Local Outreach
We are called “to love and serve others” and outreach is an expression of love and serving. It is the living out of the Christian message. We undertake special projects but we also work in concert with a number of local organizations to support many who are marginalized. Along with the sharing of time and talent, we also share our financial resources.
Ongoing Outreach - Food
Churches may provide food for the soul but we find an important part of our mission of caring for God’s people is to provide food for the stomach.
The “Food Bank” that Grace supports is operated by the North Dartmouth Outreach Support Centre out of Stairs Memorial United Church in Dartmouth. Grace provides Board members to the North Dartmouth Outreach Support Centre and people from the congregation volunteer on Tuesday (delivery and packing) and Wednesday (distribution) mornings. Grace highlights a food product of the month for the Food Bank which is placed in the decorated box at the front of the church. Grace also accepts weekly food donations and clean egg cartons and bottles (place in the drawer of the stand at the King St. door) as well as having special campaigns for food (White Gift Service, Easter breakfast, etc.). Grace makes an annual donation but congregation members can also make donations to the Food Bank by indicating it on the PAR form or marking it on the church envelope. To read the 2023 Annual Report for the Society for the North Dartmouth Outreach click here.
This video updates our involvement at Margaret’s House during the pandemic.
Grace offers financial support and provides meals to the F.O.O.D. (Feeding Others of Dartmouth) that operates out of Margaret’s House. We are part of the of the Christian Relief and Development Coalition that supports F.O.O.D. In the past, members of Grace also provided donations of goods for the annual fundraising Christmas Full of Caring (dinner and auction) that is F.O.O.D.’s major fundraiser. However with the pandemic the fundraiser has been suspended.
Ongoing Outreach - Inclusion
Grace has a special interest in inclusion of people with differing abilities. Over the past several years we have formed a partnership with Club Inclusion and were able to offer a number of activities at Grace. In the fall-spring 2023/24 Inclusive Choir, a free Choir for people from disabled and abled community takes place at Grace on Sundays at 2pm - 3pm under the direction of Adam Johnson. Registration is required, please check Club Inclusion’s website for details.
On Tuesdays (not in the summer), Club Inclusion offers a day program. For further information on Club Inclusion’s activities, please see their website.
Club Inclusion and Grace were able to partner to purchase and install an adult change table in one of the main floor washrooms.
Ongoing Outreach - Supportive Housing
Grace United Church was involved in the founding of Alice House which provides safe second-stage housing and supportive counselling for women and children in Nova Scotia. Grace provides a financial support as well as collecting personal care items in October.
Grace United Church was a founding member of what is now known as Adsum for Women and Children. We provide a director to the Board and financial support.
Grace is becoming increasingly concerned about housing issues and in September 2023 wrote letters to the Premiers, relevant minister, Dartmouth MLAs and Dartmouth Councillors to express the need for emergency housing and deeply affordable housing in Dartmouth. People are invited to also write letters. Further information can be found by clicking here.
Special Projects
Each year, the congregation collects collects personal care items for Coverdale Foundation (April) and Alice House (October). We also do special projects over Advent.
ADVENT SPECIAL PROJECTS
Stockings Gifts
Each stocking has a gift request on it and the gifts are given to Veith House and North Grove (formerly the Dartmouth Family Centre and Dartmouth North Food Community Centre). People are requested to return the unwrapped gift with the stocking attached (with gift receipt if appropriate) to the Church. The stocking go up on November 17, 2024.
Tree of Warmth
We decorate a tree with winter clothing accessories such as gloves and mittens, hats, socks and undergarments. Our decorations go to agencies who support people who are homeless or are in poverty.
The project has finished for 2023.
In 2023,381 articles of clothing were donated along with money to purchase 12 pairs of children’s winter boots. A generous donation came from the Sundowner’s Men’s Group at the Dartmouth Curling Club The items were donated to Out of the Cold, Open Door Clothing Bank, Stepping Stone, North Grove, Social Services and and the HRM School system (Schools Plus). Some shawls were donated to the Senior Centre.
Gift Bag Program
Donations of full-size personal care items for men and women such as - bars of soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, facecloths, socks, warm socks and individually wrapped treats are requested for The North Dartmouth Outreach Resource Centre Holiday Program. In 2024, Feed Nova Scotia discontinued its Christmas Hamper Program but provided a fund which the NDORC Food Bank is using to provided gift cards so clients can buy the food and necessities of their choice. In December 2023, the NDORC Food Bank delivered 156 Christmas Hampers with Gift Bags. Donsations are due to the NDORC Food Bank by December 3, 2024.