Little Food Pantries.
Little Food Pantries open around the city to address food insecurity. Barrie Food Bank has developed procedures for appropriate content and safe storage of food in outside locations. A group of outreach-minded churches are working together to alleviate hunger in Barrie. In collaboration with the Barrie Food Bank, these churches are launching Little Food Pantries. These pantries are located outside in the community, available to anyone who needs food and anyone who wishes to donate non-perishable food items. Four pilot sites launched Monday, July 26: Collier Street United Church (Collier and Poyntz), Grace United Church (Grove and Cook), Trinity Anglican Church (Collier and Owen), and Burton Avenue United Church (Burton and William).
This project has been generously supported by two local businesses: Elmvale Home Building Centre and Molded Precision Components of Oro-Medonte. The Little Food Pantries are small wooden structures with a Plexiglass door, mounted on a post to bring the contents off the ground and easy to see. The pantries are not locked but secured with a latch to prevent access by squirrels and other animals. Based on a similar initiative in Toronto, the message to the community is “Take what you need. Give what you can.” The Barrie Food Bank has developed procedures for appropriate content and safe storage of food in outside locations. During the pilot period of 8 weeks, volunteers of the Food Bank will monitor and replenish the Pantries, after which the churches and the community are invited to assist in the provision of food.
The pilot project launched with a celebration on Monday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Grace United Church, 350 Grove St. E., in Barrie. The consortium of churches is planning for as many as 20 Little Food Pantries, to be located across the whole of the Barrie area. If you are interested in this project, and/or would like to host a pantry on your private property, please leave a message for Joan Hill at the office of Trinity Anglican Church, 705 728-2691.
2. ACW will be holding a meeting on Tuesday September 13th at 10 a.m. at Mae’s home to plan our what they will be doing for the next 12 months. ALL women are invited to attend. The meeting will be held outdoors unless it’s bad weather. Please bring a bagged lunch in case the meeting runs through lunch time. Please let Mae know if you plan to attend so that she can make sure there is seating for all.
It might be good to note that if possible people call ahead prior to dropping anything off at the church to ensure that someone will be here.
3. David Busby Street Centre
Trinity worshipers have had a deep personal and supportive interest in the David Busby Street Centre. The creation was a result of Mandy Hillyard, a parishioner of Trinity, noticing the number of transients who come to Trinity for assistance. The centre opened in 1992 with the blessing of the Incumbent, the Rev. Canon David Busby and the wardens. The drop-n centre was known to be a safe place for people to sit, chat, relax, read or have a cup of coffee. In 1994, recently retired Canon Busby, who was known for his heart for the poor and disadvantaged, gave permission for his name to be used when the centre became incorporated. Tragically, Canon David died in an air crash on Nov. 21st 1994. In late 1995, the Centre was officially incorporated and till this day there are representatives of Trinity’s Outreach Committee on the Board of the Street Centre. For more information on the David Busby Centre please go to www.busbycentre.ca or call (705)739-6916.
Retirement Home Ministry
Trinity Clergy and Lay people visit their parishioners in Barrie Retirement and Long Term Senior’s Residences. A number of these Homes have a Service of Holy Communion and Worship Services.
Faith Works
Faith Works raises funds for the most vulnerable members of our community. These include families in need, youth at risk, people living HIV/AIDS and terminal illnesses, the homeless, prisoners and those with special needs. Donations can be made through our church or online at www.faithworks.ca or by calling (800) 668-8932 ext. 244.
Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund
The PWRDF was founded as a “not for profit” organization begun by the Anglican Church in response to the Springhill mining disaster in 1958. Today it is a fully incorporated Christian Organization, working with partners engaging in development work in Canada and abroad, responding to emergencies, working to protect refugees, educating and advocating for change. For more www.pwrdf.org