A Winnipeg-based mission organization is celebrating over a century of helping the less fortunate in the community. 

Beverly Ajtay is the Operations Manager at Lighthouse Mission in downtown Winnipeg. 

"2021 marks 110 years of Ligthhouse Mission serving the community of Winnipeg. Originally starting as a church back in 1911," says Ajtay. 

During the Great Depression, the need for community support for those facing homelessness grew.

"During the 1930s the church became a soup kitchen and that's how everyone knows us today. There's a long heritage to Lighthouse Mission serving the most vulnerable people in our city."

The organization has recently started expanding their services. 

"We have owned the building next door to us at 667 Main St. for many years and it's sat vacant. This winter we were able to access some funding and received some very generous donations to allow the renovations next door to start," says Ajtay.

Right now the mission is finishing up renovations to the main floor. 

"This is going to provide basically double the space for our community to come in out of the weather. It's going to provide another daytime shelter space."

Even with the COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing, the new space will allow another 15 people to come inside, eat a hearty meal, and be ministered to. 

"Our Spiritual Care Coordinator, he is doing a men's support group on Tuesday evenings now. It's so needed for our community to be able to access those addiction supports. It's programming we want to expand on as we expand our space."

Lighthouse Mission is hosting an online art auction to help raise funds for their current programs. The auction runs until May 30.

"We look forward to being able to impact people in more ways in the future," she says. 

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