Giving Tuesday Donations Made a Difference

In November 2023, we launched our Giving Tuesday Food Security special appeal in response to the growing need for food security across the diocese. Almost 12 per cent of households in our diocese were worried that there wouldn’t be enough to eat.

The campaign was a success and raised $20,000! Grants were then awarded to 22 parishes in the diocese that are providing access to nutritious food for our neighbours in need.

Once again this Giving Tuesday, we are running this campaign as the need continues to rise.

Two of the parishes who received grants last year shared with us just how much of a difference your donations made.

Michele Altermann from All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church in Guelph shares how they put their grant to use:

Silvercreek Community Market is an Outreach Ministry of All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church in Guelph. We have been offering free fresh produce to our local community since 2017.  Last year we distributed food to 7,191 people and this year we are at 7,368 (2,948 of these are children) at the end of November 2024!  The need for food security is increasing.

The SCM is located in a community that scores very low in Public Health’s Social Determinants of Health.  Many local families experience food insecurity.  Our market guests are very diverse, many are newcomers, and we sometimes register people who just arrived that week!  We also support some Indigenous families with food hampers and drop food off at a Guelph Assisted Living building (mobility challenges) after each Market.

Families shop once a month (on the first or third Thursday) and we offer refreshments while they wait.  It is a choice-based market geared to family size rather than giving everyone a set hamper.  There is a lot of chatting and smiles as people wait their turn to shop!

The grant we received was used to purchase fresh produce only.  Shelf-stable items are all donated.  Thank you!

Adding her personal reflections to her message she says “Thank you again to the diocese for their support. If you saw how happy people are to be able to receive nutritious fresh produce you would know why we have no intention of stopping this program!  The issue of finances is always there, and we don't qualify for most government grants because we are a church.”

Elizabeth Wensley, deputy rector's warden at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton shared how your support met some of the needs of the Cathedral Café.

Since December 2023, Christ's Church Cathedral has been a partner - with St. Matthew's House (SMH) and the Diocese of Niagara - in a city-funded warming centre for people experiencing housing and food insecurity called "The Cathedral Café."  Through the café and many other initiatives, the Cathedral has become known as a congregation with a heart for people who don't have enough material resources to live with dignity. As a result, our clergy and staff often face requests for help from people who can't make it to the end of the month with enough money for groceries.

To address this issue, we used the Diocesan food security grant received in December 2023 to buy gift cards for the discount grocery store within walking distance of the church. We're fortunate that we can now refer people for two meals and longer-term help to skilled St. Matthew's House staff working in the Cathedral Cafe. Many emergency requests however come on Sunday mornings when the café isn't open. The gift cards are a way to bridge people for a day or so until St. Matthew’s House social service staff are available again.  

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Cathedral, Elizabeth says, “Last year's grant made it possible to help many more people than we could otherwise have assisted within the limitations of the parish's operating budget.” She continues “A sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of the donors to this initiative - we believe it's made a difference to people in crisis in Hamilton's downtown core who have no other resources.”

You can make a difference again this year for parishes like All Saints and Christ’s Church Cathedral.

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