A retired peacekeeper in Thunder Bay, Lorne Clifford, started a project called I Was Thirsty, delivering water bottles and compassion to the city’s homeless community.
Clifford launched the grassroots initiative earlier this year to deliver bottled water directly to encampments across the city. Since the summer, volunteers have handed out more than 14,000 bottles with care and compassion.
His time overseas made Clifford realize how difficult it can be for people to access clean water. Seeing similar struggles in local encampments, he started the project through St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which now manages donations. Volunteers purchase and deliver cases of water directly to people in need, so no one has to wait in line. At first, residents were uncertain about the navy-blue truck arriving at their tents, but within days they realized it was bringing water. They began greeting it with thanks and even helped unload. The group’s name comes from the Gospel of Matthew: “I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.”
A 2024 count recorded 557 people experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, with 78 percent identifying as Indigenous. Many told Clifford that his initiative fills a need no other service was meeting. Some people can access water from the marina, but carrying heavy jugs long distances is not possible for everyone. Clifford hopes the project can expand to other places too, noting that for just $3, a case of 24 water bottles can make a meaningful difference in someone’s day.
Source: Rajpreet Sahota, CBC
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Our Saviours Lutheran Church has advised they will be providing a portion of the proceeds of their Fall Supper to I WAS THIRSTY!
Here is the information from their web page!
Join us for our annual gathering of food, fellowship, and music, Saturday, October 4, at 5:00 p.m. Sign up on the board in the front hall to offer to bring a main dish, or what else is needed; and to help with set-up and clean-up, and with other needs.
For each supper Council designates the proceeds from the freewill offering to help a local and/or church-related cause. This year, it has decided that 75% of the funds will be directed to the ‘Friends of Creation challenge of Canadian Lutheran World Relief. This helps to restore the land and people around Lake Chad in Africa (see newsletter page). 25% will help to support the local ministry ‘I Was Thirsty’:
"I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink" Mt 25:35 This is an outreach mission through St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Volunteers deliver safe, fresh water to the homeless and vulnerable—free of charge. There are no administrative fees.
In Thunder Bay, a bottle of water has become a bridge to connection.
The founder of non-profit, I Was Thirsty, joins Superior Morning to talk about how it all began.
A retired peacekeeper in Thunder Bay has turned his attention from global conflicts to a local issue: water insecurity among people living without shelter.
Earlier this year, Lorne Clifford launched I Was Thirsty, a grassroots initiative that delivers bottled water directly to encampments across the city. Since the summer, volunteers have handed out more than 14,000 bottles.
Clifford said the idea came from his time overseas, where he witnessed the daily struggle for clean water in some countries.
"I realized the water insecurity that I had experienced overseas was pretty much the same as what I was experiencing in some of, not all of, but some of the encampments," he said.
Clifford proposed the initiative through St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which now manages donations and finances. Volunteers purchase cases of water and deliver them directly to those in need, eliminating lines and waiting.
The project's name comes from the Gospel of Matthew: "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in."
At first, Clifford said people were wary of the navy-blue truck pulling up to their tents.
"By the fourth day, people were running to the vehicle, realizing we were dropping off water," he said. "They would help us carry the water in. They were very, very thankful."
In a 2024 Point-in-Time count, Thunder Bay recorded 557 individuals experiencing homelessness, with Indigenous peoples making up 78 per cent of this population, according to the Lakehead Social Planning Council. Clifford said many have told him the project fills a gap that no other service was addressing.
"Another young woman in her early 20s, she was sitting on a parking curb, and she had her head in her hands, and she was crying," he said, explaining that he handed her a couple of water bottles and asked about her name. "And she said, 'Why do you want to know my name?' And said, 'Nobody ever asks me my name anymore.'"
Local filmmaker Alan Auld of Imagine Films has been documenting the initiative.
"I was overwhelmed by the appreciation that I saw through the lens," he said. "When he's handing out a case of water to see these people with big smiles. He has a magnetic sticker on his truck, and they recognize it, and you can hear them say the water guy is here, and people perk up, and they come out of their tents, and they're ready to receive the water. "
Auld said some people on the city's north end have access to water at the marina, but must carry five-gallon jugs a long distance to their campsites, a task not everyone can manage.
The documentary, still in production, is expected to run five to seven minutes and highlight both the grassroots model and the broader issue of poverty driving homelessness in northern Ontario.
Clifford hopes the initiative will expand to other communities.
"A case of water is three bucks," he said. "You can get 24 bottles into the hands of somebody who really needs it for $3, and it just takes a couple of minutes of your day to do it."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/i-was-thirsty-1.7626501
THUNDER BAY — For the past two months, volunteers with the I Was Thirsty charity have been purchasing cases of bottled water with donated funds, loading them into vehicles, and delivering them to people living on the street.
In doing so, they've accomplished much more than keeping vulnerable individuals hydrated in the summer heat.
"We're also trying to provide some dignity and compassion, make sure people know they are noticed and haven't been forgotten, and that they have an opportunity to actually tell their stories and meet someone really interested in hearing what they have to say," said Lorne Clifford, the founder of the outreach project.
The retired Thunder Bay Police officer and his team of supporters have a key partner in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which oversees the financial elements of the program through Canada Helps, ensuring donations are managed responsibly.
"What I'm really concerned with is making sure that the people that are vulnerable in our community are getting access to water on a regular basis. I mean, it's a basic human right," Clifford said in an interview.
He said the idea came to him after retirement when he found himself driving past the encampment near the end of Simpson Street, which reminded him of his experience working in Palestine and in Africa.
"I realized that some of the water insecurity issues that are currently happening in Thunder Bay mirror to a great extent what I saw in Palestine and South Sudan. I started doing research on water insecurity. I looked at the last Point In Time count as far as homelessness was concerned."
In turn, that led to a meeting with the minister at his church, and ultimately to the go-ahead for I Was Thirsty.
On July 5, the team started delivering water to seven encampments around Thunder Bay, but not to every encampment.
"There's some we actually don't go to, such as those where people have large dogs, or those that are in the bush. We don't want to be putting ourselves in harm's way," Clifford said. "We don't go back where we haven't been received well, but those who recognize us by our safety vests, the hats that say I Was Thirsty, and the placards on the truck door showing we are an outreach mission...They welcome us."
This summer, the group has delivered nearly 14,000 bottles of water and travelled over 2,300 kilometres.
Clifford said conversation and acknowledgement accompany each delivery, and for many recipients "being seen" is just as meaningful as the water itself.
He recalled an encounter with a young woman outside a grocery store on Court Street, where she and a male companion were begging for change.
"She was probably in her late 20s. She was sitting on the curb with her head in her hands and she was crying. I walked up to her and asked 'Would you like some water today? ' And she lifted her head and looked at me and smiled as I handed her two bottles."
Clifford said he then asked the woman for her name.
"She told me her name was Ashley, and added 'Nobody ever asks my name anymore.' "
He said the incident demonstrated to him how "the level of compassion has been removed from a lot of these interactions" with homeless individuals.
"I Was Thirsty shows that change can begin simply, on a sidewalk, with a bottle of water and a little attention," Clifford said. "By addressing a basic human need, it restores dignity, hope and a sense of belonging."
This stage of the project wraps up at the end of the week, but planning is already underway for next year.
Clifford hopes the mission's website provides a useful guide for other communities interested in replicating the Thunder Bay model.
After 60 days on the streets of Thunder Bay this summer, a simple mission is proving that clean drinking water can change lives.
Volunteers with I Was Thirsty delivered clean water to people living in tents, on the street, and in green spaces. Along with hydration, they offered dignity and human connection.
Thunder Bay faces a growing homelessness crisis. A 2024 Point-in-Time Count recorded 557 people experiencing homelessness, nearly 78 per cent of whom are Indigenous. Many live in tents and makeshift shelters along riverbanks and green spaces, often without reliable access to clean water.
Volunteers purchase water with donated funds, load it into vehicles, and distribute it across the city. Conversation and acknowledgment accompany each delivery. For many recipients, being seen is as meaningful as the water itself.
As of Aug. 30, the mission delivered 574 cases of bottled water— 13,776 bottles — and 6,888 litres (17,220 pounds). Deliveries covered 2,315 kilometres, all in personal vehicles, without reimbursement.
Local first responders and outreach workers now recognize the team, and residents often gather when deliveries arrive.
A key partner is St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which oversees the financial elements of the program through Canada Helps, ensuring donations are managed responsibly and transparently. Their support is central to the mission's sustainability.
The pilot shows that small, practical actions can have a big impact without bureaucracy or overhead.
I Was Thirsty was founded by Lorne Clifford, a retired police officer with international peacekeeping experience in South Sudan and Palestine. He recognized the need to deliver clean drinking water to people experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay and organized volunteers, fundraised, and used his own vehicle for daily deliveries.
The mission's website now serves as a guide for communities wishing to replicate the model.
By addressing a basic human need, I Was Thirsty restores dignity, hope, and a sense of belonging.
The 2025 mission will wrap up on Friday, with final deliveries for the year. Plans are already underway for 2026.
For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, go online to iwasthirsty.ca.
The I Was Thirsty outreach mission is deeply grateful to announce a generous corporate donation from RBC, presented by Mallory Heerema to mission founder, Lorne Clifford. This contribution will directly support the distribution of safe, bottled water into the hands of people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability in Thunder Bay.
RBC’s support comes at a critical time. The I Was Thirsty mission has already delivered thousands of litres of clean water to those most in need, relying on volunteers, community donations, and grassroots commitment. With RBC’s contribution, the mission can continue expanding its reach, ensuring that dignity and compassion are extended through something as simple—but vital—as a bottle of safe water.
RBC’s corporate purpose is clear: helping clients thrive and communities prosper. Their vision and values are centered on creating meaningful impact where it matters most—supporting people, building stronger communities, and addressing urgent needs. This donation reflects those commitments in action, as water security and access to safe resources remain pressing concerns for many.
Through this partnership, RBC demonstrates the power of corporate citizenship: when local businesses and national institutions work hand-in-hand with grassroots missions, real change happens.
On behalf of the I Was Thirsty mission, sincere thanks are extended to RBC and Mallory Heerema for recognizing the importance of this outreach. Their support reinforces that compassion and community leadership are essential for reconciliation, equity, and inclusion—values that align closely with the mission’s work.
Together, we are proving that small acts of kindness, combined with corporate commitment, can make a life-saving difference.
For the past ten days, I WAS THIRSTY mission operations have been in the capable hands of Aiden Masdea. Aiden has taken charge of getting the water in the hands of our clients while arranging our volunteers!
His leadership has allowed me to step back from the day-to-day and focus on some exciting new developments that will help move I Was Thirsty into its next chapter.
With a little extra breathing room, I’ve been able to put energy into two new initiatives:
Both of these pages reflect what has always been at the heart of I WAS THIRSTY turning compassion into concrete action and building a model others can carry forward.
But what I’m most excited to share is this: today we began filming a documentary about the mission.
My long-time friend and colleague Alan Auld, owner of Imagine Films (imaginefilms.ca), arrived today with his cameras rolling. Alan has a gift for story telling, and together we’re aiming to capture not just the story of what we’ve done so far, but the bigger truth—that access to clean drinking water is both a human right and a call to reconciliation.
This film will celebrate the volunteers and partners who’ve made the work possible, but more importantly, it will shine a light on how this mission can be replicated anywhere in Canada.
Our hope is that the documentary becomes both a record and a rallying cry.
As the first frames are captured, I can’t help but feel the mission itself has entered a new phase: moving from action into story, and from story into inspiration for others.
Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the filming process as we go. The best way to honour what’s been built is to ensure it spreads far beyond Thunder Bay!
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