Front Room Outreach Ministry
The Mission Statement for the Front Room Community Outreach Ministry is taken from St. Mathew, Chapter 25 Verses 35 to 40 and is as follows:
I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me water
I was a stranger and you took me in;
Naked and you clothed me; ill and you comforted me;
In prison and you visited me.
And the King said, “what you do to the least of these my people, you do unto me”.
Background
The Front Room Community Outreach Ministry was founded over fifteen years ago by the late Pat Louis, and takes its name from a homeless shelter in Whalley called the Front Room. It has grown, from teams making sandwiches in the Church kitchen and serving them at the Front Room, to now where there are twelve outreach programs. It has become St. Mark’s principal outreach charity.
In total, 12 programs were administered in 2007 and 2008. Four were focused on the Front Room Homeless Shelter in Whalley and eight were focused on South Fraser Women’s Services Society (SFWSS), also known as Women’s Place, in South Surrey.
It should be noted that the Front Room Outreach Ministry operates on a receipts-based reimbursement-for-expenditures basis. Unless receipts proving purchase are provided, reimbursement is not made.
How You Can Help
The Front Room Outreach Ministry exists due to the generous spirit of the parishioners of St. Mark’s. We hope that you will get involved in whatever capacity suits you best.
Donate food:
Donate money:
Donate time:
For more information:
Summary of activities in 2008
At the Front Room location
- $200 per month for Milk for ‘Positive Haven’ – (HIV/AIDS) High Protein Food Bank. We also fund the purchase of high protein foods as this food bank is very low on food.
- Instant Foods such as noodles in a bowl, instant soups and power bars to the Outreach Worker for people living on the street and who usually haven’t eaten for two days.
- Bus Tickets provided when requested.
- One Saturday each month, a dinner for approximately 100 people is served at the Front Room. The dinner is prepared by Peggy Spriggs, a parishioner at St. Mark’s, and funding is supplied by the Front Room Community Outreach Ministry. Annual funding is roughly $1000 per year.
- Provide emergency support to anyone in need of assistance.
Provided to the South Fraser Women’s Society
- Lunch Basket provides 3526 lunches and snacks to families in need. ($3500 per year)
- 442 dozen cookies are baked in each year by the parish for children’s lunches and snacks. (donation)
- 1,100 lunches are provided for Single mothers who attend a weekly support group. $40 per week.
- One growing season worth of organic vegetables provided to Women’s place (purchase of a share at AROCHA). $500 per year.
- Christmas Hampers provided to six families each year. Gifts provided by various Bible Study Groups. With food supplied by the Front Room Ministry. Approximately $300.
- Special Food Hampers are made up for Statutory Holidays, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. for six families. Approximately $2,700 annually.
