Reaching Out

Since its beginning, Port Nelson has been reaching out, giving resources, time, money, and skills to support those in need.

We can provide home cooked meals to people experiencing difficult times in their family. The meals can take into account any dietary concerns the family may have.

Food Vouchers are available to those who periodically require short-term assistance with purchasing items that may not be available at the Food Bank.

There are always families in our community who are in need of extra assistance at Christmas time.  Likewise, there are always people in the church family who want to help out.  We can match the needs with the gifts!

This Fund was established by the Pilkey family to honour the memory of Gordon Pilkey.  The interest from the fund is available for new outreach initiatives in our community.  The Reaching Out Ministry manages the disbursements.  Do you have a proposal or a suggestion for the use of this fund?

Port Nelson has had a Refugee Sponsorship Group since 1996, when there was concern for the refugees of the war in the former Yugoslavia.  The group was reinvigorated in 2015 in light of the Syrian Refugee crisis.  The group is currently continuing support of a Syrian family.

Seeds of Life is a local growing project of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank – “A Christian response to hunger.”  This 72-acre farm at Alberton, Ontario, is a community project supported by a number of churches and individuals, including Port Nelson.  You can sponsor all or part of the input costs of an acre of corn, soybeans or winter wheat (depending on the year) and, when harvested, the proceeds from the crop are matched with funds from the Government of Canada for world food assistance.

Following natural disasters and world events such as floods, hurricanes and famine, The United Church of Canada frequently launches special appeals as a way for people to lend assistance.  These are usually announced during Sunday services as needed.

Mission & Service connects our local church to the wider work of The United Church of Canada at home and around the world.  There are special appeals throughout the year to offer opportunities for people to give.  Contributions help support programs such as:  Global and Canadian justice initiatives, Aboriginal ministries and right relations, Community ministries, theological education, youth and camping, intercultural engagement, support to remote ministries and innovation in communities of faith.

Case for Kids is Wesley Urban Ministries’ major annual fundraiser, held at Bay Front Park in Hamilton.  A team of 10-12 people from Port Nelson typically participate in running, walking or riding bikes to end child poverty.  There is opportunity for the church family to sponsor those participating.

First Sunday in June

For the month of December, Wesley Urban Ministries hosts a no-charge Christmas store. People on the margins can shop for gifts and food items they may need for their families. Food items and gifts are gathered from the church family at the annual Gifts Service, which includes a drama written and performed by our Port Nelson youth. Then, the youth typically volunteer for a day at the Christmas store.