The House Of Blessing has been a supportive and caring part of the Stratford community for twenty years. Just as the hearts of the people who work and volunteer grow, so has the House Of Blessing. The following is the true story of how this community support facility has grown into the centre of caring it is today.

After fostering and taking in street kids for 25 years, Florence and Norman Kehl were still giving food and clothing to the people in need who came to them. More and more people came to their house and soon the needs of the people became too great for the Kehl’s to support. Not wanting to turn anyone away, Florence sought guidance with her pastor, John Arnott. The pastor suggested that the Kehl’s open a place in Stratford to fill the needs of the people who were coming to them. He then asked Florence to accompany him to a place in Hamilton called Operation Blessing. Florence readily agreed and on the way, the pastor even remarked that “someone who would really be good at this is [Florence] … but you're far to busy”.

Upon entering Operation Blessing, it wasn’t long before Florence felt a heaviness, the weight of what it would be like to administer a place like this. It seemed like an immense undertaking. Then something amazing happened. Florence felt a change in her heart. The normally cheerful and talkative Florence became quiet and solemn. Others around her noticed the change and finally during lunch, they asked her what was wrong.

Florence revealed she felt that this was what she was meant to do. She felt ready to build a centre of healing in the Stratford community.

Florence had a new purpose in her life, but she didn’t know when or how to proceed. A week after the momentous trip, John Arnott received a large donation for Florence to get started. And get started she did!

Finding an affordable place to house their cause turned out to be quite difficult at first. Stratford’s downtown locations were extremely expensive to rent. But they managed to start right away in a room above Samuel’s Restaurant on Market Square.

After only a few months of being situated above the restaurant, a fire broke out and destroyed their facility. A few days later, a friend called Florence about a house for sale. When they viewed the house, they were a bit taken aback by how much repair work needed to be done. The house needed a new roof, new wiring, and new plumbing just to name a few! But with their commitment to helping the people in their community, Florence and Norman bought the house using their entire retirement savings as a down payment.

With an amazing amount of support from the people around them, the roof was fixed, the house was rewired, and the plumbing repaired. They always seemed to scrape up enough money when they really needed it. Finally, the house was ready and a new Operation Blessing, with the support of the 700 Club, was opened in December of 1983. After the official opening in April of 1984, the house quickly became a pillar of support for many community members in need.

It wasn’t long before people were suggesting that Florence get a larger place. Instead of moving out of the house, the Kehls decided to add an addition onto the existing kitchen. They even mortgaged their own house in order to cover the building expenses. In September of 1988, after months of arduous training and preparation, that addition officially became the Pregnancy Crisis Centre. At the same time, Operation Blessing changed their Name to House of Blessing after getting their own registered charity number and becoming officially incorporated. Why the name change? The people who needed the support of Florence and her volunteers kept exclaiming that their house was truly a “House of Blessings”.

Years later, and with an ever-increasing need for their support services, the House of Blessing moved into its current facility at 423 Erie Street. This 9000 square-foot building is now the caring centre providing food, clothing, furniture as well as the social, physical, economical, and spiritual support so desperately needed to the many clients welcome there.

Today, with over 50 compassionate and caring volunteers, the gracious generosity of donors, and the supportive and helpful staff, the House of Blessing is a committed organization, dedicated to supporting anyone in the community who finds they are in need physically, spiritually, or emotionally.