You are not alone. Come share the journey.

Social Agencies

Something we value greatly at Parkminster is Outreach — whether that means we are helping our global neighbours or those within our community. We are proud to partner with these agencies that provide critical support services to individuals and families in need. Here are just a few ways we are involved:

Mary’s Place – https://www.ywcakw.on.ca/

At Christmas, Parkminster invites the congregation to purchase tickets for “The Dinner to Which You are Not Invited”.  This is an annual dinner provided to Mary’s Place residents. The proceeds from ticket sales are used to provide a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings (and yummy Parkminster desserts)!

Donations of gently used linens and toiletries are also accepted on a regular basis. If you have items you’d like to contribute for Mary’s Place residents, please bring the items to the church during office hours.

Omas Siskona (Grandmothers Together) – https://www.omas-siskonakw.org/

In late fall we host the Omas’ annual “Scrabble & More” event. Omas Siskona is affiliated with the Stephen Lewis Foundation as part of the ongoing effort to support the grandmothers of Sub-Saharan Africa who are raising their orphaned grandchildren as a result of the HIV Aids pandemic. 

ACCKWA – AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area  http://www.acckwa.com/

Once a month our friends of ACCKWA hold a cooking circle. Together they prepare and share a meal.

oneROOF-  http://www.oneroof.org/

At Christmas the congregation is invited to participate in “White Gift Sunday”. Donations of assorted new items (socks, mitts/gloves, hats, towels, personal hygiene products & more…) are wrapped in white paper, blessed & dedicated. Items are then donated to our friends at “oneRoof” to support homeless and at-risk youth in our community. 

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region – https://www.thefoodbank.ca/

Every fall Parkminster joins forces with the community to provide financial donations and non-perishable food to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Food donations are scarce during the summer, yet hungry neighbours need food as much as ever. Our gifts will provide more fresh and frozen food to over 100 local food agencies and programmes. Together we feed more than 32,000 people each year. Financial donations allow the Food Bank the flexibility to purchase the food most urgently needed. 

Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region – https://www.habitatwr.ca/

Many dedicated volunteers from Parkminster participate in the builds and coordinating, making & delivering lunches for the work crews. Everyone deserves a place to call home and we’re all for building community and supporting the good works of the Habitat organization.

House of Friendship – https://www.houseoffriendship.org/

Important Information About the Potato Blitz: To best serve families needing food support in our community, a more even supply of fresh food is needed throughout the year. So the time has come for Spuddy to hang up his hat! As of February 2022, the February Potato Blitz will come to an end. As we adjust our food programs to respond to the increasingly diverse needs of our community, we will continue to provide food support all year long.

We continue to encourage people to donate to the House of Friendship.

A Better Tent City

A dedicated Parkminster group provides desserts, fruit and granola bars and juice boxes to ABTC every second week. Volunteers are always welcome. Contact admin@parkuc.ca to join this awesome group

 

Wayside Café (Emmanuel United) – https://www.emmanueluc.ca/waterloo-wayside/

Wayside Café is an organization that supports and builds community where it has the most impact: among the marginalized, seniors and youth. Sometimes all it takes to brighten someone’s day is having someone who will listen. Parkminster volunteers do just that – it’s as simple as offering their time to visit with individuals or just lending a hand to help. The littlest things can make a big difference!
Wayside offers a variety of free programs to help the bodies, hearts, and minds of those that need it the most:
• BRIDGEPORT CAFÉ – Tuesday to Friday, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
• SHAREWEAR – Tuesday to Friday, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
• FOOD BAG PROGRAM – Thursdays, 1:00pm to 3:00pm

If you would like to volunteer, please call Emmanuel UC at 519-886-1471 or
send an email to: info@waterloowayside.org

Here are a few more organizations we support through our Outreach program:

United Church Mission & Service Fund – https://www.united-church.ca/tags/mission-and-service