2021 - Q4 McDougall United Church Outreach & Social Justice Ministry Quarterly Report
Mission & Service 2021 – The United Church of Canada
Gifts for Mission - - check out the M &S projects on the United Church of Canada website.
2022 McDougall Stewardship Campaign – Mission & Service
McDougall M&S Pledges for 2022 - $29,340.00 compared to $31,449.00 for 2021
Local Pledges for 2022 $339.738.00 as compared to $346.908 for 2021.
Noted at 2% drop in regular offering Pledges, 7% drop in M&S as some moved their M&S support to local
McDougall Right Relations – Right Relations Witness – Marilyn Agnew
Application for two United Church of Canada grants prepared by Shauna Kennedy were rejected. Appreciation extended to Shauna for her work and visioning in preparing the grant requests, which can be revisited in the future. A Third Grant Application - 2nd Harvest Grant – Canadian Government grant request for $60,000. 00 for a monthly food delivery to Morley Elders for December – May, hiring an Indigenous couple to haul the food – Reply expected prior to Christmas.
Right Relations Appreciation for McDougall Congregational Support in 2021– Marilyn Agnew noted these special initiatives:
Food Drive was a huge success – list of specific food items and $25.00 gift card
Call for Shoes (Un-Marked Graves) – over 80 pairs of shoes brought to the tipi
Bottle Drive – over $700.00 raised for Right Relations
3. Annual Christmas Plans - Indigenous
It was agreed that the 4th Sunday of Advent – December 19 be a “Food Day”
The Congregation will be given “Food Lists” and asked to fill a hamper bag for Urban Indigenous particularly in Acadia and bring the hampers to Hospitality Hall prior to worship
A Drive-By program will be organized by Aileen Berridge between 12:30 – 2:00 with food being brought to Hospitality Hall and collected into hamper bags
Acadia Network - Acadia/Kingsland Up-dates – Community Social Worker Viviana Reinberg
Acadia Pantry Plans – 2022
The highest number of users ever registered was the November Food Pantry with 43 households receiving hampers camper to 36 in October. 143 people were assisted compared to 111 the previous month. The pantry is seeing more families with children
The next pantry on December 21 plans to provide a hamper with provisions for a Christmas dinner with a chicken and fresh greens, which have to be purchases as Spinz—a-round is closed for Christmas.
2. Acadia Place – The new Director is involved in the Acadia Network, which is helping facilitate communications.
Christmas Hampers – Ken Turnbull
Appreciation was extended to Ken Turnbull who has led this program for 13 years.
For 2021- to date - 13 hampers, mostly from Acadia Place are being prepared
Angel Tree online – 136 items were listed, 85 have been take
Refugee Project– Marjorie MacRae
Fundraising appeal was very successful - $5500.00 raised going over the $5000.00 goal
Both Palestinian families are facing a challenging time and are barely surviving in their current situation of lack of work and lack of funding
Alberta Government ended children’s support after 18 months, a $700.00 monthly loss
The Refugee Committee has become more political, reaching out to local MLA Minister of Labor, Tyler Shandro to address a number of issues confronting the families
Habitat for Humanity – Jim Porter
Work with Habitat for Humanity continues on the multifamily build in Silver Springs in NW Calgary. Habitat has updated its COVID policy following the latest protocols. All staff and volunteers will need to provide proof of COVID vaccination or subject to the testing as defined by Alberta Health.
Calgary Interfaith Council
February 1 – 7, 2022- Celebrating the UN Interfaith Harmony Week in Calgary – plans include an opening on Monday, February 1 at City Hall and closing with an EthniCity catered dinner and program on Monday, February 7th. Watch for details.
FCJ (Faithful Companions of Jesus) Retreat Centre – Socks for Alpha House Appeal
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
Appeal to City Council for Budget Inclusion of Indigenous Liaison Officers for the Calgary Police Force
Outreach & Social Justice Funding Proposal
Discussion Questions – Marjorie MacRae raised three ways of moving forward:
Continue with present model of fund raising for projects
United Way Approach - one general appeal
Hybrid United Way Approach – one time appeal naming the projects
2. Issues raised in the group discussion:
Financial appeals need to be spread out during the year to avoid donor fatigue
Annual Stewardship Program is the key Fall Appeal to fund the church
Christmas Hamper and Morley Christmas Projects are time sensitive – begin November 1
Strategy needed for future working together supporting the key projects of Right Relations, Refugees, Christmas Hampers and bi-annually – Feed The Hungry
Strategy of working together recognizes the need for contributors to fund particular projects
3. Group Consensus
Develop an educational program with different projects highlighted each month.
Promote a Fund-Raising Calendar with Right Relations and Refugees making their appeals early in the year
Fall Fundraising would focus on the Annual Stewardship Campaign in October and November and Christmas Hampers and Morley Christmas Projects early November
Sharing Educational & Fund-Raising Approaches enabling individuals to be able to contribute to their passion or project.
Focus for 2022 – Funding Right Relations
