curious about recovery and navigating life choices. “I started to open my mind to recovery and what was possible. Going to the group makes you think of a more positive future,” Barbie shared. “It plants a seed and gives me hope. I started to open my mind to recovery and a more positive future.” Last week, Barbie came to NightShift’s annual Christmas dinner. She shared her gratitude: “I appreciate people who support NightShift because they help so many people. They give people hope. They are improving people’s lives. They make a difference.” This Advent season, we celebrate the courage of our community friends like Barbie, who share their stories and take brave steps to a brighter future.

#21

No matter what stage of life a person is at, NightShift has a place for those who want to give back and experience deeper purpose for their own lives, and the lives of others. Retiree Sharon remembers seeing distinctive NightShift branding around her local neighborhood. As a Whalley resident she wondered what NightShift was all about. After attending a volunteer orientation, Sharon signed up to help out. From taking calls at the office and helping out with admin chores, she is also often the first smiling face at NightShift’s front door, welcoming community members and donors. “I was feeling a little restless after retirement, and this has been the perfect opportunity to be a bigger part of my community,” says Sharon. “I’m inspired every day by the staff at NightShift and our street friends. I thought I would give back to others, but in fact, they all give back to me.” Seen in this photo is Sharon (right) thanking Jennifer (left) from Families For Christ Community for the abundant donation of pantry goodies to help feed friends in need. Thank you to FFCC! This Advent season, we celebrate members of our volunteer community, like Sharon, who embody the love, hope and purpose in NightShift’s mission.

#20

Today, we look back at NightShift’s humble beginnings. It all started with one woman, our Founder and President, MaryAnne “Mac” Connor. During a snowstorm in 2004, Mac caught God’s vision for caring for “the least of these” — people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental illness on the street. The course of her life, and countless others, was about to be changed. She called on a group of friends and they began making peanut butter sandwiches, praying and overseeing an emergency weather shelter for people one the street. From those first nights, NightShift was born. Named partly for the night hours of the shelter, NightShift reflects the “shift” that happens in our hearts when we begin to serve others in need. “I was shifted from a woman who was terrified to be around people who were homeless and struggling with addictions and mental illness to someone who fell in love with the people, and a determination to do something about their plight,” shares Mac. A registered charity, NightShift today has a volunteer base of 1000s. Nightly outreach happens 365 days a year in Surrey and four times a week in Langley. The continuum of care includes counselling and nursing, recovery groups, faith gatherings, extreme weather response, a daytime drop-in and more. This Advent season, we celebrate Mac, for following God’s call to love and serve neighbours in need.

#19

At NightShift, we cherish our relationships with local schools. Compassionate students from schools across the Fraser Valley show their commitment to caring for people in need throughout the year to our NightShift community. Every Christmas for more than a decade, the students of Regent Christian Academy have blessed our neighbours in need with hundreds of socks stuffed with goodies and hygiene supplies. In early December, NightShift staff are invited to a special assembly at Regent, where the students perform Christmas songs before loading our van with the stuffed socks. These special socks are loved by the people we serve at NightShift, spreading Christmas joy and the comfort of knowing someone cares. We also want to acknowledge the students of Pacific Academy, who serve with enthusiasm every Thursday night at NightShift! This Advent season, we celebrate the local students who support the NightShift community, whose kindness shines brightly in our neighbourhood.

#18

Everything we do at NightShift, from serving hot meals 365 nights a year, to our daytime drop-in program and more, is possible with the committed help of our volunteers! NightShift’s Peer Volunteers are an important part of our mission to share unconditional love and help each other find hope and purpose. Peer Volunteers are folks who access our services and want to give back to their community. Meet Joe, one of NightShift’s faithful Peer Volunteers. Living locally, he helps out most days in our Welcome Centre. Joe is always on time, arrives full of energy, ready to put out tables and chairs, compete in a friendly card game and keep an eye out for when the snacks are getting low. If a neighbour is in need of clean, dry clothes, Joe will point them in the right direction. “I love NightShift because it’s a safe place to be with people I love and care about,” says Joe. Thank you to all our Peer Volunteers for helping us provide vital services and for offering their unique skills and talents to give back to the community. This Advent season, we celebrate NightShift’s Peer Volunteers, who not only receive love, hope and purpose, but give it back to people in need in our neighbourhood!

#17

NightShift is steadfast in its mission to provide holistic care for people in need in Surrey and beyond, with hot meals 365 nights a year, blankets and clothing, hygiene items, and nursing and counselling care. Did you know NightShift also provides recovery and life skills care? Introducing our “On Purpose” group program, designed to bolster hope and action for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life. On Purpose is a 26-session program, with classes based around recovery and life skills. The program was uniquely created as a low-barrier access point for our vulnerable friends to explore recovery and take their own steps towards desired goals. It’s a come as you are, safe and judgment free class where everyone is encouraged to participate and support each other on their own journeys. All are welcome here. “On Purpose is important for anyone in our community to take a step towards a better future,” shares On Purpose curator and facilitator, Brandon Anderson, a Certified Recovery Coach. “It helps with support, life and recovery skills, and resources. The attendees continue to give us feedback that the material is making an impact in their lives.” This Advent season, we celebrate the courage and determination of each attendee at On Purpose, charting their own course to a life of love, hope and purpose.

#16

We love having visiting volunteer groups at NightShift, and last week, it was our delight to welcome a team from Form Architects for an afternoon of serving. The Form crew are familiar with the lay of the land at NightShift because they are also the gifted architects who helped bring our expansion dreams to life on paper, along with helping us through the permit process! This time at NightShift, the Form team came with a different plan in mind — to serve and connect with our community. They helped prepare the evening outreach meal, as well as spend time in meaningful conversation with people in our Welcome Centre Drop In. “We really enjoyed the time we spent with volunteers, community members and being part of the really cool things NightShift is doing,” shared Form Principal, Brent Wiebe. “The easiest thing sometimes is for an organization to give money, but that can be detached, too. It’s good to volunteer.” This Advent season, we share gratitude with all the groups who give back — from corporate, to church, to clubs and more. Thank you for caring about the communities you live and work in. You’re making a difference!

#15

At NightShift, we don’t give up on people. One of our values is perseverance, and that means we walk alongside those in need, no matter how “messy” their journey may be. One community friend we have journeyed with is Alli. Navigating the effects of generational trauma and alcoholism, Alli has reached out to Summer and Maisie from NightShift’s Resource Centre. Alli has been through many ups and downs – periods of hope and sobriety, and periods of heartbreak and relapse. It hasn’t always been easy. But Alli persevered in asking for help, and NightShift persevered in finding help for her. We are delighted to share that today, Alli has completed a residential treatment program, passed a work training course, taken steps towards reconciling with family, and has discovered faith in God. Alli shares: “People have had faith in me because they have faith in Jesus. I’m starting to have faith in me because of your faith in Jesus and now I’m also putting my faith in Jesus.” This Advent season, we give thanks for Alli, and celebrate God’s persevering love – even when life gets a little messy.

#14

Christmas came early to our outreach in Langley as NightShift brought the hope of the season, along with a delicious holiday meal, to our neighbours in need. Despite a downpour of rain, our volunteer team served a full turkey dinner, dessert, and Christmas treat bags filled with holiday candy and a Tim Hortons gift card to about 40 friends in Langley. Our NightShift team was joined by a visiting team from ESC Group, who generously shared care packages with each person. Thank you to ESC Group for bringing such kindness to our holiday meal. This Advent season, we celebrate the comfort that comes from being together in a safe community. As we get closer to Christmas, we pray for those missing loved ones or feeling alone. At NightShift, our mission is to love unconditionally, and help each other find hope and purpose. We know that now, more than at any other time of the year, this is needed.

#13

NightShift’s partnership with LEEP (Lookout Ethical Employment Program) has brought amazing individuals to NightShift for temporary work placements. LEEP helps people who face employment barriers to enter or re-enter the workforce and develop their skills. The program brought David and Jason to NightShift earlier this year, where they added great value to NightShift’s care for vulnerable people. “It was a good experience to get back into the workforce,” shares Jason of his work placement at NightShift. “I felt like a part of the team. It was great to help people in the community. It’s important to give back to people in need.” Today, David works full-time with NightShift and Jason has moved on to another charitable organization helping vulnerable people. We look forward to welcoming more LEEP participants in 2026! This Advent season, we celebrate the hard work and big hearts of David and Jason, and the many participants at LEEP who are committed to building a bright future for themselves and others!

#12

The Summer Street Party is one of our favourite annual events here at NightShift. This is when we gather folks from all corners of our community – volunteers, donors, supporters, staff and friends on the street – for a time of fellowship, fun, music, and of course, good eats right from our Taste of Heaven food truck. We love gathering people from all walks of life around good food, shared humanity, and a sense of love, hope and purpose. When we tear down the walls that sometimes keep us apart, we find that we aren’t so different after all. Our Summer Street Party is when we just enjoy being together, seeing each person is worthy of experiencing God’s unconditional love, no matter what their circumstance. This Advent season, we celebrate the value that comes from gathering in our neighbourhood and the joy of being together.

#11

At NightShift, we value meaningful connections, whether it’s with the community we serve, local churches or other organizations who serve vulnerable people. It all fosters a sense of “neighbourhood”, which is crucial for well-being, shared resources and a sense of belonging and identity. Supportive neighbourhood is just what we experienced when NightShift was invited to Calvary Worship Centre to be a panel guest for the ladies’ program “Going Deeper with Pastor Rosamund”. We were honoured to be amongst women leaders from other non-profit organizations including Elizabeth Fry Society, CityReach Care Society and Surrey Urban Mission. “Being a part of this special group at Calvary Worship Centre deepened the bonds of community, knowing we aren’t alone in caring for friends in need and building stronger neighbourhoods,” shared NightShift Executive Director, Keri Vermeulen. “We’re so grateful to Pastor Rosumund for bringing us together. Thank you Calvary Worship Centre for your faithfulness to God’s work here in Surrey, and your committed support.” This Advent season, we share gratitude for our connections at NightShift, bringing the shared value of serving others.

#10

At NightShift, the RE/ACT program represents more than just recovery—it’s a testament to healing, resilience and the strength of community, offering a safe space to learn, grow and rediscover hope. RE/ACT (Recovery Education for Addiction and Complex Trauma) is delivered in a classroom setting at NightShift, five days a week, promoting discussion, in-person bonds and connection with facilitators and their own inner child. Program Director, Wendy Fuller, shares: “Having RE/ACT at NightShift saves lives. It is here that we create a safe community for our clients to dig deep into the complex trauma they have experienced. Love, Hope and Purpose is what we offer here in the NightShift home. We count ourselves greatly blessed to offer the RE/ACT family to more than survive. A place to thrive.”  This Advent season, we celebrate the courage of RE/ACT participants and the dedicated Christian team members who walk beside them on their journeys.

#9

NightShift’s Taste of Heaven food truck is about more than delicious gourmet sausages in a bun — it’s about raising awareness and funds for our outreach and care programs for vulnerable friends. Taste of Heaven feeds more than hungry stomachs, we feed hungry hearts, too. Because when you purchase food from our truck, you become part of a compassionate community-based solution for people who in some of life’s most difficult circumstance. Everyone gets fed. Consider booking Taste of Heaven for your next event, whether it’s a company gathering, community picnic, family reunion, wedding or church party. When you combine great food with great people, miraculous things can happen! This Advent, let’s reflect on the beauty of breaking bread together—a simple act that warms hearts, fosters healing, and brings us closer as a community.

#8

Meet David, NightShift’s Ministry Assistant. David cooks meals for NightShift evening outreach, along with lunches for our recovery group, RE/ACT. He prepares each meal with care, knowing that nourishment and human connection can help provide the hope he carries in his heart to our community experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction and social disconnection. Having experienced addiction himself, David carries hope to people in NightShift’s Welcome Centre. “We play cards, we talk, we share stories, and we eat together. I want to be able to add value to people, share my own story and what worked for me in a way that can help others. NightShift is a light in the community,” says David. “There’s a lot of darkness in this area and having a place like NightShift is crucial. I really feel like we’re healing the community and truly shining God’s light into this area.” Thank you, David, for helping shine God’s light at NightShift!

#7

NightShift’s Mobile Outreach Unit (MOU) provides frontline nursing and counselling care to vulnerable friends who might not have access to basic health care. It’s all about meeting health needs with dignity and respect. This vital service is more than healthcare — it’s hope, humanity and healing. For many friends we serve, there are barriers to accessing healthcare such as: finding a doctor; having the capacity to make it to appointments; or being treated with dignity, no matter what their life circumstances. We asked Patty, one of our long-time MOU volunteers, why she enjoys being part of the team. “Serving on the MOU is an opportunity to reach out to those in need in my community, with the love and care that God extends towards each of us.” This Advent season, we honour the incredible healthcare volunteers who pour their hearts into our community, showing us that compassion and presence can transform lives.

#6

This Advent season, the NightShift community is warmed with generous donations of seasonal clothing, blankets and non-perishable items. Giving a cozy jacket, pants, new socks, or a blanket lets a person in need know they are cared for. Just knowing someone cares can spark hope for a brighter future. NightShift is grateful for all gifts to help people in need, including this generous donation of clothing from Fraser Lands Church to help keep our friends on the street warm this winter season. Thank you to all of our church, corporate and community donors for giving to people in need among us this season and beyond. You are changing lives with kindness and bringing the bright light of hope to people who need it most.

#5

Did you know NightShift serves three nights a week outside the Langley Food Bank and once a week at a Lookout supportive housing building? This is possible with the incredible volunteer teams from Langley churches, community groups and businesses, who generously share of their time. Shoutout to the Infinity Properties team, led by Carole Bourke, who has been serving with NightShift in Langley for almost eight years. For Carole, her commitment to serve started with compassionate curiosity. “I started because of my curiosity about homelessness and addiction and finding out how we can help,” shares Carole. “It’s about giving care and compassion to people no matter what their circumstances, and letting them know they matter.” Thank you to all NightShift’s Langley volunteers for your steadfast service, generosity and compassion. You are truly bringing hope into despair.

#4

Since the REALTORS Care Blanket Drive began, the program has helped more than 500,000 people in our communities keep warm and dry. Over 30 years ago, a few compassionate realtors noticed unhoused people sleeping outside in the cold and rain in Vancouver. They saw the need and knew they had to do something to meet it. They called out to fellow realtors to collect as many blankets as they could and began distributing them out in our community. Ever since, the REALTORS Care Blanket Drive has been sharing warmth in Metro Vancouver cities, impacting thousands of lives. This year, NightShift expresses our deepest gratitude to the teams of Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, including Global Force Realty for their generous donation of clean, warm blankets. NightShift volunteers will distribute these blankets throughout the winter season to those we serve. Thank you for being realtors who care!

#3

Hope comes from a hot meal and the caring hands of those who serve it. Meet NightShift volunteers, Gerry and Nancy, from our Thursday night crew. “It’s been a wonderful experience for us and our family members who occasionally volunteer,” says Gerry, a retired Vancouver Police Officer. “It has made our lives broader and more complete, knowing we are part of the NightShift mission.” Nancy and Gerry have seen first hand the transformative effect their service can have on people in our vulnerable community. Nancy learned a friend’s daughter was living on the streets and, one Thursday night, she turned up for NightShift’s evening meal. Nancy could see she was in distress and invited her to get a change of clothes, and the opportunity to reconnect with her mom. “A moving moment for everyone involved and to this day their meaningful relationship remains and another family is restored,” shares Gerry. Thank you Gerry and Nancy, and all of NightShift’s amazing volunteers.

#2

Today is Giving Tuesday, and the NightShift Team would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thank you to our incredible donors, including our monthly givers, the LOVE365 community. Your donations make it possible to offer vital services such as hot meals 365 nights a year, basic health care, professional counselling and recovery programs. Year end giving will also support a much-needed expansion to our Surrey building, with the hope of reaching even more vulnerable people with life-changing services and care. We eagerly anticipate our expansion being complete in 2026. Stay tuned for an invitation to tour the new space! Thank you to everyone who is participating in building NightShift’s future of offering unconditional love, hope and purpose to our neighbours in need.

#1

First day of our Advent Calendar: The hope of the Advent season at NightShift begins at our our Welcome Centre daytime drop-in.
Through the warmth of a cup of coffee, connecting with friends, a hand of cards or meeting with a resource worker, the Welcome Centre is a place for anyone to feel a sense of belonging.
The impact of kindness shared by NightShift’s Welcome Centre staff and volunteers is multiplied, spreading a ripple of hope and resilience across our community. With every interaction, we remind our neighbours that they are seen, unconditionally loved and valued.

You, too, can be a part of the story: