In northwest Calgary, Journey Church has been hosting a daytime shelter service this winter that welcomes those who experience homelessness and other vulnerabilities into a guaranteed safe space.

Rob Ellis, a volunteer at the daytime shelter at Journey Church, says that the organization has been offering warm food, clothing, and hot chocolate to over 200 people for the last four months.

Ellis enjoys the work because "it's fun, we're able to develop a relationship with a lot of the people, we become friends. They know this is a safe place to come to."

This winter weather has been turbulent in Alberta, yet Ellis says that the conditions haven't affected their work significantly. While there were influxes of people at the church during cold snaps, Ellis says most people just come for shelter and to "feel like they have a safe place."

Ellis says he's learned a lot from his time at the church, adding that he's appreciated how "family directed" the people that come to the shelter are, and how much they "know each other and help each other."

​​Listen to the full CFWE Interview below with Rob Ellis: