Community Service

Last Updated 29-Nov-2002

Our congregation takes part in variety of community service projects. Maybe something interests you. If you'd like to get involved, just let us know.

Outreach

Mary Thicke is the current chairperson of the Outreach Committee. The committee would like to have a few more members, if you are interested please see Mary.

Our special causes for this year are:

Literacy - Grace Saabas

The ability to read, write and do numeracy is necessary for everyone in our society. It is also important to be part of a church group. There are literacy programs throughout Montreal, but I am associated with RECLAIM. We have over 200 volunteers that reach out to the communities of Lachine and Dollard des Ormeaux. Our students come from the same area.

Literacy is done by volunteers. The Laubach program is sixty years old. It is based on one person teaching one person thus each one teach one!

Our program has branched out, and family literacy has become a big thrust. It is easy to understand that if parents don't read, it is difficult to help their children. Family Literacy is supported by the national Literacy Secratariat, Canada Post, ABC Canada and of course Laubach.

Many of us have been involved in Christian Education for the family. We all recognize that it is necessary for parents to set an example for their children in their Christian life. It wasn't too difficult for me to cross over from Christian education to family literacy. Parents have a heavy responsibility - they want the best for their children in their literate life, and they also want the best for their children in their Christian life.

Make sure you and your child can read. If you want to help another adult, or you need help yourself, can contact Laubah at (514) 248-2898, or Grace Saabas at Christ the Redeemer.

Food Banks - Mary Thicke, Pat Pachal

Have you ever visited a food bank? If you have, you will have seen the real face of hunger. I have been taking food and moneys to the NDG Food Depot for the last 10 years. The faces are changing and the numbers have increased by a shocking amount. The age group that is most represented is 35 - 45 years, and with this group 29% are children under 14 years. In 1986 the NDG Food Depot had a clientele of 2,000 and in 1995 there were 22,000 people receiving food. The food bags are specialized for certain family groups, the contents are prepared by a dietician and contain a 3 day supply of food. The NDG Food Depot also has a large number of social services available. The Roxboro Food Bank has similar food services available.

The need is greater than ever for both non-perishable goods and money. The money enables the food bancks to buy fresh produce. There is a table at the rear of the church sanctuary for gifts of food, and monies may be placed on the offering plate designated for either the Roxboro Food Bank or the NDG Food Bank.