Ending Poverty Together

It’s the time of year where charity Christmas gift catalogues find their way to your mailboxes and inboxes—but how do these practical, and hopefully meaningful, shopping options actually work? When you buy a pig for your mom, will a piglet wearing a red bow arrive on her doorstep Christmas morning? What happens to a community in Burundi if somebody suddenly donates 5,000 goats?In this episode of the Ending Poverty Together Podcast, Mike Prins, with Communications at Food for the Hungry Canada, has all these answers and more for you! Listen to discover how a gift of a cow or a rabbit hops from the pages of the Gifts for Change Gift Guide right to the homes of families in need. Mike shares personal stories of impact sparked by real Canadians through the Gift Guide, and yes! He’ll even answer your question about the 5,000 goats.

In this episode of Ending Poverty Together, Shelaine sits down with Sandra Gamboias, Senior Director of Philanthropy at Food for the Hungry Canada, to talk about the launch of Journey Partners — FH’s new monthly giving community.Sandra shares why Journey Partners is more than a donation program: it’s about walking alongside vulnerable communities like a trusted friend, showing up month after month to help break cycles of poverty and bring lasting transformation.From stories of faith, friendship, and family, to real examples of impact in communities around the world, this conversation explores how small, consistent gifts can create extraordinary change — not just internationally, but in our own lives, too.👉 Learn more about Journey Partners and how you can be part of this movement at https://www.fhcanada.org/journey-partner

What’s really happening on the streets of Metro Vancouver and Victoria? In this powerful episode of Ending Poverty Together, Shelaine sits down with Nick Wells, Media Relations Specialist at Union Gospel Mission (UGM), to pull back the curtain on what’s happening—and what’s being done to spark change.With over a decade in journalism, Nick shares gripping stories and raw insights from UGM’s frontlines, where poverty, homelessness, addiction, and a growing affordability crisis are colliding like never before. He unpacks UGM’s philosophy of meeting people where they’re at—through practical compassion and deep-rooted care. From mobile outreach to recovery programs and the surge in food insecurity, Nick paints a vivid picture of both the challenges and the hope.Together, he and Shelaine explore the long road out of poverty—how housing stability, trauma-informed care, peer connection, and community can break generational cycles of hardship and transform lives.This episode is both a sobering look at urgent realities and a hopeful invitation to be part of lasting, community-driven change.

What does real community transformation look like—beyond buildings and programs? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with three passionate FH Canada team members who share their personal stories from the frontlines of community development. From vibrant savings groups in Guatemala to graduation celebrations in Rwanda, their reflections offer a rare glimpse into the power of dignity, resilience, and hope.Haley, FH Canada’s Supporter Engagement Coordinator, highlights the joy of connecting with donors and  celebrates the mutual encouragement found in community. Isaias, a new Program Officer, recounts the impact of a women's savings group called The Little Bees, where financial literacy and shared ownership are unlocking entrepreneurial dreams. And Kaitlin, also a Program Officer, shares how witnessing a community's graduation ceremony in Rwanda revealed not just material progress, but the transformation of hearts, minds, and futures.These stories remind us that when communities lead and when support systems are rooted in respect, real, lasting impact takes root. If you're curious about the human side of development work, this conversation will leave you inspired.

Did you know poverty is much more than just an empty wallet? Relational poverty is often an invisible wound that disconnects us from God, ourselves and triggers many mental health challenges. In this episode Nicola Bartel, Executive Director of Mercy Canada, shares her over 25 year long journey of working with vulnerable women and discusses how Mercy Canada provides free mental health services to those in need of relational healing.This conversation delves into the root causes behind issues like anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm while offering hope through stories of transformation. Learn about Mercy Canada's innovative programs like "Emotions in You," "Boundaries," and "Keys to Freedom" that are helping people break cycles of trauma and build healthier relationships through counseling, residential programs, workshops and more. Whether you're wrestling with your own invisible struggles, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand poverty's complex dimensions, this conversation offers a road map to wholeness that begins with connection.

For many of us, a cup of coffee is part of a regular morning ritual. But how often do we think about the person or people behind that cup of coffee? For countless smallholder farmers around the world, coffee is their livelihood. Yet, with limited land, fluctuating market prices, and changing climates, these farmers often still live below the poverty line. In this episode Mike Janz shares about how fair trade coffee makes its long journey from seed to our cups, exploring the realities that farmers face, and how the Better Coffee, Better Lives project in Guatemala is equipping farming with the knowledge and resources to improve their yields, access fair markets, and see hope-filled futures.Tune in to learn how a better cup of coffee starts with empowering those who grow it—and how you can be part of that change!

What‘s your response to the term “harm reduction”? Do you realize that you participate in harm reduction daily? Things like, strapping on a seatbelt, using railings on staircases, or scrubbing your hands with hot, soapy water all attempt to minimize risk in some way. Yet, perhaps your reaction to harm reduction feels a little different when it comes to drugs. So, why?Dr. Meera Grover challenges us to take a deep look at our beliefs surrounding substance use and harm reduction. Are they rooted in a stigma or in cultural views of those who struggle with substance use and misuse? Are they rooted in a love for God’s people that reflects His heart?  Dr. Grover is a physician and a Christian with a background in theology. She began her career in international development and later transitioned to working on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and Calgary. With the highest level of addiction medicine training in Canada, Dr. Grover has grappled with the complex ethical questions surrounding substance use, harm reduction, and the true meaning of hope.Tune in for part 2 of this important conversation as we talk about addiction, faith, and the power of being present.

with guest Patty-Leigh Thielmann from Food for the Hungry CanadaTurn on your faucet at home. Aren’t you astounded by how water is instantly at your fingertips? How that happens every time you go to the sink? How it’s fresh and clean? How that water doesn’t run dry or make your family sick? It’s actually incredible! Yet, for too many families around the world, access to safe water is still not a reality. Yet, in FH partner communities, the tide is turning!Patty-Leigh Thielmann, VP of International Programs at Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada, highlights how access to clean water can transform lives in profound (and sometimes unexpected!) ways. Clean water is not only essential for health but also foundational for offering hope to families trapped in poverty. While it may seem obvious that clean water sparks a ripple effect of positive change, the details might surprise you. Discover how safe water is creating lasting impact and bringing waves of hope to generations.For more, check out FH Canada's wholistic work - water included! - at fhcanada.org.

with guest Melissa Giles of BC Rent Bank.Rental prices are a hot topic of conversation these days. With increased cost of living and housing shortages, everyone is feeling the pressure. For those living in a low to moderate income bracket, paying the rent can be challenging at the best of times—then when a crisis hits, it can become near impossible. This is where rent banks, an eviction prevention and housing stability resource for renters, can step into the gap.Melissa Giles, Managing Director at BC Rent Bank, explains what rent banks do, who is eligible to access them, and why they can be a critical resource for many Canadians who are struggling to pay rent due to a crisis or change in their situation. Learn how BC Rent Bank helps residents stay in their homes through an empathetic and dignifying process.

with guest Kenzie Watson, Pastor of Children’s Ministries at Lambrick Park ChurchHave you talked to your kids about poverty? Of all the things to teach children, this may be far down your list—too complicated, too jarring for their young minds, and too uncomfortable a topic. But poverty, in your neighbourhood or around the world, is simply unavoidable and we should not shirk helping our kids navigate what they see and hear and experience.Kenzie Watson, Pastor of Children’s Ministries at Lambrick Park Church, shares how we adults often needlessly complicate our responses or avoid talking with kids about poverty. Rather, Kenzie pushes us to start the conversation by sharing with kids why facing poverty is important—it's rooted in our call to generously love our neighbors as Jesus does. Kids get this, and their perspectives can be powerful. You may be surprised at how a child will address solutions to poverty.Recommended Resources:Poverty—No Kidding - curriculum for childrenLambrick Park Church - websiteEpisode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Veasna Pin, Program Operation Director from FH Cambodia.What do delicious barista-made drinks, sharp haircuts, and a finely tuned engine all have in common?By Grade 6 or 7, many Cambodian children from vulnerable families drop out of school. While kids in Canada are learning about the solar system, too many kids in Cambodia are working in the fields or on construction sites sacrificing their education to help their families survive. But that’s not the end of their story.In this episode, Veasna Pin, Program Operation Director from FH Cambodia, shares how a new youth vocational training program is opening up a world of possibilities for these vulnerable youth. With pivotal mentorship, lifeskills training, and business development, youth who had given up on education are now pursuing their dreams, starting their own businesses, and supporting their families in ways they never imagined.So, what do delicious drinks, haircuts, and an engine have in common? These are just a few of the skills now expertly offered by the youth in this program! Tune in to discover the full story!Recommended Resources:Partnership in Cambodia - webpageEpisode hosted by Shelaine.