This year we celebrate a five-year relationship between CUPS and Calgary-based restaurateur Jeff Jamieson that began as most community connections do — we met our new next-door neighbour.

When choosing their 1002 9th Street SW location for restaurant Donna Mac in 2017, Jamieson, who also co-owns Proof YYC, Mixtape sandwiches and Vine Arts, wanted to learn more about CUPS.

As community members, it was as vital to us, as it was to Jamieson, to explain how we manage our main site on 10th Avenue SW, and help people experiencing homelessness, poverty and trauma.

“From the moment we opened Donna Mac, I’ve never had a single issue — ever — with anything that goes on across the street at CUPS,” he said. “Only positive things are happening over there.”

Jamieson said his team recognizes many of the CUPS employees and, due to their proximity to our main site, that they see how CUPS handles themselves in the community as well.

“The people who (seek help), they’re experiencing varying levels of distress,” he said. “They’re always greeted with equality from the CUPS team and with a confidence that they’re able to help.”

At CUPS, we can’t say enough about this connection and, as we’ve seen over these last few years, the holiday-themed givebacks that help fund our programs and assist the people and families we serve.

In 2019, Proof YYC held its Miracle on First Street popup event and, while largely successful with great buzz, unfortunately had people steal over $3,000 of holiday-themed glassware — Grinches indeed.

Jamieson bought back his stock for the 2020 popup season and created a unique marketing campaign, in that Calgarians who enjoyed some time at Proof YYC and didn’t steal a cup, supported CUPS.

That help means we’re able to further assist the people we serve in receiving integrated care for complex social, emotional and health issues. We help clients get to the root causes of their challenges.

In our last reporting year, the entire CUPS team was instrumental in helping 9,156 Calgarians experiencing homelessness, poverty and trauma get the right integrated care that builds resilience.

Now, in 2021, the Miracle on First popup runs until Dec. 24 with CUPS, again, being a grateful recipient of charity dollars. Jamieson said there’s a great amount to connect with in CUPS’ message.

“CUPS builds positive habits,” he said, noting he appreciates its foundational approach to help people and enhance their level of resilience to prevent recurring homelessness.

Jamieson said CUPS taught him that people living in homelessness are often frustrated with systemic barriers and how to navigate them, especially what resources are and are not easily available to them.

To him, the holidays are a time for people to consider their blessings, what they have, what it is they need opposed to what it is they might want. Many Calgarians, however, live in poverty all year round. 

“A lot of people don’t have those blessings or have roadblocks on their way to gaining those for themselves,” Jamieson said.