Thank you to everyone who has donated food or money toward our “fill the gap” summer snacks for the Bradford Helping Hands Food Bank. While children enjoy their summer break, hunger does not take a holiday. While our official campaign was for May and June, donations can continue to be dropped off in the bin by the south doors or financial donations can be made through the church or directly to the food bank through this link “Ways to donate”.

              At our spring Outreach meeting one of the ideas that was presented was highlighting volunteer opportunities at agencies and charities that some of our people are involved with that we might not be as familiar with. We know that people are involved in our community in various ways, so this would give us an opportunity to hear about at least a few.  

              This summer we are planning to highlight at least two such organizations. The first of these is on July 12 and is an organization that is close to my heart. It is the “Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity,” an organization that Stewart introduced me to and which we have been involved with for over 15 years. Their focus is families caring for children facing a life-altering illness or traumatic injury that requires extensive medical intervention, with a particular focus on families with modest incomes and no cash reserves. They help to bridge the financial gap, giving parents the breathing room necessary to focus on their child. When it comes to volunteering, our involvement has been mostly with the annual family country BBQ. It is a day of food, games and play, singing, and so much more. On Sunday July 12 Bryn Evans, director of family support services, will speak briefly at the beginning of the service about the charity and especially the annual BBQ. You can learn more about the charity on their website Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity or talk Stewart, who gets passionate about it.

              Our second speaker, from CHATS in Bradford, will be with us on Sunday August 30, with a focus on how we might volunteer to help seniors in our community. We would love to hear about other charities or volunteer opportunities. If you have a charity, non-profit or helping agency that you volunteer with, I’d love to hear about it and especially if you are willing to either share about it in church or to arrange a speaker for the beginning of a service. We would love to highlight other opportunities to serve. Serving our community is an important part of who we are and what we are called to as followers of Jesus.

Rev. Dana on behalf of Outreach