Outreach
Social Justice

Mission and Service Fund: Every year, besides raising money for its own budget needs, St. Paul’s raises between $27,000 – $28,000 for the United Church Mission and Service Fund, which assists in ministry both here in Canada and around the world. This fund for example enables Christian Island to have a United Church minister and helps pay for the costs of the United Church there. It helps with special projects that assist the most vulnerable people in society,
both here and around the world. It also helps with special projects for congregations that enables them to carry out their ministry. The United Church Women (U.C.W.) give a substantial gift each year toward this fund. (see U.C.C. website at https://united-church.ca/) 

Pastoral Care Volunteers: St. Paul’s has a team of committed volunteers who visit and/or call those who find it difficult to get out and feel isolated from their church and community.

Supporting Families in Grief: Karen works closely with grieving families and the U.C.W. offer support in providing funeral/memorial service luncheons when requested. Many different volunteers are part of this important work.

Grief Groups: St. Paul’s has both a Women’s and a Men’s Grief Group. Click HERE for more information.

Connections: Connecting Together- Come join us and make connections with others as we take time for conversation, storytelling, tea/treats, fun and fellowship. Our Connections Team starts up again this week and will continue every Thursday until December 14th. Everyone is welcome to join us in the Atrium at St. Paul’s from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Pop in, have a seat and touch base with others and sometimes assist the office staff when anyone came in because they forgot the office was closed. 

The Benevolent Fund: This fund helps those who are in need. We have helped people with food vouchers, food, assistance paying first and last month’s rent so that they don’t become homeless, help with the cost of electricity if people get behind in their bills, clothing, shelter, a child’s program that assists with building self-esteem, counselling and transportation. Our Christmas Eve offering and some other donations help with this fund. The fund is confidential and our Minister is responsible for its administration.

Newcomer/Refugees: St. Paul’s has a long history of working with refugees. This started years ago with the sponsoring of some Vietnam refugees. We then sponsored Karen refugees who fled what was at the time Burma. We sponsored a United Nations Urgent Action family from Africa, assisted St. Mark’s Anglican Lutheran Church with the sponsorship of a family of eight from Syria, sponsored another family of six from Afghanistan and are now working on assisting St. Mark’s Anglican Lutheran Church with another refugee from Syria.

Feeding the hungry: Monday Morning Drop-In: For over 26 years and until the pandemic, St. Paul’s was running this program. People who were hungry, homeless or just lonely were always welcome to join us for breakfast and some fellowship time every Monday morning. We served anywhere from 30- 60 people. This program ended with the pandemic. The Guest House provides breakfast for its clients so there is no longer a need.

Meals on Wheels: The U.C.W. have been doing this every year since 1973 – a total of 50 years! They deliver meals every Tuesday.

Gift of Grace Kitchen: The U.C.W. provide the meals for this, (ten to twelve loaves of sandwiches},  every Tuesday in August.

 Foodgrains Bank: Every fall, St. Paul’s has a special appeal for this Canadian charity, which provides food and agricultural support to nations around the world that struggle with feeding their own people.

Guest House: St. Paul’s is an active ally of this shelter for the homeless. Pre-pandemic, there was a small team of St. Paul’s volunteers who provided meals to them once a month. Post pandemic we plan to start providing a meal the 2^nd Wednesday of the month starting on 10^th January 2024. We are a sponsor of their fundraising campaign (Coldest Night of the Year) and provide volunteers who walk on our behalf, some assist with registrations while other assist with the meal that is provided for all involved in our Great Hall. St. Paul’s also makes donations to the Guest House as part of our outreach.  

15 Local Community Groups: These groups use our space here at the church. We believe that we are in partnership with our community. We have been the sponsor for the Scouts over 60 years now.

Free hot chocolate at the Santa Claus Parade: We do this to keep people warm. We also open our doors so that our washrooms are available to the public. It is also a place, especially for families with young children, to keep warm while they wait for the parade to begin. Post pandemic we ar working on providing a monthly meal