Outreach at Woodcliff

 

Woodcliff's Outreach Committee meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. All are welcome to attend and find out more about the work of this group. For upcoming events visit New Events on the right side of the home page.

One benefit of participating in Woodcliff’s Outreach projects is the opportunity to meet others and experience a real sense of community. The following are some of the organizations and projects which Woodcliff supports through the Outreach Committee.

 

The Woodcliff congregation has a long history of strong support for the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada.

 

The work of The United Church of Canada in Canada and around the world is funded by the Mission and Service (M&S) Fund. Members and supporters of the United Church know that it takes money to put their faith into action. Financial gifts to the M&S Fund are combined into a united fund so that the work of the church can be done effectively. Woodcliff members are encouraged to make a yearly pledge to the M&S fund during the fall stewardship campaign but donations may be made at any time. Throughout the year, the Outreach Committee provides the congregation with updates on the work being done through the M&S fund. Most Sundays you will hear a Minute for Mission, often shared by one of the Woodcliff Youth, which also highlights why it is important that we support the M&S fund.

 

Our church has been committed to HIV/AIDS projects for a many years. Woodcliff is entering a long term commitment to a project in Tanzania.  We will be funding a small but important piece of a much larger initiative of our Mission &Service partner, the Christian Council of Tanzania. We will be providing funds for the purchase of pigs and chickens and the training of families in raising these animals. The 20 families (up to 120 people) in Geita are not traditional families. The family groupings are made up primarily of children, widows and grandmothers. The pigs and chickens will not only provide much needed nutrition for the families but will also help these families generate much needed income. This income will help with education costs for the children and other household expenses. Some members of the community have HIV or AIDS. They take antiretroviral drugs but these drugs are not very effective if people don’t have good nutrition. In other areas of Tanzania this type of program has been very positive and, in the words of the coordinator, “through the group’s activities we have witnessed  a positive transformation from hopelessness to happy families with success and ambitions.”  We will be raising funds and awareness in a variety of ways throughout the year.

The Annual Global Festival, an International Fair Trade Marketplace, takes place in early November in the lower hall. Details will be listed in October in New Events section of the website. The Global Festival is a fund and awareness raising event. For one long weekend (Fri Sat and Sun) this Marketplace offers congregation and community alike the opportunity to buy handcrafted gifts from around the world. Ten Thousand Villages, Minhka Sweaters, the Mustard Seed Bookstore and Woodcliff’s Outreach table are a few of the participating groups. The Global Festival requires many willing hands and is a great way to be a part of something very special. The proceeds of this event support many Outreach projects while also supporting a number of non profit groups. 

 

Woodcliff sponsors a suite at the Sonshine Centre, a residential housing complex, for women and children who have experienced family violence. The families are able to live here for up to one year. Donations (financial or of specifically requested items) may be made through the Outreach Committee. We know many hands make light work and it can be very rewarding to help prepare a suite for the new residents when another family moves out.

 

This is a transitional shelter and re-housing program in the SW community of Killarney for families who are currently experiencing homelessness. There will be hands on opportunities for congregational members to become active at the “house” - we may host a movie night or games night for the families, prepare some special meals on site or other activities.

Woodcliff participates in Calgary's Habitat for Humanity in a variety of ways.We have had teams participate on local building sites, we have provided meals and snacks for a number of builds, we have raised funds and we are planning to facilitate an opportunity for people to volunteer at Habitat’s ReStore on a regular basis.

 

The DI, the largest shelter for the homeless in Calgary can serve up to 3500 meals per day, 365 days a year! Woodcliff helps provide some of those lunches by hosting “Sandwich Builds” 5 times a year. Check the New Events on the right side of the home page for the date of the next “Build“ (all supplies provided). Sign up on the volunteer sheet at the information station in the foyer.

 

 

There is a constant need for replenishment of the Food Bank box located in the lower foyer. You will find a list there of the most needed items. Special food drives are held a couple of times a year.

 

 

CUPS, is a downtown ministry which offers collaborative and holistic services in the areas of health care, education and social services. We support it financially and their "One World Child Program" receives the gifts from our White Gift Christmas service

 

 

 

Throughout the years the Outreach Committee has worked with the congregation to heighten awareness surrounding the environment issues of our day, we have invited local politicians for coffee to discuss specific concerns, we host dinners to focus on certain projects especially around Lent, we facilitate responses to disasters, natural or manmade, we have sponsored refugees, in the Fall we collect school supplies for children in refugee camps and areas of natural disasters, year round we collect Campbell soup labels which are redeemed for equipment for high needs schools in our city, used eyeglasses which the Lion’s clubs recycle and send to countries where the need is high, and stamps are collected for the Bible Society which sells them and uses the money for it’s good works. So we are a busy Church but there is much more that could be done! We hope to provide an opportunities to explore other areas that may be of interest or concern to YOU! We welcome your input as to what we might do in the future to remain relevant in our global and local communities.

Please email the Outreach Committee at: outreach@woodcliffunited.com