Thank-you for the tremendous response to the Wildfire Relief and Assistance to Evacuees. The donations filled the trailer to the very brim with clothing and footwear for men, women, youth, kids and babies, toiletries, diapers, kleenex, pet food and a stroller. As Marlene, Patti’s sister, noted in her thank-you letter, by the time they arrived home to Thunder Bay, the places accepting donations for evacuees had received more than enough and people were actually starting to return home thankfully.
Our donations instead went to the Gathering Table, an Anglican faith community in the city that has a particular focus on serving those in need, many of whom are indigenous. Twice a month they open their “Food Pantry” to anyone in need. The Pantry is helping approximately 150 people each time. The tremendous need is evident by that fact that people start lining up at 8 am for the 11:30 opening. Our donations perfectly matched what they needed to help those and arrived at the perfect time when needed for the next Food Pantry day. While we may have responded because of the emergency of the wildfires, God used our donations to meet the ongoing needs of that community. You can learn more about the Gathering Table on their website.
This Month: We have been alerted to a desperate need in our own community. The Helping Hands Food Bank has put out an urgent appeal for food to fill the shelves. They have posted pictures of empty shelves. We announced that appeal last week through our email and at the Sunday Service. We made one delivery this past week of food that has been collected. Given the urgent nature of this appeal, we are encouraging you to bring your food items before September 13 for delivery the following week. Most needed items: pasta, pasta sauce and pasta mixes, canned meat, vegetables and fruit, cereal and instant oatmeal. Financial Donations can also be made through the church or directly to the Food Bank through their website.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of FaithWorks. FaithWorks is like the United Way of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, providing funding for ministry partner organizations serving the needs of people across the diocese primarily who are Indigenous, homeless, hungry, at-risk women, children or youth, immigrants or refugees, or struggling with HIV/AIDS. FaithWorks helps feed, shelter, nurture and befriend almost 49,000 people throughout our communities and around the world every year. You can find the list of ministry partners under “how my gift will be used” on the FaithWorks website. Over the years partners have changed. Currently the local ministry partner in our area, is St. James Orillia Break and Lunch Program.
Over 60% of the funds distributed by FaithWorks comes directly from Anglicans across the diocese, often directly from the parishes who then send it to FaithWorks on our behalf. Every parish is encouraged to collect approximately 5% of its total offertory. Each parish retains 15% of the amount it raises through its FaithWorks donations to support its own outreach ministries. In recent years we have directed that to the Food Bank as a helping agency that is in greatest need in our community. You can donate using the blue envelopes in our envelope box if you have them, by making a monthly designation if use Pre-Authorized Givings, or by marking your donation “FaithWorks.” You can also donate directly to FaithWorks on their website listing Trinity as your parish so that we receive our 15%.
One of the strengths of Trinity is our commitment to helping others whether that is through various organizations, or by pitching in where we see or hear a need. As Jesus says in Matthew, “what you do for the least of these, you do for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Let us never tire of seeking and serving Christ in all persons.
Rev. Dana on behalf of Outreach
