Rather than venturing out into the community and providing support to those in need – as Alan and Judy Daser have been doing for years – the South Surrey couple is setting up an outreach centre so people can come to them.
And, what better place to welcome others than their own home.
The Dasers plan to open up their South Surrey property to less fortunate individuals and families for gatherings that offer donated necessities such as food and clothing, not to mention an escape from personal hardships.
They are planning on hosting the events every other weekend this summer, and adjusting the schedule based on demand.
Judy, an animal lover and foster mom, is also looking to incorporate a no-kill animal shelter into Eversafe Ranch, in which homeless pets can interact with visiting children and youth while waiting to be matched with new owners.
The desire to make their home available to others stems from a need to give back, Judy said.
“So many people have stepped up and helped us along the way. When you’re looked after, and you have everything you need, it’s nice to be able to give back.”
Before meeting, the Dasers had their own struggles – Judy being a single mother of two and Alan a widower who lost his first wife in an accident.
“We both had a lot of help from outside people,” Judy explained.
The two met through a friend eight years ago, and discovered a shared vision of helping the homeless, low-income families and moms with children who have suffered abuse.
They began their efforts by visiting a poor Guildford neighbourhood once a month, when they would hold a free barbecue and set up tables of donated clothes, toys and other items.
The Dasers continued their outreach work for two years with the help of other volunteers, serving around 100 people at each visit.
By 2008, Eversafe Ranch became a registered charity, and they have since organized other charitable initiatives and hosted a couple outreaches out of their home.
Through their experience, they noticed a demand for household furniture, Alan said.
“We found there was a need for women coming out of shelters.”
The Dasers’ furniture deliveries to families in need began with a 1978 Chevy half-ton pickup truck that they stacked precariously high with used goods. (A donation has since allowed them to upgrade to a one-ton truck.)
Alan receives referrals from women’s shelters, and drops off pieces to homes for free thanks to tax-deductible donations from those offloading furniture.
Alan – who works full time during the day – makes the deliveries at night, helping an average of four families a week. Last year alone, the service impacted 150 families, mostly in the Surrey area.
One of the major obstacles now is space. Alan said he receives more offers of furniture donations than he is able to accept.
He would ultimately like to have a warehouse of sorts, where he could create a stockpile of goods and deliver specific pieces as they’re needed.
Such an upgrade is just one of the
reasons the Dasers are fundraising to buy a larger property.
The two have their eyes set on a 10-acre piece of land on 184 Street, just up the road from their current home.
The lot already has a number of outbuildings that could be used for furniture storage, as well as the shelter the two want to open, Doolittles Animal Rescue.
With a forested area and a pond – and plenty of room for playground equipment – Judy said it would be an ideal base for Eversafe Ranch.
In the future, it could even become a full-time drop-in centre.
Alan said the environment could serve as an alternative to community fairs that some families can’t afford to attend.
And, the interaction youngsters would get with the adoptable animals – which are to be trained and rehabilitated by qualified volunteers – could be therapeutic for both the child and pet, added Judy.
“They have a way of helping each other silently,” she said.
Linda Regnier of Atira Women’s Resource Society – where many of the people Eversafe Ranch helps have come from – said some of the children who would benefit from socializing with animals have troubled backgrounds.
“It will teach them to have empathy, it will teach them how to feel and get them in touch with the reality of being human,” said Regnier, who manages one of Atira’s transition houses.
Having a safe, peaceful place to go will also have an impact on mothers, she noted.
“It’s fun for them to forget about their problems and forget about their stress,” she said. “It’s really needed.”
The Dasers have a goal to raise $200,000 towards the purchase of the property.
To raise money for that, as well as for the launch of Doolittles Animal Rescue, a fundraiser will be held tomorrow (Saturday, May 28) at Elgin Hall, 14250 Crescent Rd.
The event will kick off at 4:30 p.m., and include a reception, silent auction, prizes, international buffet dinner and a performance by the Panic Squad improv group.
Tickets are $35, adults; $20, children under 12; and $100 for a family of four (two adults and two children).
To purchase tickets, call 604-341-1503 or 604-809-3935.
To volunteer, sponsor, donate or find out more about Eversafe Ranch, visit www.eversaferanch.ca