A Home Away From Home
Featured Photo: Compassion House Foundation
In this spotlight feature, we interview Mirna Cruz, Guest Services & Volunteer Coordinator of the Compassion House Foundation, to learn more about their organisation and initiatives.
Can you share the story behind how the Compassion House Foundation started and what inspired its creation?
“A founding member of the house had a friend who was coming to Edmonton for treatments for breast cancer. She offered for her friend to stay at her home, but her friend declined and opted to stay at a hotel because she didn’t want to be a bother to her friend. The founding members thought about this and wondered how many other people travel to Edmonton for treatments but are not able to afford a hotel. Community leaders founded Compassion House Foundation in 1998 and incorporated it as a non-profit society in 1999 with the mission to give sanctuary to breast cancer patients. As time went on, Compassion House decided to open our doors to women going through cancer treatments.”
What is the core mission of the Compassion House Foundation, and who do you primarily serve or support?
“Compassion House Foundation support women who must leave their homes for cancer care. The vision of Compassion House Foundation strives to ease the distress of the cancer journey for women. Our values are compassion, community, respect, sustainability, understanding and excellence.”
Can you share a recent success story that you are especially proud of and that has made an impact in the community?
“Sailor, she's the guest service manager, and she's been working here for 20 years. Sailor had so much impact on every single lady who walked through the house. We get people who have to come back again who stayed here in 2010 or 2011. It’s amazing how many people reached out to say hello when she had her anniversary of 20 years working with Compassion House. She’s an amazing person to work with, and she's just a fantastic human being. To me, she's the core of this house because when it comes to compassion with her, she always finds a solution for everything.”
How many individuals are you able to support in a typical year?
“We can accommodate up to 380 women in a year, which includes returning guests for ongoing treatments. We have 16 rooms. Some people come only for a week of treatment, and for some people, their treatment is a little bit longer, up to three months.”
What types of volunteer roles are available at Compassion House?
“The easiest thing to do if you're actually thinking about volunteering is to look for a place that you really want to get involved in. If you check our website, you can read a little bit about us and everything that we do. If you have second thoughts, stop at the house anytime, and we can give you a tour, and if you have any questions, we will answer all the questions that you want. Once you are in the house, you will have an idea of what to do.”
“A lady came in one day, and she said, I was walking by, and I did not know that this is what you guys are, but I would love to cook a meal for the ladies one of these days. We have volunteers who play board games with the guests, teach yoga, hold a painting class, and offer a variety of other activities. You just have to have compassion and love, and when you come in here, you will decide what you would like to do.”
If someone is thinking about volunteering but is unsure, what would you say to encourage them to take that first step?
“Find an organisation that actually resonates with you, and then you will love to do it. Just pick the foundation of your choice, and you can never go wrong.”
Thanks for reading our NFP Feature! We’re here to shine a light on Edmonton’s not-for-profit sector and help students discover new ways to get involved. Have questions, ideas, or an organization you think we should feature?
Share them with us at anpa@ualberta.ca
