Donations

2010-03-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Donations to Churches by the Bluffs, Food Bank may be made directly to

Churches by the Bluffs
33 East Road
Toronto ON M1N 1Z9

Donations over $10 receive income tax receipts at year end.

On-line donations may be made through CANADA HELPS which issues receipts.

Work place donations may be made through United Way payroll deduction with our name and registered charity # 87662 2903 RR0001

Thank you for your on-going support!

Churches by the Bluffs 2010 Newsletter

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In September “The Bluffs” food bank began its 7th year of operation. Wow! We have grown from serving 24 family hampers up to as many as 300 + families on a Thursday.

Special thanks to all of the participating churches, schools, business and individual donors continue to support this food bank both financially and with grocery donations.

In addition to groceries, we offer a meal program (soup & sandwiches), a free income tax service, access to the internet as well as referrals to other agencies. The Boutique is also open during the same hours as the food bank and this gives our clients an opportunity to purchase gently used clothing at very reasonable prices.

Christmas dinner was offered again this year, to our single clients who would have been alone for Christmas. Heather White and Ann Dawes coordinated dinner again this year with the help of residents at Youth Link who need volunteer hours.

Once again a very generous donation enabled us to give grocery gift cards to all of our regular clients in order that they could purchase ‘some extras’ for Christmas.

The proceeds from the Charles Dickens’ Christmas story sponsored by CBC and Birchcliff Bluffs United Church were donated to the food bank. Gail Barkic’s speech features some of the highlights of the past year:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Gail Barkic and I am one of about 80 other volunteers at Churches by the Bluffs Community Services, Food Bank who work to support others in our neighbourhood.

“The Bluffs” as we are often called is an agency of Daily Bread and Second Harvest which opens its doors to hungry people in our neighbourhood each Thursday afternoon and evening and we have been doing this for just over six years now.

Recently, I have noticed that I cannot work in our front garden, complete my 6 o’clock morning walk, or drive to shops in the area without seeing as many as four or five clients each time. I am also delighted to see a few of our former clients gainfully employed in our neighbourhood chain stores or working part-time doing odd jobs such as painting, cleaning eave toughs, raking leaves or shoveling snow.

I welcome this opportunity to tell you a little more about “The Bluffs” in our neighbourhood and in keeping with this neighbourhood theme, I was drawn to the song, “Who are the People in our Neighbourhood” from Sesame Street that features a neighbourhood with folks who face issues of poverty and much more. Listen for the similarities……

This message is brought to you by the Number 33. When we opened in 2003, Sesame Street had been showing for 33 years and coincidentally the address of “The Bluffs” is 33 East Road.

Many of the characters are similar – only the names are different. Just remember the real folks who come to the food bank, all live in our neighbourhood and they are NOT MONSTERS and they are NOT IMAGINARY!

Perhaps one of the most well known Sesame Street characters is Oscar the Grouch who lives in a garbage can. Who wouldn’t be grouchy if they were homeless and slept in a garbage can or in a box, or on a cold stairwell, in a truck or in a tent and were hungry to boot? The only difference I see is that Sesame Street seems to be in a warm climate. It gets mighty cold and wet out there in our neighbourhood, especially in winter. Imagine yourself there. Warm socks, coats, scarves, hats, blankets and boots are just some of the things that are sold or given to our clients from the donated items that are available in the gently used clothing Boutique that is open on Thursdays.

Kermit the Frog is the only retired character from Sesame Street, but his presence is continuously seen just like the many retired neighbourhood volunteers who come in week after week to set up, support and socialize with our food bank families and friends. Kermit has friends who are not retired and we have volunteers who are not retired too. Some come in before or after work and some do double and triple shifts too and all with a sense of joy and commitment.

Traction Jackson may not be so well known but he represents the clients who are wheel chair bound and are so thankful that our food bank is accessible with the ramp entrance.

Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Canadian First Nations folk singer has appeared on Sesame Street. There are several parallels with Buffy and The Bluffs. In the past 24 months, we have been given the opportunity to serve Canadian First Nations folks, something we did not experience for the first four years of our existence. Buffy appeared with Big Bird and her infant son Cody in an "understated" scene about breastfeeding on Sesame Street. Much to the chagrin of ‘my shy friend’, several young mothers have appreciated Barkic’s breastfeeding 101 sessions. Sometimes tips are provided and sometimes it is just reassurance for an inexperienced young Mom who does not have anyone talk with about her feeding questions or concerns.

We always try to go the extra mile for babies. Mary is an expectant woman who is schizophrenic and for this reason she will be unable to keep her baby after it is born. Since she could not afford them, we provided prenatal vitamins to help ensure the development of a healthy baby. We also referred Mary to a neighbourhood Healthy Babies clinic where she can interact with others in a positive way during her pregnancy.

The Amazing Mumford is a magician whose magic tricks always seem to go awry. Remember his line, and gesture: “A la peanut butter sandwich” and the look of chagrin when his magic did not work? Well, our kitchen volunteers see the looks and smiles of satisfaction with our sandwich magic when hungry folks come in and enjoy our delicious home made sandwiches – tuna, egg and ham on freshly baked bread that go along with steaming bowls of home made soup and fresh brewed coffee and tea.

Betty Lou, another muppet character is always willing to lend a friendly, helping hand. She is always happy and she likes to play too! This describes many of our volunteers, but one in particular. Three years ago, Aster, an Eritrean refugee with her two wonderful young sons, some English (but not really confident in the spoken word) was directed to us by COSTI Immigration Services after they found her housing in the community. Aster often says, “God is good! Canada is good!” Well, unfortunately, through no fault of her own, Aster and her sons had to seek refuge again, in a shelter out on Kingston Road. Through our advocacy program, affordable co-op housing was found, painting and repairs were made, volunteer movers stepped up to the plate, donors provided necessary household items and Aster and her two loving sons moved into a SAFE area in our neighbourhood. God is good! Canada is good!

Aster and her eldest son volunteered at the food bank. Aster still volunteers at the food bank and she manages to do this around her school schedule. She has just completed her second course on Microsoft Office applications.

Biemnet, the eldest son graduated from Birchmount High School and now attends Fanshawe College in London Ontario on a sport’s scholarship. Biemnet’s sport is running. He has participated in meets in the US and as far away as Vancouver and he recently placed third in a national meet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Biemnet represent Canada in the next Olympics.

Meanwhile, Yoel, the youngest son, has found his voice and passion too. He was one of the stars at a recent Christmas Pageant, not only as a superb soloist (Mom says he comes by it honestly from his father), but also with his guitar playing skills and ability to accompany another soloist. Watch out Michael Bublé!

Last week, I received a phone call. Aster was so excited and able to explain in clear English that she not only has a job, but that she just got her temporary driver’s license too! “Canada is so….. good!”

There are so many similarities between and among the Sesame Street characters and the members of The Bluffs food bank family. I will give you some more names and let you use your own imaginations, in most cases.

Bad Bart – the feared cowboy in town whose intentions were usually harmless
The Queen of Six – who had six children
Herry Monster – who looks intimidating but is sensitive & kind AND homeless
Kami – who is an HIV positive Muppet
Lefty – who sells various things to every one
Slimy the worm who is Oscar’s pet

Sonny Friendly
Stinky the Eggplant
Tarah - the paraplegic girl.
Polo Loco - the annoying parrot
Fruitla – the singing fruit lady with a mirror. I think of Silva who lived on Birchcliff Avenue before she became homeless and slept in the TTC shelter at Birchcliff and Kingston Road. Sylvia now lives in a safe residence.
Miami Mice
Rosita – the Hispanic monster conceived as a fruit fly that faced annihilation & fled to America from Mexico. I suspect Rosita faced deportation and imminent death much like our Mexican friends Albundio and Eris of whom I spoke last year.
Number Paint - could be the child client who recently made us 200 new laminated numbers to help us keep track of grocery hampers each Thursday.
Papa Bear is the supportive father. Thank you Alan also known to us as Santa!
and
Don Music who was played by a man named Richard, but not our own fabulous Richard Keilman who “Never, never, never” bangs his head on the keyboard!

Well, in keeping with the number 33 – this seems to be a complete list of characters!

Who are the people in our neighbourhood?
They’re the people that we meet each day!

They are volunteers.
They are donors.
They are you and me.
They are hungry people who face the underlying issues related to poverty including: job loss, fair wages, affordable housing, dysfunctional family situations, and lack of prescription drug and dental benefits. Some face mental health and/or addiction issues, a lack of social service support, an inability to access support or any combination of any of these issues.

Later, you will be invited to enjoy refreshments downstairs. At this time, you will be welcome to take a guided tour of the food bank grocery room which will show you much more than I could ever say in a few minutes. You will be amazed at the organization!

Please continue to be generous in your support of this neighbourhood outreach project which will be brought to you in 2010 by the letter C.

C is for Churches by the Bluffs.
C is for caring.
C is for charity – We are a registered charity!
C is for ‘can do’ and ‘can do’ more.
C is for clapping. Please show your neighbourly support!

Thank you !

Help us serve the community....

2010-03-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Churches by the Bluffs Community Services operates an ecumenically supported Food Bank at this site. The Food Bank is open to clients on Thursdays from 1-3:30 pm and 6-7:30 pm. A team of volunteers receive and shelve groceries on Wednesdays (9 am – 3 pm) and other teams of volunteers work help with three shifts Thursdays when the clients come to the Food Bank.

Birchcliff Bluffs Boutique sells clean gently used clothing at very reasonable prices. The hours are Thursdays from 1-3:30 pm and 6-7:30 pm.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact the Coordinator Gail: foodbank@rogers.com

Churches By the Bluffs Community Services Food Bank

Donations

Churches by the Bluffs 2010 Newsletter

Help us serve the community....