W hat are the most unique donations you’ve ever received? Is there anything you can share? We actively look for ways to partner with other agencies, even if their philosophy doesn’t quite match our own. Recently we received a donation of several cases of condoms. While some missions have safe injec- tion sites and the like, we don’t generally make a practice of handing out condoms or clean needles. Pam, a senior who is in charge of our Mission Mart free store, looked inside the box, wide eyed, and took them to Pastor Ken, who commented, “Wow, it’s a party in a box!” The same week, a fellow CEO told me she gave a tour to an agency that has a non-judgmental outreach to sex workers, people at risk of entering the sex trade, and trafficked persons. When Pam asked me what to do with the donation, without hesita- tion, I said, “Call Agency S and they’ll take them.” Later I got a text from Pam: “Agency S is very glad to take them!” In her words, “These are a hot commodity here.” Sometimes sharing is better than giving away or selling at our thrift stores, because it gives us a chance to enter into others’ community spaces. Every year we get too many filled Christmas stock- ings, and we choose one organization to share our surplus with for a unique after-Christmas treat. People sometimes ask me how we grew two missions so quickly, and this is one of our secrets. But it isn’t something I learned quickly. In Regina, we were more protective of our turf. When we moved to start the Halifax mission, I made a con- scious decision to try it the other way—to share even out of our poverty. When we had next to nothing, we still had a posture of generosity. And it hasn’t hampered our growth one bit; in fact, it more than likely has given us a boost of credibility. We have so much, and other charities are constantly bringing us their surplus. Things we’ve been able to share: • Toiletries and other needs for the temporary winter shelter. • Children’s winter gear to a low-income daycare across the street. • New children’s clothing to a local women’s shelter. • Running shoes to a free clothing bank run by another mission. • Surplus military boots to a sister mission. It reminds me of Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Ĩ 54 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAY/JUNE 2018 DAY-TO-DAY Share and Share Alike Making sure your mission has a posture of generosity ACROSS THE STREET Michelle Porter Michelle is founder of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she currently resides. She serves as president of AGRM’s Northern Lights District. Find her on twitter at www.twitter.com/missionmusings.