About Renewed Hope
Our Mission
Renewed Hope, our mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the suffering, help the hurting and lift up the fallen. From the foundation of a practical application and actively engaged working with all people showing each person a caring and practical approach of FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.
To improve the lives of those in need by providing essential services, help, support and care to communities.
We believe that everyone deserves access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and healthcare and to the warm helping hand of someone who cares. No one should be forgotten.
When we come together and believe the mission is more important than individual credit, lives will be changed. Anything is possible.
Renewed Hope is a recognized and registered not for profit charity that is committed to reach out to those who are less fortunate or going through a rough patch or challenges that life sometimes brings.
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One of the many missions and outreach programs of Renewed Hope, among clothing and food provision, our Box Lunch Rescue, street missions, helping those within correctional facilities, First Nations people, children's Christmas Toy Chest program and more is also saluting and honouring First Responders.
Renewed Hope is also reaching out to be a support to them and their families. They go through tremendous pressures facing the most horrible circumstances and tragedies life offer all while helping other's..
They were there for us now we want to be there for them.
Join Renewed Hope today and help us change lives every day.
It started Like This
For 38 years we have been reaching out to people but there is always a catalyst or pin point moment in life that changes the trajectory and causes you to look at life with even greater purpose, serving others at a greater level. That pivot moment for us was the most certain near death of our baby girl.
On a warm calm summer evening of 2001, a motorcyclist who was speeding, uninsured and not permitted to ride at night, came out of nowhere at an extreme high rate of speed to "pickup his girlfriend at the mall"; he crashed into the side of our vehicle. The motorcyclist went through the window crushing and impacting my daughter's head. Raquel was only seven years old. I ran to the crash scene just at the corner where I was and I jumped into the back seat and as the smoke was building it was obvious death came knocking. Blood was everywhere and while I was holding my little girls head the magnitude of the incident started to sink in. The motorcyclist's helmet made direct contact with the front side of her head causing massive hemorrhage, fracture and bleeding on the brain.
First Responders Went Into Action
Our little baby Raquel suffered massive head trauma measuring nine (9) on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Shards of window glass from the impact blasted towards her little face at such a rate of velocity it tore pieces of skin from her face. A little innocent girls life had changed instantly. All our lives changed instantly.
It was the First Responders that stepped into action that night. The paramedics were incredible with their calm demeanour but aggressive approach to right something that had gone so terribly wrong. Pulling out every piece of equipment from the ambulance they worked hard to keep little Raquel Stable. As bystanders gathered around with carnage surrounding us, this was a living nightmare.
Then the Police showed up on scene to control the situation along with fire fighters blocking all access in every direction. Raquel was rushed down to the hospital with sirens screaming as the ambulance lights bounced off of every building we passed.
The Drive Down
In the front seat of the ambulance I asked the driver over and over to get some kind of reassurance "Do you think she will be ok?" It felt like hours to get to the hospital. Would we make it on time? Will our little girl make it on time? I prayed "God you got this and you can make something good come out of such a devastating circumstance."
As my wife helped to care for her in the back of the ambulance I was anxious and scared. I would pray over and over "God you can work this out, we need Your help..." The ambulance paramedic agreed and said "...yes it will..." Finally we arrived at the hospital and within thirty minutes the surgeon said to me "...if we don't operate right now the pressure on the brain will kill her". Little Raquel had to have an emergency open craniotomy.
Tough Days
Laying in a coma for four (4) days later she finally woke up in intensive care. Under the care of Dr. Dirks and medical staff our little girl fought her way back. We knew it was going to be a long road ahead of us. The surgeon said he wasn't sure how the outcome would be but to hope for the best, she may have to learn to eat again and not even know who you are... she may not be able to learn or walk properly... she may not be able to see properly... but to hope for the best. After the surgery the doctor came out and said "Well I think you got your miracle". We were expectant but shocked at the same time. We got our answer and although it has been a very long journey she made it through.
Raquel Made It Through
Weeks later little Raquel had her staples removed. It was a great moment but a sad one to see the damage, as well seeing what our little baby had to go through at no fault of her own. It crushes a parent's heart. It was our most lonely and darkest time but we leaned on faith and God. He was there for us. In spite of feeling isolated, alone and abandoned throughout, what matters is that she made it through. A life was saved. Our seven year old little baby girl is alive. That's what counts, she made it through.
Here and Now
Raquel is a champ. She grew up and pushed through the stigma of a near fatal accident. She pushed through all the tough days, months and years.
Those uncountable number of trips to the hospitals, psychologists, therapy clinics and lessons, tutoring, classes... I could go on.
We salute the First Responders who were the ones that were there to help until it was all resolved. This kind of event lives with you because you have to deal with it sometimes daily. It doesn't magically vanish. The First Responders and medical staff stuck with us for years later and we thank you.
A shout out to Raquel who is now working in the real estate field and she is grateful for every day, knowing with the help of First responders, God was watching over her perhaps for this very reason, to give a Renewed Hope to others.
With God's help it was the First Responders who made the
'at the moment difference'.
Thank you to all the First Responders,
who put themselves out there on a daily basis.
You are heroes and helpers
God Bless
Renewed Hope and Board of Directors
Welcome to Renewed Hope
Your impact starts here: change lives today
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