A Message from the Board Chair, Jim Gunn

HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY BEACON HOUSE!

The Beacon House Interfaith Society was registered as a charity in March 1986.  Surely those who saw the need to open a food bank 40 years ago were not thinking that “food insecurity” would become a serious social, economic and political challenge, along with homelessness and a lack of affordable housing.  These notes highlight how Beacon House is responding to these challenges in 2026.

The Thrift Store and Food Bank under roof, 470 Cobequid Rd.

Each day, Thrift Store staff and volunteers sort and display the generous donations of clothing and many household goods.  In her first year as CEO, Mel Roberts extended the store hours, moved the Christmas Shop to the main floor, and opened a “Collectibles Store” upstairs.  Proven success lies in the numbers.   The gross store sales of $63,900 last November/December were 30% greater than sales for the same 2 months in 2024.  The Christmas Shop, and the Collectibles Shop sales account for the increase.  For the last fiscal year, to February 28, 2026, the Store sales topped $278,000.  Good news because the store revenue covers a major portion of the costs of operating the Food Bank.  The Store makes the Food Bank possible!

Each day, Food Bank staff and volunteers unpack large shipments and donations of food and fill hampers for those already registered as clients.   In 2025, the Food Bank handed out over 28,000 meals to folks in need, a 14% increase over the previous year.  Because of this increase and because Feed Nova Scotia donations of food decreased, the Food Bank is spending about 25% more on food annually.  The great news is that monetary donations to Beacon House increased significantly through 2025---almost $200,000 donated, March 1 to October 31, about 60% more compared to the previous year.  So many reasons to be grateful!

The Beacon House Shelter 125 Metropolitan Ave.

Early in 2022, Beacon House began operating the Sackville Area Warming Centre, 4 evenings weekly, in the former Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church.  Today, under service agreements with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (DOSD), the Beacon House Shelter operates 24/7 for 51 guests who would otherwise be homeless.  Also, the Shelter is opened during extreme weather to take in anyone needing a place out of the storm.

Under another service agreement with the DOSD, three housing support workers, each with a case load of 30, support individuals and families from Bedford to Enfield at risk of losing their housing or are looking for housing.

An annual grant from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia continues to provide professional mental health counselling several times per week, a most valuable service for shelter guests!

Volunteers do much to enhance the services of the Shelter.  Weekly, a devoted team spends a morning preparing healthy meals to stock the freezers, and other volunteers help staff to open the “warming centre”, a couple of hours each evening, so anyone living rough can drop in for a hot meal and shower.

The pressures to expand the various services of Beacon House are not going to ease soon.  The pressure on the Food Bank to serve more meals while it must find ways itself to address the rising cost of food is a formidable challenge.  The need for shelters is not going to decrease until “transitional housing” is available with the appropriate support services, while at the same time, truly affordable housing is funded by all levels of government.

Fortunately, the caring support and generosity of the Society’s member communities of faith, many local businesses and community organizations, and hundreds of individuals and families continue to give Beacon House reason to be optimistic, hopeful, and so very grateful!

On behalf of the Beacon House Board of Directors,

“THANK YOU!”

Jim Gunn, Board Chair

Beacon House Interfaith Society