We are so fortunate that Marnie Boers, a Director with Risebridge, made time to answer questions from PAN about their Fall 2025 operations.
1. Tell us about your drop-in times. Where are they, when are they, and what kind of support is provided to people who attend?
Community drop-in times are currently on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am-Noon at our Nanaimo community centre. Our free community closet is open, where community members can stop in and get a few new weather appropriate clothing items and more.
The Shoes For You program is available on Tuesday mornings where community members can come in for new (to them) shoes which are weather appropriate and properly fitting.
Food, warm drinks and other resources such as service navigation, nurse/doctor access from the Island Health mobile team, and computer access are made available as well.
Our Oceanside programming, currently funded by PGNAETA RURAL REACHING HOMES, is operating in Coombs at the Bradley Center on Mondays and in Parksville at Knox United Church on Wednesdays from 11am-1pm for drop-in programming, and 7 days a week offering outreach and crisis support.
2. Your Nanaimo shelter program is happening again for this year. How many beds do you have? What kind of support are offered to clients? And how can someone request a bed?
We currently have 24 beds funded by BC Housing in Nanaimo. 22 are regular program beds and 2 are emergency holds for collaborating agencies or the health authority.
Community members can request to be added to our shelter program waitlist by stopping by at Tuesday and Friday drop-in times and requesting to speak with a support worker. A request can also be sent to our email from another community support worker, nurse, or social worker from a collaborating agency.
3. What are the biggest challenges faced by Risebridge volunteers and staff?
The biggest challenges faced by Risebridge volunteers and staff include the inconsistency of funding needed to meet the growing needs of our community members. Demand for support continues to rise, but resources and financial stability often fall short. Political factors also create uncertainty for sustaining these important programs or ensuring that our experience and voice is heard at community planning tables.
4. How can the community support your efforts?
The community can support our efforts at Risebridge in several meaningful ways. We are currently seeking clothing donations for our free community clothing closet, which helps ensure that everyone has access to warm and weather-appropriate items.
You can also support us by helping with various fundraising initiatives, purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List or by making a financial contribution toward our current fundraising efforts, which helps us to keep our drop-in hours open on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the colder months ( and possibly more!). Our drop-in program is run entirely by community volunteers and supported through donations, so every contribution makes a real difference.
More information can be found on our website here: https://www.risebridgeproject.ca/connect-and-donate
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo 