Social Outreach
First United
First United is situated ay 320 East Hastings, Vancouver B. C. It has been serving the downtown eastside for over 100 years. The mission to-day is a place for the addict, the mentally and socially challenged and the homeless. At the Mission they receive physical, emotional and social support. This includes sleeping in the pews during the day, having a shower, receiving free clean clothes and food. The staff is assisted by volunteers from the Churches and community in the Lower Mainland.
We at North Lonsdale United help in the following ways:
- We supply canned and dry food. There is a bulletin board in the front Narthex which lists the food they would appreciate as a donation. If it is inconvenient to bring food. There is a glass jar on the table with the name First United .This is for donations of money which is spent on cases of food. Any amount will be gratefully received.
- Sandwich making takes place once a month. Our Congregation makes 20 loaves filled with protein. This usually takes place on the 3rd. Tuesday of every month. We start at 9am.and complete the job by 10:30. This is a great way to start the day. If you are interested please contact Frances McKilligan at 604-980-2151 or Kay Furniss at 604- 929-4585.
- Once a month we travel to First United to help serve a meal to approximately 150 needy people. This is a great experience to see and feel what goes on at the Mission. You may volunteer once or whatever suits your schedule. Please call Don Mossop at 604-987-8671.
- We collect used supplies for men and women. This would include clothing, towels, bedding, socks, underwear, razors, sweaters, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, jeans, jackets, coats, gloves, warm hats, running shoes, boots, work clothes. Any item in good condition is appreciated. There is also a need for shaving cream, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, band-aids, small laundry detergent. Please deposit these items in the downstairs top cupboard next to the stairs. Other items are welcome such as books and magazines.
- The Mission is always in need of money. A tax receipt will be issued for donations of $10 or more. Please make cheque payable to United Church Mission and mail to 320 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, B. C. V6A 1P4. or hand them to Frances McKilligan.
Visit on line www.firstunited.ca
Harvest Project
The Harvest Project continues to be the only not-for-profit organisation on the North Shore which chooses to focus on preventing homelessness before it starts. The slogan of the ministry ” To extend ” a hand up – not a hand out ” is applied to anyone who while they may be struggling may be willing to make changes in their lives in order to change their despair into hope.
More than 200 volunteers and a small paid staff offer this ‘hand up’ by sorting groceries, providing wardrobe advice, making deliveries and providing counselling to clients five days a week.
North Lonsdale United Church was able to donate a total of $1,352.00 towards this ministry in this past year. We are hoping to become even more involved with Harvest in this next year. There are specific ways I which we can do so, both as individuals as well as a congregation.
If you are wanting to be a part of this special work – please let us know.
Amnesty International
Five Sundays during the year we presented to the congregation four letters based on cases outlined in the Activist the bi-monthly A.I. bulletin. These cases involved prisoners of conscience, disappearances, persecution of human rights activists, and a variety of other human rights abuses.
These letters were immediately sent on to the heads of governments involved, each with 50 &ampndash 60 signatures.
Particularly rewarding was that several times during the year we were able to report that one of the prisoners we had written about had been released &ampndash a small indication that our letters are useful.
Most exciting was the annual Amnesty Greeting Card Campaign – early in December we presented the names of four prisoners to whom we could send our own cards directly to them in the prisons where they were being held. Almost 40 individuals and families responded.
With thanks for your continued support.
Elizabeth Frith
Ian McGinnis
Meals on Wheels
North Lonsdale United Church has had an association with North Shore Meals on Wheels since 1969. Our involvement includes providing kitchen and storage space and volunteers along with volunteers from the larger community. Meals, which are delivered from a caterer in bulk, are packaged by a kitchen crew before being sent out with the drivers to the clients. Volunteers from N.L.U.C staff the Wednesday kitchen. We know that we do valuable service for the recipients who have difficulty making hot meals for themselves.
Enquiries n how to receive meals should be made to the Meals on Wheels office: 604 922-3414. Volunteer drivers are always needed. If you can spare time once a week on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 11.15am and 1pm the co-ordinator would be pleased to hear from you at 604 922-3414.
