St. Jude’s Community Partners in 2022
St. Jude’s is involved in providing several community outreach programs. In some programs, we work with a not-for-profit organization, where both organizations have defined and complementary roles. In other cases, we provide financial support directly to the Not-For-Profit. In some, St. Jude’s volunteers work in the program and St. Jude’s provides financial support too.
Here are the Not-For-Profit organizations, our community partners, with a brief description of our relationship. (The outreach programs themselves are described in more detail elsewhere on the website.) Please click on any logo to take you to their websites.
Kerr Street Mission (KSM) is our oldest community partner. In 1998, volunteers brought food prepared in home kitchens to the basement garage of Prince Charles Place, where meals were assembled for KSM clients. We used paper plates, as there was no water available there. Once KSM had its own new building, volunteers met in the kitchen to prepare and serve meals once a month and more recently, twice a month. This work has been interrupted by the pandemic.
St. Jude’s is a church partner with KSM in the Neighbour Care Network (NCN). KSM staff assesses people who ask for help for a wide variety of reasons. In more complex situations, a care plan is developed by KSM staff in collaboration with the NCN client. Sometimes there is a role for a church volunteer in implementing the care plan. The NCN coordinator at St. Jude’s receives requests from KSM for volunteers and financial help and makes arrangements. Due to pandemic protocols, volunteer involvement has been limited, but this is expected to change.
St. Jude’s operates an outreach program with Food for Life (FFL). Each week, FFL delivers about 1,000 pounds of fresh groceries to the parking lot in the Region of Halton housing complex at Margaret/Maurice Drive. St. Jude’s volunteers deliver the bags of groceries to about 45 client families resident in the complex. St. Jude’s also provides a $4,500 annual grant to FFL, for their infrastructure and operating costs.
Links2Care is a social service agency funded by the Ministry of Health operating in Halton Region and Mississauga. About once a month, St. Jude’s volunteers deliver frozen meals prepared by the Pantry Program to L2C offices. Staff take meals to clients in need across the Region. L2C staff also refer eligible clients to our Dinner at Your Door Program.
Front Line Outreach (FLO) supports our Summer BBQ Program by providing and maintaining the two big BBQ’s that we use, as well as by refilling the propane tanks as needed. The Summer BBQ Program operates under an agreement between FLO and the Region. In addition, FLO volunteers cook meals weekly at Prince Charles Place; about 25 meals are delivered by St. Jude’s volunteers to clients in our Dinner at Your Door Program. St. Jude’s also provides a $4,000 annual grant to FLO.
St. Jude’s provided grants totaling $6,500 in 2021, to support Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI) in providing training, job search and career guidance to young black professionals and others starting out in their careers. Just a new Not-For-Profit, BMI has supported 2,000 professionals over 18 months. Over 30 mentor relationships are ongoing.
St. Matthews House is a social service agency operating in Hamilton. St. Jude’s provides an annual $2,500 grant to support operations.
St. Jude’s supports Oakville Meals on Wheels (MOW) with an annual $2,500 grant.
Home Suite Hope (HSH) unites a network of vital support services for families on their journey from poverty to stability. St. Jude’s participates in the “Partners in Change “ Program, contributing $10,000 annually (of the $48,000 yearly requirement) to support a client single-parent family.
St. Simon’s Anglican Church – St. Jude’s volunteers use the kitchen at St. Simon’s to prepare meals under the Pantry Program. There is no rental charge for use of the kitchen.
Regional Municipality of Halton – With approval from the Region and with the cooperation of Community Housing staff, St. Jude’s hosts a weekly barbecue on site at Margaret/Maurice Drive in July and August.
White Oaks Secondary School – Students in the Culinary Program prepare meals monthly during the school term. St. Jude’s volunteers deliver the frozen meals to Links2Care.