Partners In Ministry

Here is a brief summary of how the congregation’s Community Support Fund is distributed to Partners In Ministry. We select Partners in four ways:

• recent research indicating urgent needs in Toronto poverty zones
• new appeals received at the Church
• agencies where members are active
• previously supported agencies

In 2006 we reviewed a United Way of Greater Toronto study called “Poverty by Postal Code” (2004). 
Nine areas of high poverty are identified outside of downtown:

• Crescent Town and Victoria Village in East York; 
• Black Creek and Westminster-Branson in North York;
• Steeles, Eglinton East, Kennedy Park, Dorset Park and Scarborough Village.

Roughly one-third of our Community Support funds go to 11 organizations which United Way staff helped us select in these high poverty areas.  

The areas of focus for our funding are needy: children 0-6 years, youth 13 to 21 years, families, survivors of domestic violence, seniors and immigrants.

In 2008 the Community Support fund sent $42,000 to 25 partners. Click here for a total list of partners supported last year. Copies of newsletters and annual reports of partner agencies can be found on tables at the back of the Sanctuary.

We also routinely support a food bank with non-perishable food items left at the back of the Sanctuary. Our Christmas program provides gifts for children in the Boundless Adventures program as well as cash to support their summer camping program.

It should be noted that 100% of the Community Support funds are disbursed without overhead, and without junk mail and annoying calls on your telephone. So we hope you will see the wisdom of routinely supporting this program. You can do it through PAR donations, to help us plan our financial support.

If you would like to support our program please contribute to the “Community Support Fund,” or volunteer your time by contacting Rob Metcalf.