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Notes from the Pastor, January 5, 2014

Please enjoy these two letters highlighting the impact our support has had on two community service providers, St. Vincent's Kitchen and Gate 3:16:

Hope Fellowship:
  “Without the help of St. Vincent’s, I don’t know if I would have made it through the night.”
  Barefoot, starving and without money, Jacob (name changed) walked into St. Vincent Pallotti Kitchen last winter, on one of the coldest nights of the year. He felt hopeless.
  Volunteers immediately set to work, finding Jacob a warm pair of shoes at the St. Vincent Pallotti Store. Once his feet were safely protected from the sub-zero temperature, he was treated to a free hot meal in the kitchen. Volunteers found him a bed at a local hostel for the night.
  There are many more Jacobs out there, who have fallen on difficult times. Durham Outlook for the Needy, operating St. Vincent Pallotti Kitchen and Store, is at the heart of feeding people and connecting patrons to other social service organizations throughout the region, including shelters and food banks.
  Lack of income makes it difficult to secure and sustain one’s life beyond immediate survival. It costs up to $64.18 per week (according to Durham Region’s 2013 Food Budget Calculator) for an individual living in Durham Region to eat a healthy diet. Eating at St. Vincent’s Kitchen for just $1.50 enables the needy to enjoy one nutritious hot meal each day and improve health. For those who cannot afford the cost, free meal tickets are available from churches and other organizations. We do not turn anyone away.
  With the help of 900 volunteers each month, we provide an average of 50,000 hot nutritious meals each year and distribute excess food to more than 50 other charities, organizations and school feeding programs. While additional agencies have opened throughout the years to fill gaps in service to those marginalized by poverty, St. Vincent Pallotti Kitchen has maintained relationships with food suppliers and other agencies; many people depend on our stability and the security of sharing the food we acquire. We rely solely on the generous monetary contributions of individuals and other community supporters, so we can provide low-cost, nutritious daily meals in a dignified manner. The only other revenues we receive are from the sale of meal tickets (subsidized at $1.50 each) and income from the used goods and clothing store. Our cost to provide each meal is just $4.00. We sincerely thank you for your help.
- Frank Lowe, President, www.stvincentskitchen.com

Dear Friends in Christ:
  Thank you! The Angel Tree packages were just wonderful. All the soap, deodorant, socks, hats, scarves, mittens, shampoo, toothpaste, baby items, as well as all the toys—the bags are stuffed to overflowing! It was delightful to see the smiles and looks of joy on their faces as the gifts were distributed to our clients at their Christmas Party. We were also very grateful for the donations of sandwiches, pop and sweets. Everything was delicious. A very merry time was had by all!
  Please accept our profound thanks and appreciation for all you do to support our ministry, be it donations of clothing, footwear, food, financial assistance or your prayers. We have been blessed by your love. Through you we can be an agent of hope and a sign of God’s presence to those who so desperately need our help and kindness.
 Thank you for your compassion and love. We wish you a very blessed Christmas.
- Betty Mann, President, Board of Directors, Gate 3:16 Outreach Centre



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