SOCIAL JUSTICE

Please note that due to Covid -19 our food cupboard is now operating Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The Westminster United Church services over 120 local families on an ongoing basis.  There are three ways to help our food cupboard:

Bring in some food for our emergency food cupboard anytime throughout the year.

Shop specifically for the food cupboard and bring in your receipt. Tax donations are available for food purchases. Please bring your receipts into the office with your food donation and we will fill out the tax receipt request.

Financial donations are accepted, and we will do the shopping as supplies run low (we do this quite often). Please mark your donation “Food Cupboard”.

Additional Emergency Food Banks in Orangeville

Orangeville Food Bank - hours for donations and client shopping on their website

St. Marks Anglican Church - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

New Hope Community Church Salvation Army - Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The clothing depot at Westminster has been in operation for over 50 years!

We collect clean and usable clothing for all ages and sizes by donations. More than just clothes, we also take shoes, winter boots, belts, purses, sheets and blankets (no pillows), and table cloths. Those who wish to donate can deliver through the chute at the west side of the church. 

The clothing depot team is committed to ensuring all pieces are checked for functioning zips, no missing buttons, no rips, etc. 

Sales are held on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. In lieu of Christmas, this year sales will be held on the second and third Saturday.

Westminster United Church is home to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) self-help groups. If you or a loved one would benefit from either of these groups we encourage you to inquire. For more information, please contact the groups directly. Information for individual groups can be found online.

Mondays

AA: 12:00-1 p.m, AA: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Tuesdays

AA: 12:00-1:00 p.m., AA: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Wednesdays

AA: 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Thursdays

AA: 12:00-1:00 p.m., AA: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Fridays

AA: 12:00-1:00 p.m., NA: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

 Saturday

AA: 10:00-11:00 a.m.

 Sunday

NA: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

The "Purse Project" was originally created by two Ottawa Women, who after hearing of the struggles of homeless women accessing personal care items, decided to do something about it. As one of the organizers noted, "women often arrive at a shelter with nothing but the clothes on their backs." So they came up with the idea of filling a gently used purse with personal care/hygiene projects and making them available to women in need.

News of this project spread and the Purse Project was adopted by the UCW of Westminster in September 2016 and since then, over 700 purses have been delivered. We have partnered with the Caledon Dufferin Victim Services, St. Mark's Anglican Church, Choices Youth Centre, St. Vincent DePaul, East Wellington Community Services, Shelburne Food Bank, and during the Pandemic, the Orangeville Food Bank.

Donations of gently used purses and travel-size personal care items are appreciated and may be dropped off at Westminster. Cash donations, which are tax-deductible, are also appreciated.

Items placed in each purse: toothbrush & paste, shampoo/creme rinse, feminine hygiene projects, deodorant, body soap, body lotion, razor, comb or small hairbrush, and Kleenex. Winter items include: socks, mitts, and hats.

For more information please contact Lynne through the church office or at lynne1402smith@gmail.com.

The current Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship Group (HRSG) was formed in January 2015 after the Westminster United community was approached by AURA (Anglican United Refugee Assistance) to sponsor a Syrian family. Westminster had partnered with AURA to successfully sponsor an Iraqi family in 2010. HRSG was formed under the auspices of the Outreach for Social Justice Action Group at Westminster.

In recent years HRSG has worked with a different Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH), World Renew on four sponsorships: Compiling the IRCC (Immigration Refugee Citizen Canada) application; raising sufficient funds to cover the newcomers’ expenses for 12 months; and providing material and emotional support as needed. We have welcomed and are supporting a recently arrived young Afghani man and are soon expecting the arrival of a Syrian family of four.

In the new year, we hope to welcome a young Eritrean widow and her son as well as another Syrian family of three. Members of the Westminster community can support our work with donations, supporting the Samosa sale fundraisers, contributing items as required, driving new comers to English classes, visiting them or inviting them into your homes.

Through the Milk Program, you are able to give a baby the gift of a meal. Your financial donations are appreciated in helping us to continuously provide for families in need. Financial contributions assist families with milk for children and/or formula for infants.

This is an ongoing program and financial donations are greatly appreciated throughout the year. Please mark your donation “Milk Program”.