{"id":2481,"date":"2013-06-05T17:59:50","date_gmt":"2013-06-05T21:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=2481"},"modified":"2013-06-20T13:00:32","modified_gmt":"2013-06-20T17:00:32","slug":"front-porch-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/front-porch-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"FRONT PORCH PERSPECTIVE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcoming Arms & Society of St. Vincent de Paul
\nBy Stephen Somerville<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judging by some rudimentary statistics and scant anecdotal evidence, it seems that most people in Aurora can afford nice things.
\nAurora abounds with lots of nice houses, flourishing summer children\u2019s sports programs, and according to Wikipedia, \u201cIn 2010, average household income in Aurora was $155,463, making it one of Canada\u2019s most affluent towns.\u201d
\nSo, on the surface, everything looks fine. But this veneer is deceiving.
\nThere are a considerable amount of people in Aurora who cannot afford to purchase the basic necessities for their loved ones.
\nThese parents could be your next-door neighbours, your friends or your co-workers.
\nThankfully however, there are two local groups who, because of your donations, make our community a better and happier place in which to live.
\nThe weekly Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church bulletin contained the annual reports of these two organizations last week.
\nThe first group is called the Welcoming Arms Ministry.
\nTheir Mission Statement: \u201cIn loving partnership, we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ promoting human, physical and spiritual well-being within our community\u201d.
\nThis registered charity is an ecumenical outreach partnership serving those in need in Aurora.
\nOriginally, there were four Aurora churches involved; Aurora United, Our Lady of Grace Catholic, St. Andrew\u2019s Presbyterian and Trinity Anglican.
\nAfter much discussion and many meetings over the years, they joined forces in October 2006 according to a church circular, to \u201cjointly continue what each had been doing separately in the way of benevolence and thus be able to offer more in services, resources, support, as well as providing connections to other community based help groups.\u201d
\nThis group was strengthened with the addition of Aurora Cornerstone Church in 2009 and Community Bible Church in 2010.
\nEach church contributes monthly towards the operating costs at Welcoming Arms. They also receive donations from individuals and community groups.
\n100% of the monthly donations are used to assist the needy in Aurora.
\nThe Welcoming Arms Centre is staffed by dedicated volunteers from the six partner churches.
\nAccording to the annual report, this group \u201chelps those who don\u2019t know where to turn.\u201d
\n\u201cWe help direct these individuals to the right resources or we provide actual assistance to them. We provide our \u2018visitors\u2019 with a warm greeting, a caring, listening ear, encouragement and hope wrapped in a sense of dignity.\u201d
\nI was astonished at some of the figures and the number of lives reached while reading the 2012 annual report:
\n\u2022 Had 1,825 visits (8 per cent increase over 2011) from 2,755 adults and 2,027 children.
\n\u2022 Provided $85,206 in food vouchers, bus tickets, gift cards and special assistance (medical\/dental).
\nThe Welcoming Arms Centre, currently located at 44 Metcalfe Avenue is open Mondays from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.; Wednesdays from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
\nAs the Annual report concludes, \u201cWe provide an informal atmosphere for our \u2018visitors\u2019 offering a warm greeting, a caring and listening ear, encouragement and hope, wrapped in a sense of dignity.\u201d
\nThe second group is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference of Our Lady of Grace Parish which has a mission to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.
\nA Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference has been operating in the parish since 1966. The conference currently has six members, as well as a number of committee volunteers who help out with special projects. The group meets monthly and schedule home visitations as needed.
\nHome visitations have been at the core and work of Vincentians.
\nThey assist individuals and families in need within the Aurora community by providing food vouchers, bus tickets and other forms of emergency financial assistance (i.e. assistance with rent or utility bills, medical or dental care expenses).
\nThey also co-ordinate the annual Christmas Hamper program. In 2012 they prepared 102 hampers for local families, assisting a total of 157 adults and 116 children.
\nThey also register children for the Marygrove Camp and Camp Ozanam; subsidized, residential camps for children from families that are experiencing financial or domestic hardships. This spring, they registered three boys and four girls for the camp.
\nThe Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a registered charity and 100 per cent of the donations that are given to the Society go the direct service. They rely entirely on donations from members of the parish and the community.<\/p>\n

Contact one of the parish offices if you are interesting in volunteering for either of these two organizations.<\/p>\n

Stephen can be contacted at
\nstephengsomerville@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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