Under the umbrella program of Grace Community Connections, the Outreach Committee seeks opportunities for Grace United Church to offer help in the community, wherever and whenever it is needed.

To learn more about the work of the Outreach Committee look for someone wearing this button on Sunday morning

Building Community

 

North BurLINKton Community Group

North BurLINKton Community Group is a grassroots collection of community members and organizations working together to connect community and build strong and healthy neighbourhoods.  North BurLINKton Community Group activities can be found on Facebook on the North BurLINKton page.  Programs and events take place in a variety of community spaces.

 

Focus on Families

Community Families

Grace supports many families in our area who need a friendly ear to listen, food help, housing/kitchen/furniture supplies, or who have child/parenting issues, school issues, security and safety, legal issues, income tax etc.  In many cases we help directly and in others we make connections with community resources that are in a better position to assist.  The community is always welcome to join in Grace congregational activities and/or worship. 

North Burlington Dinner Night Out Community Dinners (DNO)

A number of churches and community members prepare a delicious dinner twice a month in partnership with Food for Life and Partnership West who have been amazing at supplying food for the dinners. Thanks to the Grace volunteers who work at the dinners. These dinners are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Glad Tidings Church on Guelph Line. All volunteers must have a current police check (vulnerable sector).

 

 

Christmas – Grace Elf Network (GEN)

Each year at Christmas, Grace supports a number of families from our community who need some help.  For 2023 will provided gift cards for food and gifts.   As well, our Food for Life families are able to “go shopping” at Grace to choose toys and other gifts for their families. In addition to the Grace United Church congregation, Food for Life and Halton Regional Police support this program.

 

 

Little Free Library 

In front of the main entry to Grace, you can find a Little Free Library filled with books for adults and children. If you need a book, you are welcome to browse and take one to enjoy.  If you have a book to share with others, we invite you to leave a book.

Focus on Youth

Youth Kits

During the summer, the Grace Outreach Committee assembled craft kits from donations and purchases as well as outdoor summer activity kits.  They were distributed to children in the community to support their creativity and outdoor play.

Backpack Program

Grace has distributed backpacks to families in North Burlington who need help providing the necessary school supplies for their children.

We distributed 120 backpacks and school supplies in 2023.

This is a great way for Grace United Church to support and connect with more families in our community.

 

 

Focus on Seniors

Cooking@Grace

Grace Moves

 

Food Security

Grace Food Cupboard

Donations can be left in the front lobby of the church.   Some suggestions are: peanut butter, canned tuna, pasta, sauce, soup, cereal and crackers.  Personal care items such as shampoo, soap or other household items like laundry detergent, dish soap, Kleenex etc. are always needed.

Your generous support will make a positive difference in so many lives! Thank you.

Food for Life

Wesley (Hamilton)

Wesley Urban Ministries is a long-standing local non-profit, offering support for people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and barriers in the community providing programs and services to meet diverse community needs in Hamilton, Halton and Brantford – Brant.

For thousands of years, First Nations people have walked on this land; their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives and spirituality. We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-naah-bay) First Nations – part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit – and acknowledge their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.  May we strive to be the stewards whom God calls us to be and whom Mother Earth needs us to be.

 

Farther Afield

Eye Glass Collection

We collect prescription eye glasses and give them to Smith’s Funeral Home on Guelph Line.  To date, hundreds of pairs have been donated to mission groups to support various communities globally.

Milk Bags for Haiti (Grace is no longer collecting these)

We collect clean, dry outer milk bags for a local at-risk youth program. They cut the bags into strips and weave them into sleeping mats. The mats go to Haiti, to provide a dry surface for children who would otherwise be sleeping on bare ground.

 

Other programs

Additionally within Grace, other groups plan and organize other community Outreach projects.

• The UCW supports the following groups throughout the year: Halton Women’s Place, Wesley, SOCKS, Food4Kids, Carpenter Hospice and the United Church Mission & Service Fund.
• Tansley Park Community Homes (TPCH) consists of fourteen non-profit townhouses located next to the church at 4090 Millcroft Park Drive. The townhouses are predominately rent-geared-to-income units, and play a part in the community outreach program of Grace and the Horseshoe Falls Regional Council of the United Church of Canada. TPCH operates in partnership with Community Housing and Services of the Region of Halton who provide the rent subsidies for our rent-geared-to-income structure. While not a requirement, the Board of Directors and officers of TPCH are members of the Grace congregation.
• United Church of Canada
  In addition, we will support appeals by the United Church of Canada.

https://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/get-involved/giving-opportunities

https://www.united-church.ca/news/church-launches-global-response-covid-19

Want to Help?

We are always looking for ways that Grace can support those in our community who need a helping hand – where best we can put our resources in Burlington. If you have any suggestions, please speak to one of the members of the committee

• Pray for these projects, for the people who serve on them, and for those they serve.
• Volunteer your time.
• Donate items. From time to time, we will be asking for donations of food items for dinners, toys, clothing and other items as need arises.
• Make financial donations.
• Join the Outreach Committee. We could use your ideas and input. If you would like to work on Outreach projects, please contact us.

If you have any questions or want to help, please email the Outreach Committee at outreach@graceunitedchurchburlington.com.