We strive to serve our neighbours, extending the love of God to the world around us, with special attention to those in need in our midst. One of the ways that we accomplish this work in our parish is by raising money throughout the year which is then distributed to some amazing charities in greater Vancouver. Our fundraisers include the Boulevard Sale every June and the Christmas Market in the lead-up to the holidays, as well as several smaller events throughout the year.
This past year was one of our best years for our outreach fundraising, with $14,381 raised. This money has been disbursed to the following organizations to help support their work in our city.
Stay tuned for upcoming fundraising and service opportunities at St. Faith’s–watch our website for details, or sign up for our weekly newsletter to learn about our church in your inbox.
Directions Youth Services: $2,000
Directions Youth Services, a program of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, serves at-risk and homeless youth in our downtown, providing a 24-hour drop-in space, daily hotmeals, shelter space, and wrap-around services for medical care, emotional support, and access to social services.
Website: directionsyouthservices.ca
Greater Vancouver Food Bank: $2,000
Supported entirely through public donations, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank provides food to over 15,000 people every month, partnering with organizations across Metro Vancouver to distribute the food.
Website: foodbank.bc.ca/
Highs and Lows Choir: $500
The Highs & Lows Choir is a peer-managed four part choral group that seeks to promote mental health and wellness by providing folks with lived experiences of mental health issues with access to low-barrier choral singing, musical activities and instruction. St. Faith’s has a long history of providing funding to help support their work.
Website: highsandlowschoir.ca
Home Start Foundation: $1,000
HomeStart Foundation is a non-profit Christian humanitarian organization helping people re-establish a home. Working in partnership with over 70 member agencies, HomeStart donates home furnishings to people in need.
Website: homestart.ca
St. Augustine’s Food Ministry: $2,000
St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, located in Marpole, has a vibrant and active food ministry. Their food hub is currently serving 160+ families in our neighbourhood who are either homeless or facing food insecurity. In addition, St. Augustine’s operates a weekly hot meal for anyone seeking nourishment and community. St. Augustine’s and St. Faith’s have a long history of working together on mission and ministry.
Website: staugustinesanglican.com
Urban Native Youth Association: $1,000
UNYA’s focus since its inception in 1988 has been to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth (Aboriginal, Metis, Inuit, First Nations, Status, Non-Status) in the urban setting. Our goal is to be a safe place for Indigenous youth to come and find out about programs and services at UNYA and in the broader community. UNYA strives to support Indigenous youth by providing a diverse continuum of advocacy, preventative and support services that respond to their immediate and long-term needs. Today, UNYA delivers 20+ programs, with 175+ volunteers, 100 staff, and more than 300 community partners.
Website: unya.bc.ca
WISH Drop-In Centre: $2,000
The mission of WISH Drop-In Centre is to improve the health, safety and well-being of women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade, with a vision for every woman to have access to opportunities to make free, healthy and positive choices. Street-based sex workers can come to the nightly Drop-In Centre and emergency Shelter 365 days per year, and find a safe place to rest, have a hot meal, shower and connect with community. In addition, they check the safety of women working on the streets, and offer harm reduction supplies, through a Mobile Access Project (MAP) Van which drives across the city every night. Participants also have access to far-reaching opportunities designed to enable longer-term support, such as our Learning Centre, Supportive Employment Program and Music Therapy Program.
Website: wish-vancouver.net
Westside Anglican Neighbourhood Ministry: $1,000
The Westside Anglican Neighbourhood Ministry is a partnership of several Anglican churches in Vancouver seeking to serve the homeless community on the West Side. Their work includes street outreach, providing bagged meals to people without access to housing, a mobile care unit that partners with medical services at UBC to provide medical care, and as well as access to transitional housing.
Website: https://neighbourhoodministry.com
Avalon Recovery Society: $1,000
Avalon Recovery Society provides services to women in recovery from addiction, including support groups, workshops, childminding, clothing closets, counselling, resources and drop-in support, operating centres in Kerrisdale, White Rock, and West Vancouver
Website: avalonrecoverysociety.org
St. James’ Street Outreach Ministry: $2,000
Street-involved adults living in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES) struggle daily with poverty, mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism, violence, social isolation, and with the legacy of past traumas. In the midst of this, the Street Outreach ministry, seeks by word and deed, to remind each person he encounters of their infinite value in the eyes of God. The DTES is a parish where anything can and does happen, where no day is typical, and where Jesus Christ is found in the least expected persons and places.
Website: stjames.bc.ca/street-outreach
