Food Security

Benevolent Fund Supports Food Security in Our Own Community 

Food Voucher Program

SSUC William St. Entrance
William St. Entrance

Each Tuesday morning, except in July and August, a team of volunteers from the Sydenham Street United Church meets with people who need financial help to get some groceries. They listen to their stories and give them food vouchers for one of two local grocery stores who then send the Church the receipts for reimbursement. We have 42 individuals and families who may come once a month and we have a $500 budget for $20 vouchers for people who come once or once a year for emergency help. Our Tuesday morning team is made up of Mary LeRoy, Patricia Frost, and Marylil Megginson with Bob LeRoy as our back up if someone is away.

The program is funded by Sydenham Street United Church Congregation’s donations to the Benevolent Fund as well as some fundraisers throughout the year. If there is money left from our Christmas Basket appeal, it is added to the Benevolent Fund.  In 2023, the total raised was $30,904 and the vouchers given out totalled $26,613. This fund sits outside our regular Church budget and balances are carried over from year to year.

Christmas Gift Cards

Through regular donations and special communion offerings, we raised over $30,000 in 2023 to support the Tuesday Morning Food Voucher  and Christmas Basket programs.

In 2020 and 2021, due to Covid-19 we switched from our traditional Christmas baskets to gift cards for our regular visitors to the Tuesday food voucher program. The majority of people who received the gift card expressed to us their appreciation for how the gift card allowed them more flexibility when planning their personal need around food for themselves and their families during the holiday season. For this reason, we have decided to continue offering gift cards to Food Basics.

You may donate by e-transfer to givings@sydenhamstreet.ca or through Canada Helps.  However you contribute to this year’s campaign, please indicate “for Christmas Basket Campaign” on your donation.

Updated 2024 03 15