Whether they are helping people look for housing, apply for jobs, meet their educational goals, or take care of their health, our No One Leaves Alone (NOLA) team works incredibly hard to provide practical support for folks reintegrating into the community.
Sometimes, post-prison support is about more than meeting practical needs. Sometimes it’s about spending time together, helping someone find joy in everyday things.
Leo (not his real name) joined NOLA this past spring, and he’s been living at a transition house. Christian, a Program Leader at M2W2, has been working with Leo since his release, taking him to medical appointments, helping him complete administrative paperwork, and offering encouragement and a listening ear.
During one of their meetings, Leo mentioned that he’d like to visit the zoo. Christian thought it would make an excellent recreational outing, one that would give Leo a chance to spend time around people without having to go to an appointment or fill out paperwork. Christian made a few arrangements and told Leo the good news. They were going to the zoo.
“I was so excited when Christian told me,” Leo said.
Christian picked him up and they spent the day at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove.
“It felt good,” Leo said. “I have been wanting to go for a while and I never got to go as a kid.”
Leo said that he enjoyed how it felt like a family event. The best part of the day was the train ride through the zoo and also seeing the animals, especially the tiger, his favourite.
Why is a visit to the zoo important? It’s a connection to the community. An opportunity to feel normal.
And that was Leo’s reaction. He said that the visit made him feel normal. “It can be a hard adjustment coming from prison,” he said. Going to the zoo was a chance to “get used to being around people.”
Recreation is an important yet often overlooked part of community reintegration. Because of Leo’s health and transportation limitations, he wouldn’t have been able to visit the zoo on his own. Leo said he was grateful to Christian for arranging the visit.
Leo hopes he can visit other local spots: Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium, the PNE, and others. Places he’s never had a chance to see. He also asked Christian if he could attend church.
During 2023, 21 people have accessed post-prison mentoring and practical support through NOLA. We are on track to serve 40 people in this fiscal year.
Thanks to the financial support of individual donors, our NOLA team can be there to meet with folks like Leo, who are rebuilding their lives after prison. They can get to know them, help them identify challenges, and walk with them as they overcome those challenges. Thank you for making a difference.