Mike Watterson has been volunteering to serve others his entire life, and you have given him a place to bless others here at the Mission. Mike, now retired, serves breakfast in our dining hall three mornings a week, setting up, cleaning up, and talking with people who come to eat. Carlton Hill oversees the kitchen and dining hall and says,
“Mike is very patient and understanding with our guests. He makes them feel welcome.”
Mike understands the financial challenges Fredericktonians face because he listens to our neighbors in need and has served our community for so many years. In the 1990s, he was the Executive Director of the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs (now called Beyond Shelter). Mike has also been a pastor and volunteered at the Alan P. Linton Emergency Shelter. Gary Thompson, who runs security at the Mission, raves about Mike: “He was so good to me when I was homeless. The first time I walked into the Linton Center, I saw his smiling face. Mike’s a great person!”
Mike has long seen the difficulties people in our community face up close. He knows seniors who have owned homes for many years forced into renting apartments due to property tax increases and skyrocketing HOA fees. On Friday mornings, your support allows us to distribute groceries to an always-increasing number of seniors. Mike knows some of these guests and says, “I know people who can just make ends meet because they come for groceries once a week. One woman told me that coming to the Mission on Fridays allows her to have her two adult sons over for dinner. Housing and food prices are the main factors that cause people to struggle.”
Jesus is the model and motivator of servanthood to Mike. “Serving others helps me feel closer to my Lord. It also helps me stay aware of what others in our community are dealing with.” Mike’s parents brought him up to give back to his community, and his love for God propels him forward. As a result, he has a well-known reputation for compassion and helpfulness.
Mike attends Collective Church and is proud of the annual Grocery Store Buyout, an impressive church run annual donation event, but laments how fast the food runs out. “Donating food needs to be a regular practice, not a seasonal thing.”
The Mission has seen the growing demand for food outpace donations.
Over the past three months, we have had about 300 new guests come for food per month.
We are grateful that you and Mike continue to assist our neighbors with basic needs, including food. Thank you.
