Geroge*, an elderly man, was shadowed by depression that followed him everywhere, no matter how far he tried to outrun it. George learned early in life hiding in isolation would shield him against pain, a strategy he learned from the abuse he and his siblings suffered throughout their childhood. George felt swallowed by his pain, so he called Distress Centre Calgary’s crisis line.
On the other end of the crisis line wasn’t a machine or a script. It was a real human being.
George spoke with a quiet voice that carried years of solitude. The responder Sam*, didn’t rush him, and didn’t fill the silences. Sam waited with patience as George gathered the courage to share the truth about the abuse, he had carried alone for decades. That truth had been bottled up so long it screamed inside him, feeding his depression and his despair. But in this moment, with a real person listening without judgment, George finally let it out. For the first time, he felt something other than emptiness. He felt seen. Your generosity makes that possible.
And this year, your donation goes even further with a generous match of up to $150,000. Help others like Sam feel seen and double your impact.
With that moment of human connection, George was ready to take a step toward healing. Sam connected him to 211 Alberta, ensuring he had the counselling supports needed to help him face his past. He was ready to reclaim what had been taken from him in his youth. George realized that connection can lift the weight of isolation, and he now knew he didn’t need to face his depression alone.
Your generosity helped George call Distress Centre Calgary and transform years of silence into strength and hope. And this year, through our matching campaign, your gift will go twice as far, bringing connection and healing to more people like George.
George is one of many who call Distress Centre Calgary, having spent years in silence, believing no one would ever understand, or that they might be met with cold automation. Thanks to your compassion, people like George are met by a fellow human being who hears the pain between the words, who respects the pauses, and who knows how heavy silence can be.
Your kindness ensures that when someone breaks their silence, they’re met with compassion, not automation, a real person who listens and walks with them toward hope. Join our matching campaign today and help make sure every call for help is answered.
Thanks to your donations, Albertans can turn silence into strength and isolation into connection.
Human connection, truly saves lives.
*Names and details changed to maintain confidentiality
