the mission
Who we are
I WAS THIRSTY is a volunteer-driven, humanitarian initiative based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Founded, led, and operated daily by Lorne Clifford, a former Canadian peacekeeper who personally designed, implemented, and sustains all aspects of the initiative.
Established and sustained without salary, institutional support, or formal infrastructure the mission operates through personal commitment, community support, and daily frontline engagement. Supported by volunteers, donors and community partners, it reflects a model of service grounded in dignity, accountability, and measurable impact.
Click here to learn more ABOUT US.
I WAS THIRSTY is one of the only structured direct-delivery water outreach models in Canada.
the impact to date
WHAT WE DO
I WAS THIRSTY delivers safe, clean drinking water directly to unsheltered individuals living in encampments and public spaces, ensuring consistent access to a basic human necessity.
- 14,784 bottles delivered
(616 cases | 7,392 litres | 18,480 pounds)
- 250+ people served per day
- 2,469 km traveled to reach people where they live
- Cost per bottle: 12¢
- Cost per client (60 days): $10.80
- 14 volunteers
- serving 12 encampments
- Read Ashley's powerful story - "No one asks my name anymore". I WAS THIRSTY volunteers have had thousands of safe and dignified face-to-face encounters with our most vulnerable people.
I WAS THIRSTY has engaged in thousands of direct interactions, providing both essential hydration and respectful human engagement.
how we do it.
I WAS THIRSTY operates through a structured, route-based delivery model designed for consistency, efficiency, and safety.
- Direct delivery: Water is brought to individuals where they live, removing barriers such as distance, mobility limitations, and restricted access to facilities.
- Efficient resource use:
- Cost per bottle: $0.12
- Cost per client (60 days): $10.80
- Volunteer-driven operations: All resources are directed to frontline service.
- Measured approach: Delivery volumes, routes, and reach are tracked to ensure accountability and sustained performance.
With a startup cost under $1,000 and a developed operational toolkit, I WAS THIRSTY can be readily replicated by any other community in Canada.
why we do it - addressing water insecurity.
In Canada, individuals experiencing homelessness often face significant barriers to accessing safe drinking water despite living in communities where water systems exist.
Distance, exclusion, mobility challenges, and lack of storage create real and immediate health risks, including dehydration and heat-related illness.
Direct, mobile water delivery is rarely provided within existing services.
I WAS THIRSTY addresses that unmet need.
reconciliation in action.
In Thunder Bay, approximately 78% of individuals experiencing homelessness identify as Indigenous, while Indigenous people represent about 5% of Canada’s population but 35% of those experiencing homelessness nationally.
I WAS THIRSTY delivers service in a manner that is consistent, respectful, and accessible, supporting equitable access to a fundamental necessity for disproportionately affected populations.
Click here to learn how we are putting our commitment to TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION into action.
a complimentary approach.
Water insecurity in Canada presents differently across regions. In remote and northern communities, infrastructure challenges limit access. In urban centres, barriers persist despite available systems.
I WAS THIRSTY provides immediate, individual-level access that complements broader infrastructure-based solutions.
I WAS THIRSTY has established a structured, mobile water delivery model not typically provided within existing services.
Click here to learn more about the I WAS THIRSTY mission.
WHY IT MATTERS.
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human need.
By providing consistent, direct delivery, this initiative reduces immediate health risks and supports individuals who would otherwise go without.
Click here to learn how this is model demonstrates a practical approach that can be adopted in communities across Canada.
in the media. recognized. verified.
As reported by CBC News (September 9, 2025):
“A retired peacekeeper in Thunder Bay has turned his attention from global conflicts to a local issue: water insecurity… Since the summer, volunteers have handed out more than 14,000 bottles.”
Independent media coverage confirms the initiative’s effectiveness and its model-setting role in addressing water insecurity professionally and compassionately.
- CBC News – A retired peacekeeper addresses water insecurity
- TB Newswatch – Local outreach delivers water along with dignity
- The Chronicle Journal – Bringing water and dignity to the streets
Click here to learn more about media coverage of I WAS THIRSTY.
A Canadian model addressing water insecurity
A simple idea addressing a critical gap in canada
IInfrastructure-based solutions and mobile outreach are not competing—they are complementary. Infrastructure ensures long-term, community-level access, while mobile delivery provides immediate, individual-level support to those excluded from fixed systems.
Based in Thunder Bay, I WAS THIRSTY is designed for national scalability. It demonstrates how a focused, disciplined approach closes critical gaps in Canada’s water access continuum by reaching individuals unable to access traditional services.
Water insecurity across Canada varies widely. In remote and northern communities, infrastructure limits reliable supply; in urban centres, access—not supply—is the barrier.
Individuals experiencing homelessness face distance, exclusion, mobility constraints, lack of storage, and systemic inequities that prevent consistent access to safe drinking water.
With startup costs under $1,000 and a fully developed toolkit, I WAS THIRSTY delivers direct, mobile water distribution to unsheltered populations—an essential service rarely provided by existing programs.
This disciplined, volunteer-driven model achieves measurable impact while restoring dignity and human connection, establishing a practical, scalable framework for immediate adoption nationwide.
I WAS THIRSTY is a Canadian model addressing water insecurity and reconciliation at the street level.
you can cause a ripple
Your support will fund our mission. All financial donations are administered by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and through Canada Helps. Charitable tax receipts are issued.
NAVIGATE YOUR DONATION
Click on the "Donate" button, below.
On the St. Andrew's page click "Donate Once".
Choose a fund to direct your donation.
Select "I WAS THIRSTY".
