Missions

Missions Ministry

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these … You did for me”
Matthew 25:40

Despite the impact of COVID-19 on all our Trinity families, members continue to show outstanding generosity towards our various Missions programs, so that we have been able to continue to support those programs in a very meaningful way throughout the year.

Toronto City Mission

The Ministry continued to support the efforts of TCM and their various programs directed to single mothers and children of low income families. Although TCM was not able to carry out their Summer Camp Program this year, their administrative expenses continued, as did most of their other Outreach Programs. We provided $3,000 to TCM to support their efforts.

OASIS Addiction Recovery

The Ministry continues to believe strongly in the ongoing efforts of OASIS to assist those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction in the Toronto area. OASIS continues to be one of the most successful organizations in not only rehabilitating individuals, but also in finding them future employment. We provided $3,000 to OASIS this year, in support of their outstanding work.

St. Stephen’s Food Bank

Trinity has continued to support the ongoing food bank operations of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church located at Lawrence and Markham Road in Scarborough. Although we were able to continue with our Easter and Thanksgiving Food Drives, the COVID-19 lockdown of Trinity's normal operations made the delivery of food at Christmas significantly more complicated. As a result, we increased Trinity's cash contributions to St. Stephen's to a total of $5,000 to assist them in meeting the increased demand of their local area families. St. Stephen's has been supporting more than 50 families during the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kids to Camp

Unfortunately, as a result of the COVID-19 regulations, the Province did not permit Summer Camps to operate this year leaving many of them in significant financial difficulty. Notwithstanding the fact that they did not run Summer Camp Programs, our Ministry felt that we should continue to support CAIRN in anticipation of next year's camping program. We forwarded $2,000 to CAIRN to assist them in their ongoing operation.

Evangel Hall

As a result of the Provincial lockdown regulations, we were not able to provide ongoing sandwich deliveries to the Hall during 2020 and our regularly delivery of clothing also ceased to operate. We anticipate returning to our regular outreach support of Evangel Hall once the lockdown regulations have been lifted.

The Arise Ministry

Ministry members felt that this program required our continued support in 2020 given the harsh impact of COVID-19 on many of the young women forced to spend their time on Toronto streets, in order to survive. Trinity donated $3,000 to the Arise outreach mission this year.

Eva’s Place

We continued to support the outreach work of Eva’s Place which is involved in assisting youth in crisis, particularly in the North York area. We forwarded $1,000 in support of their continued work.

Exousia Media Group

COVID-19 lockdowns had a significant impact on Exousia's work given that many of their programs are provided through the Toronto District School Board. Given the substantial increase in mental health issues created by the pandemic and the particular vulnerability of Toronto's black community, we provided Exousia with $3,000 this year in order to sustain their extremely important commitment to Toronto area youth in crisis.

The Peace Tree

Thanks once again to the ongoing commitment of Joan Kitchen to this Christmas Outreach Program. The generous support from Trinity continued to make it possible to commit funds to several of the ongoing Presbyterian Church programs. Over $3,000 was raised to be divided among Evangel Hall, Fernie House, and Armagh.

Indigenous Canadians/Congregational Christmas Project

In keeping with the increased profile and ongoing media coverage of the difficult circumstances of many of our Indigenous Canadians, and to better educate our congregation, we determined that our 2020 Christmas project should be in support of the Winnipeg Inner City Missions which is closely related and supported by the Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church located in Central Winnipeg. We provided them with $1,000 during the year and then made the support of the Winnipeg Inner City Missions the focus of our annual Congregational Christmas Project. Together we raised $10,100 to add to our initial gift.

The generosity of the people of Trinity Presbyterian Church has been a light in a year of darkness. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our Missions Ministry.

John M. Clarke, Convener