Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where does NightShift serve?

NightShift is located at 10635 King George Boulevard in Surrey, British Columbia, where our administration is open Monday-Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. The building is also the home of our resource centre, counselling offices, outreach training, kitchen and warehouse facilities.

In the evenings, our mobile kitchen and clothing van serve between 7 pm and 8:30 pm from the car park between us and MCC. On Tuesday and Friday nights our Care Bus may be out to bring street level nursing and counselling to those in need.

We also provide outreach services and support in Langley, BC on two nights a week – contact us for details.

2. How did NightShift get started?

MaryAnne Connor (“Mac”) opened the doors to an overnight shelter in January 2004. Since that night, when a small handful of volunteers first brought into the warmth people in need, those suffering from neglect and hardship on the streets of Surrey, NightShifters found a purpose. What began as an emergency shelter in the early days has grown into a Christian, multi-denominational street ministry that provides a place for individuals, churches, businesses and organizations to serve together and make connections. Together we provide outreach, care and recovery programs for people struggling with poverty, addictions, mental illness and homelessness. Meals are prepared by local churches, outreach teams or donated through corporate sponsors and served by volunteers. Our street outreach teams offer friendship, prayer and hope as they hand out a change of clothes, blankets and personal care kits on any given night to people in need.

3. What are the values, mission and vision of NightShift?

Here’s what we do and why we do it. At NightShift it is our utmost goal to treat street friends with respect and dignity, regardless of individual circumstances. Our mission is to love unconditionally and help each other find hope and purpose. We exist to care for the holistic needs of others, 365 days a year, by building relationships and restoring lives through our vision of outreach, counselling, education and access to transitional housing. We endeavour to reflect and demonstrate the Christian values and principles of integrity, humility, perseverance and unity.

4. How does NightShift fund its operations?

NightShift Street Ministries is a registered, not-for-profit society (#85203 8942 RR0001) that has been serving people in Surrey, BC, Canada, since January 2004. Operating without government subsidies, NightShift relies on the commitment of individuals, churches and other groups and businesses who give freely of their time, expertise and finances – because they choose to, not because they have to. We deeply appreciate all support and provide income tax receipts for eligible donations after the end of the fiscal year (Dec 31) in which the donation was received.

We have also developed social enterprises to support people in the community while financially providing for the ministry.

5. What are the NightShift social enterprises?

Clothing Ministry

Right from the start, providing a meal often went along with handing out a pair of dry shoes or a change of clothes or a warm blanket for the night. NightShift was soon inundated with generous donations of clothing from people in the community to help in any way. We made space to store and process the donations, and additionally created a way to help people help themselves with on-the-job training and finding a purpose in giving back. Our clothing ministry accepts and coordinates these donations at NightShift and manages the distribution, with the primary focus for people living in poverty or on the streets in our community or further afield.

With much of the donated clothes and accessories being ill-suited for street wear, we operated a thrift store – Sisters Thrift Boutique – for a over a decade (2008-2018) before doors closed in March 2018. The store provided a unique gathering point for people to shop high quality merchandise at low prices, with net profits supporting women’s initiatives at NightShift.

Our clothing team has supported many initiatives over the years including the Cinderella Project and helping individuals to re-enter the workforce by providing work outfits, retail training and more.

Nightshift’s catering food truck: Taste of Heaven

Launched in 2017, our “feeding hungry hearts” program brings gourmet sausages to paying customers in the Lower Mainland, which in turn supports our nightly outreach program.

 6. How can I get involved with NightShift?

There are many ways for you to support the ministry, including volunteering. Here are some ideas for groups. If you are an entrepreneur or work with an enterprising organization, you might be interested in the different ways Home Builders Care in the community are doing. If you’d like to find out if NightShift could be a match for you, join us at a Welcome Night!

7. Photographs

The images on this website have been taken by professional photographers such as Klint Burton, Brian Hawkes, Chris Loh and Tony Mitchell, and by the LeaderBoard team under the direction of Derek Knox, and by volunteers such as Carmen DeNora, Darren Dyck, Ingrid Roeske Good, Sandy Phillips and Keri Vermeulen, and many others who have helped us share the stories of NightShift over the years.

Visit our In The News page for media articles and interviews.