Friends of the Carpenter

We are Friends of the Carpenter and are proud to be one of the only day centers serving those without housing in the city of Vancouver. Our compassion is rooted in the belief that every person is worthy of dignity. This belief is practiced through our Dignity Services program. Each week we open our doors to friends in our community who need a safe place to find respite from isolation and houselessness. We provide a day center where they can get some snacks, get a cup of coffee, charge their phones, hop on the internet and just relax. In addition to the day center we provide free showers and laundry three days a week for our friends. Anyone can literally come in with the clothes on their back and leave at the end of the day with a hot shower and clean clothes.

When we started our Dignity Services program in 2023 we averaged providing 77 showers and 47 loads of laundry a month. In 2026 we have more than doubled those numbers and are now averaging 178 showers and 107 loads of laundry a month. Each of those numbers represent a fellow community member's journey. A journey of a lost job, escaping domestic violence, being displaced because of their sexuality, drug and alcohol addiction, or struggles with mental health.

It is our honor to be a place of safety and respite for friends on these difficult journeys and we want to take the next step in expanding access to our Dignity Services but we cannot do it without the help of our community.

Perhaps you noticed the image at the top of our page? Those four words have meant so much to our friends who come through Friends of the Carpenter. It's amazing what a shower, clean clothes, and a safe space can do for the soul!

That's the difference we get to be part of, week after week. This GiveMore 24, you can help us be part of it more often. Every gift, no matter the size, will go towards the costs that go with expanding Dignity Services such as staffing, supplies, water, and utilities. These funds will allow us to offer expanded hours and add an additional day of service.

Whatever you're able to give this GiveMore 24, you're not just funding a shower or a load of laundry. You're telling a friend in our community that they are seen, they matter, and they are worthy of dignity. Thank you for walking alongside us and our friends on this journey. We couldn't do this work without a community like you behind us.