“You’re changing people’s lives, but it changes you too”

Jason Rivers
Special to Spur Ottawa

With local heavy-metal bands playing live on one side, the SKATE4HUNGER skateboard competition blasted across the ramps and rails of 457 The Edge’s skate park, at Living Waters Christian Assembly. In a corner, video games provided competition of a different sort. This was the scene of Revolution 457’s ninth annual Rock Revolt: Revolt Against Hunger event, on July 22.

“This event is about the causes of hunger and homelessness, but it is also about rallying this generation for the cause,” explains Colleen Noble. “Rock Revolt is a justice-focused event. [We have a] heart for this generation of young people and the needs that we see in the city. Putting them together is powerful.”

Noble is the director of Revolution 457, a youth movement focused on empowering young people and helping them find purpose. Rock Revolt is one of their larger events. Rather than having tickets for the event, young people bring donations of non-perishable food, new socks, and other toiletries, that are then given to those in need in Ottawa.

Speaking during the event, Noble shared the plight of Ottawa’s poor. She highlighted that the Ottawa Food Bank feeds 50,000 people per month, but that the youth can make a difference.

“You have a generation that has needs and there is the potential for young people in that generation to meet those needs.”

“I’ve been going out into the streets for 13 years to feed the homeless. There is a tremendous need for help out there.”

With 1,400 young people living on the streets in Ottawa, she says rallying young people in the same age range is empowering.

“There are two sides to every coin. You have a generation that has needs and there is the potential for young people in that generation to meet those needs in their own region and in their own nation.”

The donated items from this year’s event were given to two ministries: City Lights Street Outreach and City Care.

City Lights Street Outreach is a ministry that takes a team to local shelters on the last Thursday of each month. During Rock Revolt, the youth were also given the opportunity to sign up for City Lights’ team.

Youth watch the SKATE4HUNGER Skateboard competition. Photo by Stephan Vermette.

“It is so cool. I’ve been doing this since I was 16,” says a team member named Trinity. “We get together to make sandwiches and we bring fruit, juice boxes, and socks. We go to the homeless and say, ‘Hey, do you want a sandwich? Are you hungry tonight?’ Yeah, you’re changing people’s lives, but it changes you, too.”

Noble is also on the leadership of City Care, a food bank based out of Living Waters Christian Assembly. She says the ministry is blown away every year by the donations young people give.

“You see young people coming in with bags and bags of items. They are encouraged to bring in 5 items, but they often bring in bags of stuff—25 or 40 items.”

She says the ministry is not easy and it takes sacrifice, but it is rewarding to see the response when they challenge youth to make a difference.

“This is the gospel in action. There are several aspects of the gospel here: caring, generosity, kindness, and love for others. People are sacrificing to give. The Gospel is not just on paper. This event is a way to put feet to it.”