Downsview Youth Covenant | Flemingdon Park Ministry | Bill 23 Barnabas Breakfast Group | Mooreland's Camp For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required. (Luke 12:48) For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me into your home, when naked you clothed me; when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me.   (Matthew 25: 35-37) These passages from the scriptures inspire the Outreach and Faithworks Committee in its various activities. It reaches out through education and assistance on many levels. The committee raises funds in support of the Diocese of Toronto’s FaithWorks that delivers direct, practical assistance to those in need or at risk, through partnership with recipient agencies involved in the delivery of social, health, or community service at local, diocesan, national and global levels. FaithWorks ministries and partners assist thousands in need annually in the program areas of: children and youth, families at risk, people seeking transitional and permanent housing, the unemployed, refugees, outreach to prison inmates and those living in the developing world. Scroll down for examples of our work. If you are interested in joining this active committee, please contact the Chair of the Outreach Committee through the Church Office. Downsview Youth Covenant Downsview Youth Covenant (DYC) is an outreach ministry of the Church of St. Stephen (Downsview). Noah’s Ark Noah's Ark Summer Camp will run this summer from July 5 to August 13, and will again be operated by St. Stephen’s Downsview Youth Covenant (DYC). The camp serves children 6 to12 years of age and Leaders in Training (LITs), who are 13 to16 years of age. These teens work at the camp in a volunteer capacity and learn valuable skills that make them employable in other summer camp settings. DYC needs your help as follows: Volunteers with expertise in golf, chess, visual arts, or crafts (e.g., knitting) Snacks such as popsicles, bottled water, fruit juices, chips, cookies, whole fruit, and any non-perishable foods, except peanut butter. (The children bring their own lunch.) General donations to sponsor weekly trips and activities Sponsorship to allow one child or more to attend camp for a week or more ($60 per child, per week). Many DYC families cannot afford to have multiple children attend the camp, yet don’t want their children to be separated. To help out or make a tax-deductible donation to this fine organization, please contact them at (416) 809-4639 or dyctoronto@rogers.com. Flemingdon Park Ministry The Flemingdon Park Ministry is a store-front ministry established in 1978 by the Anglican Church of the Ascension in Toronto. It is situated in Flemingdon Park Mall across from the Ontario Science Centre. The mall is surrounded by government-subsidized housing and the neighbourhood consists of a very multi-faith, multi-cultural, and transient population of 25,000 people speaking 90 different languages. Many people who pass through the ministry's doors are marginalized: women who have been abandoned or abused, children living in the midst of insecurity and stress, and people who are experiencing a loss of any kind of meaningful direction in life. Flemingdon Park Ministry provides a ministry of presence--a spiritual caregiver working on people's own terms. FPM Summer Camp Flemingdon Park Ministry will provide summer camp this year, from July 5 to August 20 (7 weeks). The camp program will be expanded to include about 75 disadvantaged children and 10 staff members, including trained volunteer youth leaders. Camp organizers would appreciate help with craft supplies and financial assistance. They would also like to hear from you if you have a personal connection that might help them plan an interesting outing for these campers. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Rev. Helena Houldcroft: (416) 425-1841 or flemingdonparkministry@bellnet.ca Inter-Faith Food Bank Flemingdon Park Ministry’s recent move to 10 Gateway Blvd. is working out very well. The FPM Food Bank is now independently incorporated and an historic agreement is in place, which involves three different Muslim organizations that assist in the management and operations. Parishioners are asked to remember the food needs of the community over the summer months. In particular, community members need tuna, pasta and pasta sauce, baby formula and baby food, and diapers. In general, they like to receive staples of rice, flour, and oil (which they put in smaller containers). Bill 23 On March 31, 2010, a private member’s Bill was introduced by MPP Toby Barrett (PC). On April 22 the Bill passed second reading, and its tabling before the finance committee is pending. The intent of the Bill is to increase employment opportunities for recipients of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), while allowing them to retain more of their earned income and personal assets. To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to amend the existing legislation. Read on for more information about the Bill and how you can help. The Outreach Committee requests your kind assistance in sending an email or letter of support to your MPP regarding the Bill, encouraging the government to submit the Bill to the finance committee. An Act to amend the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Act, 1997 and the Taxation Act, 2007 This private member’s Bill was introduced by PC MPP Toby Barrett on March 31, 2010 and the FaithWorks and Outreach Committee requests your kind assistance in sending an email or letter of support to different MPP’s. Key elements of the Bill: Encourage further employment of ODSP recipients by providing employer tax credits of up to $10,000 annually per person for a maximum of five employees. Allow recipients to retain more assets – $12,000 individually or $20,000 if there is a spouse included in the individual’s benefit unit. End the claw-back on child support – allow ODSP recipients to retain any child support payments instead of it being reduced by 50% of the person’s other monthly income. Allow recipients who are working to keep more of their earnings – currently anyone receiving ODSP who gets a job has $0.50 of every dollar earned deducted from their pay cheques. The Bill lowers the reduction so that a person can retain a maximum of $700 of other income monthly, or a maximum of $1,000 of other monthly income if there is a spouse included in the individual's benefit unit. Why this bill? The current regulations serve to encourage recipients to stay on disability support rather than find work – with disincentive limits to how much earnings and assets a person can retain. With the disappointing Ontario budget that did not include healthy eating increases of $100 a month, this Bill addresses a similar issue and with sufficient all party support could pass. Some numbers: According to Mr. Barrett there are about 120,000 people in Ontario with an intellectual disability and this group experiences much higher levels of poverty than any other sector of society [a reported 73%]. As of February 2010, more than 830,000 Ontarians relied on social assistance including about 371,000 people on ODSP and 460,000 Ontario Works. Status of this Bill: Has passed second reading on April 22nd. Has been recommended to go to the Finance Committee for further review and refinement. The government can either send this bill to the finance committee or stall its progress until the house is prorogued at which time all bills on the table will die. What we want to see: This bill should go to the finance committee. As there is support from members of all three parties and goodwill on all sides, the chances of the bill or a similar government change in policy moving forward are good. Why this bill is important: One of the building blocks for poverty reduction – a step along the way. Provides support for some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens. Encourages work which enhances the dignity and health of the individual and provides overall benefits for our society. [e.g., enhanced productivity and lower health care, justice and social services costs]. How you can help by contacting MPP’S: The following is a list of local MPP’S plus the Premier, Minister of Community and Social Services, Mr. Barrett and the two opposition leaders. If your MPP is not one of the first four on the list you can go to this www.ontla.on.ca government website or use the www.elections.on.ca Elections Ontario site to find out who your MPP is. Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Don Valley West MPP Minister of Transportation 3rd floor, Hepburn Block, Toronto M7A 1Z8 kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Mr. David Zimmer, Willowdale MPP Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General 11th Floor, 720 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5G 2K1 dzimmer.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Hon Dalton McGuinty, Premier Room 231, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto M7A 1A1 dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services 6th Floor, Hepburn Block 80 Grosvenor Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9 mmeilleur.mpp@liberal.ola.org Note – If sending a letter or email to Premier McGuinty or Minister Meilleur please cc your local riding MPP and this MPP sponsor of Bill 23: Mr. Toby Barrett, PC MPP Room 206, North Wing, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A8 toby.barrett@pc.ola.org Opposition Leaders - Please also cc Mr. Barrett as above: Mr. Tim Hudak, PC leader Room 381, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto M7A 1A8 tim.hudakco@pc.ola.org Ms. Andrea Horwath, NDP leader Room 113, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto M7A 1A5 ahorwarth-co@ndp.on.ca Thank you very much for your assistance with this important opportunity to affect change in public policy. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Rosemary Pryde of the Social Justice Committee at Fairlawn United Church for assisting me in the creation of this article, and for the unanimous support this initiative received from a newly formed ecumenical social policy committee of different North Toronto churches that St. John’s is participating in. Barnabas Breakfast Group This program is thriving and growing in numbers every month. Volunteers continue to provide the participants with a hot breakfast, snacks to take away, tokens, time with clergy, and a time of fellowship. While there is a roster of volunteers, not everyone is available each month. So, if you’re interested in helping on the last Wednesday of each month, please contact Linda Bell, through the Church Office: 416-225-6611. To those of you who generously support the program with your time and donations, a big thank-you. Mooreland's Camp Moorelands Camp is a safe, caring, positive environment centred on the healthy development of children and youth. It is our desire to see each child enjoy nature, gain social skills and experience personal growth. While experiencing traditional camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, overnight trips, ropes, drama, music and crafts, deeper skills are developed and participants emerge with increased confidence, self-esteem and competencies. Work Weekend 2010: Friday Eve September 24 – Sunday September 26th For the past few years St. John’shas joined St. Timothy’s, St. Clements and Grace Church On-the-Hill for a volunteer fall work weekend at Mooreland's Camp near Dorset. It's an amazing opportunity to help others while you are having fun.  Families, youth, singles and couples, newcomers and old hands of all ages are encouraged to come! Please contact David Jefford at 416 221-0770 or e-mail him at d.jefford@gmail.com if you would like to be part of his team this September 24th to 26th. Last year we really enjoyed ourselves and the team I led worked hard to complete 10 bunk beds.  Others did sewed banners, painted, sorted donated clothing, etc..  The Saturday campfire singsong and Sunday worship service led by Rev. Greg Symmes of St. Timothy’s and Rev. Mary Lewis of Grace Church-on-the-Hill rounded out the week-end.

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