Matt Campbell
The Cloverdale Community Kitchen began in 2011 when the City of Surrey and the RCMP approached Pacific Community Church and asked if they would provide meals for the homeless as another organization had closed their kitchen. The first meals were served from a small kitchen and everyone quickly realized a full-size commercial kitchen was needed. Through community support and a grant from the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, a full-size commercial kitchen was completed in 2013. In both 2017 and 2019, the Cloverdale Community Kitchen won the Not-For-Profit of the Year from the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. Currently we serve 15,000 hot, nutritious meals through our dinner program. We helped over 800 people with food and toys through the Christmas Hamper Program. We also opened our doors for an emergency weather shelter, provided clothes to those in need through our clothing cupboard and supported people finding housing and those getting back into the workforce. Ultimately, our vision is to help Cloverdale/Surrey/Langley be a healthy and caring community for everyone. http://mycck.ca/

Brantford Blessing Centre
For more than 30 years, The Brantford Blessing Centre has provided an active community outreach and interdenominational ministry of providing food and basic necessities to Brantford residents in need of help. We truly believe "Hope Starts with A Hot Meal," and, in a welcoming and safe place for each and every person who walks through our doors, we will continue to provide any hope we can to those in our community who need a helping hand. The Brantford Blessing Centre was founded and established in 1982 as an effective, longstanding, and necessary program in our community under the umbrella of Operation Blessing – an outreach program that provided aid to the poor and marginalized in various cities, including in Brantford. With the tireless support of countless volunteer hours provided by members of more than a dozen local congregations, the Blessing Centre has become a well-known and safe place in Brantford for anyone to enjoy a hot meal, warmth and fellowship. Six days each week, groups of dedicated volunteers prepare, cook and serve food to those in need of meals living in our city. When anyone walks into the Blessing Centre, they are greeted with friendly warmth, a hot meal and the love of Christ. We believe that Christ called on his followers to provide help to those in need. Anyone is welcome at the Blessing Centre. That is how Christ served the underprivileged, and we seek to follow his example. That is how we serve our community. http://brantfordblessingcentre.org

Robin Wallar
LIFT Church is a movement of Simple Churches that gather at McMaster University, Brock University, Mohawk College, University of Guelph, York University and the University of Waterloo. Collections of Simple Churches make up regions that serve the campus in their primary neighborhood. On today's program we will hear from Lift Church Lead Pastor, Robin Waller, Ina Onat who serves as Simple Church Regional Director, and Jessica Haverkamp, a McMaster University Student. http://liftchurch.ca

Niagara's Mobile Closet
Niagara’s Mobile Closet is a non-profit organization started during the pandemic when 2 friends noticed the desperate need for clothing among the vulnerable in their city (St. Catharine’s, ON). Their clientele is largely the unsheltered homeless, and low income. Converting a little used food truck (due to lockdowns) into a mobile clothing depot, Founder, Pam Nicholson has seen the demand and donations of clothing items grow in the region, as they drive to various shelters, detention centers, and assisted living homes to offer clothing and other basic necessities. As of June, they’ve helped more than 750 people in the area. Leslie a volunteers says: “Nothing can fill your heart more with joy when you give somebody something that can’t give you anything back, except their love and kindness.” NMC has also grown in partnerships with other non-profits by pooling and sharing resources. Organizations like the Niagara Furniture Bank has shared their space with Niagara’s Mobile Closet to store clothing donations. Others, like No Bare Bums has received diapers and baby clothing items from NMC. Socks and Snacks have donated food and suntan lotion. Beyond the Streets in Welland have dropped off coats in the winter. Fur coats donated to NMC have been passed to a local lady who forwards them to Nunavut where they are made into hats and gloves for children. A man sends clothing that doesn’t get used to Ghana… and the list goes on. Niagara’s Mobile Closet will be needing a new truck soon as the shutdown lessens and Itty Bitty Pie Co. wants their truck back. Pray that donations for a replacement truck come in. https://niagarasmobilecloset.com/

Major Rene Loveless
In Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, The Salvation Army worked with the provincial government, and in partnership with Marine Atlantic, to provide meals to truck drivers who have been on the front lines, throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, transporting goods and materials to or from the ferry crossing. As food service establishments halted due to Covid-19, the truck drivers were eating very little as they made this lengthy trip to and from the island. Upon learning this, the Salvation Army stepped in for over 10 weeks, volunteers gathered to cook meals such as roast beef, turkey and ham dinners. Hot meals were prepared at a newly upgraded commercial kitchen in the Port aux Basques Salvation Army church building. From there they were transported to the visitors centre parking lot on the outskirts of town for distribution to the truck drivers. At the distribution site, our Emergency Disaster Services Mobile Unit , equipped with a microwave, was used to ensure the meals were warm when given to the truckers. The truck drivers have been overwhelmingly grateful for this gesture of kindness and care they received during a challenging time. http://SalvationArmy.ca