St. John's Outreach
As a church we financially support Alongside Hope (formerly Primate's World Relief and Development Fund), a relief and development fund run by the national church. The money is used to further ongoing programs throughout the world, including some in indigenous communities in Canada. These projects include drilling wells, assisting small farmers with seed and livestock and providing start-up funding for cottage industries. When needed contributions are made for disaster and refugee relief. Our congregation contributes financially to the diocesan outreach organization FaithWorks which directs funding to programs that aid marginalized people.
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In the recent past we have sponsored two refugee families; one from Iraq living in a camp in Syria, and the second from Liberia living in a camp in the Ivory Coast.
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We also support local programs that minister to marginalized people in our community and in Peterborough (e.g., Millbrook Food Share, Street Hope, One City, One Roof Diner). This support is both financial and as volunteers.
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In addition, a couple in our congregation operate a ministry in Belize that assists families and communities by financing children’s education, food programs and local agricultural initiatives. We also save pop cans for “The Can Man” who sells them for their value as aluminum. The money is donated to Sleeping Children of the World to buy bed kits.
What can I do to help?
Emergency Appeal
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​In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes to ever strike Jamaica, the scale of devastation is staggering, with homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods destroyed, and half of Jamaica’s houses of worship damaged or destroyed.
The FaithWorks Allocation Committee has approved a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge of up to $50,000, to raise at least $100,000 for relief and reconstruction. Every gift will be matched, doubling its impact, until the challenge is met.
This is a short, focused campaign, ending on April 17th.
FaithWorks invites parishes and individuals to respond promptly and generously. Donations can be made through St. John’s by marking your giving envelope “Hurricane Melissa” and placing it in the offering plate, or online at FaithWorks.ca and designated to the Bishop’s Appeal for Jamaican Relief and Reconstruction. All funds will be forwarded to Alongside Hope for distribution through its established partners in Jamaica.
We ask that you please remember those in our neighbourhood having difficulties keeping food on the table by donating food items. Place any donations in the giant basket by the coatracks in the parish hall entrance. Donations support Millbrook Foodshare and the Omemee Food Bank.
