I wanted to make sure that you are all aware of the upcoming community dinner at St John’s Church this Sunday. The Community Kitchen Co‑op is hosting this in the hope that members of the congregation can learn more about good work that is happening through the Civic Hub. Thompson Tran (of The Wooden Boat) will be preparing the meal, and it will the include Vegan, Vegetarian and Halal options.
Dinner is free or donate what you can. I have also heard murmuring in the church that some folks would like to see the property turned into affordable housing… so this will be a wonderful opportunity for you to share your knowledge of the need for housing over a meal with unsuspecting parishioners.
Members from local government and the wider community are being invited to make this an opportunity for you to share what you are doing. The Civic Hub is a group of organizations that advocate for our community. Volunteers from the Community Kitchen Co-operative Kitchener-Waterloo Inc are organizing this dinner and will make you feel welcome.
Enter the building on the the corner of Duke and Water – Kitchener – through the accessible entrance on Duke Street.
What: No Fixed Address: A Talk About Homelessness and Encampments When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Thursday 22 February 2024 Where: Online only, link sent with registration Register: Tickets from Eventbrite
With the ever escalating housing crisis, a growing number of people are confronting the harsh realities of homelessness. Despite concerted efforts, community services and shelters are struggling to keep pace with surging demand, leaving many people without access to even these temporary solutions.
Faced with this stark reality, people must forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements.
As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the struggle of those living outdoors remains. What can we do to better meet the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? How can we enhance our approach to this issue, and what proactive steps are other municipalities taking to make a positive and impactful difference in the lives of those affected?
On February 22nd, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, join host Regional Councillor Rob Deutschmann in this first virtual town hall segment of 2024 focused on homelessness and encampments.
Featured guest speakers include:
Dr. Erin Dej, Associate Professor, Department of Criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, ON)
What moves you? The Ride for Refuge, a family-friendly fundraising bike + walk in support of local charities serving people seeking hope, safety, and freedom. Join us!
“Stop criminalizing homelessness” “Reallocate the police budget into life-giving services” “Shelters are full: over 400 sleep rough” “We want a compassionate community” “Does this solve homelessness?”
Bring a donation (only tents, sleeping bags, or cash).
Donations will be given to a nonprofit, working with unhoused people.
On Friday November 26, Waterloo Regional Bylaw, together with police, bulldozed the shelters of unhoused people living at Charles & Stirling.
Good Morning! Wanted to share that The Civic Hub will be running Low Income Tax Returns again this year starting 2 March 2019. Clinics are by appointment only. Our hours will be:
Monday and Wednesday – 10:00am to 8:00pm
Tuesday and Thursday – 9:00am to 5:00pm
We are also allowing drop-offs which can be completed at other times.
Please share with your contacts that the Climate Action Incentive, which all residents of Ontario are eligible to receive regardless of income, has increased this year. Amounts are as follows:
First Adult – $224
Spouse – $112
Child – $56
Family of 4 – $448
Canada Revenue Agency is helping provide volunteers to prepare the returns. I am looking for volunteers that would be interested in a receptionist type capacity, which would include booking appointments, greeting tax payers and collecting drop-off. Please share in case any of your contacts might be interested. I am looking for volunteers to cover three to four hour blocks, twice a week ideally.
I just wanted to let you know that the community suppers that used to be held at St Mark’s church on Wednesday evenings are now being held on Thursday evenings at Trillium Lutheran Church, 22 Willow Street, Waterloo, Ontario Map, phone 519‑886‑1880. (Trillium used be called St John’s Lutheran church.) It is fully accessible. The church is open on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5:45 p.m. The Community Ministry Chaplain, Rev Susan Cole, is there between 3:30 and 7:00 p.m.
Although Waterloo Region is a rich community, many members of our community are financially strained during the holiday season. (And for the rest of the year, too.)
That’s why the Green Party supports raising the minimum wage to a living wage, and implementing a Guaranteed Livable Income (universal basic income set at 10% above LICO). You can find out more about Basic Income from our friends at Basic Income Waterloo.
Unfortunately that’s not going to happen until we start electing more Greens. In the meantime, people are living in poverty and Christmas is coming.
The following is a list of free Waterloo Region Christmas Dinner options for people in need. If you (or anyone you know) is in need of a good dinner over the holidays, please share. (And if you’re able I imagine these organizations would welcome volunteers.)
I’m not sure who originated this list (I received as a paper handout), but most of the dinner locations listed here are for the City of Kitchener. If you know of any others in the rest of the region– Cambridge, Waterloo or the Townships, please share and I’ll add them to the list.
Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church – Regular Saturday Supper
open 5:00pm-8:00pm – Supper served 5:30-7:30pm
57 Stirling Avenue North, Kitchener
Sunday, December 16th, 2018
KCI Christmas Dinner
10:45am – 1:30pm
787 King Street W., Kitchener (enter off King Street)
Tickets available at St. John’s Kitchen or St Mark’s Church
(Limited tickets available last week of November and first week of December)
Thursday December 20th, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Festive Dinner 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Friday December 21st, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Regular Hours 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Saturday December 22nd, 2018
Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church – Regular Saturday Supper – open 5:00pm-8:00pm Supper served 5:30-7:30pm
57 Stirling Avenue North, Kitchener
Sunday December 23rd, 2018
Caper’s Sports Bar – Christmas Dinner Noon – 3:00pm
1 Queen Street North, Kitchener
*Toy and Clothing giveaway
Monday December 24th, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Festive Dinner 11:30am to 1:00pm
Meal by St Vincent de Paul
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Ray of Hope – Festive Dinner 7:00pm-8:30pm
659 King Street East, (Back Door) Kitchener
Tuesday December 25th, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Christmas Dinner by Friends of St John’s Kitchen 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Ray of Hope – Regular Dinner 7:00pm-8:30pm
659 King Street East, (Back Door) Kitchener
Wednesday, December 26th, 2018
First United Church Christmas Buffet 11:30am-1pm
16 William Street, Waterloo
Thursday, December 27th, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Festive Dinner 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Friday, December 28th, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Festive Dinner 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Saturday, December 29th, 2018
Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church – Regular Saturday Supper
open 5:00pm-8:00pm – Supper served 5:30-7:30pm
57 Stirling Avenue North, Kitchener
Sunday December 30th, 2018
Ray of Hope – Lunch Noon-1:30pm
659 King Street East, (Back Door) Kitchener
Monday, December 31, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Regular Hours 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Tuesday, January 1st, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen CLOSED
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2018
St. John’s Kitchen – Regular Hours 11:30am to 1:00pm
97 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
A much needed minimum wage boost has come to Ontario. The nonprofit sector requires similar consideration to make the transition to higher labour costs as small businesses do. One step is to adjust Transfer Payment Agreements (TPAs) to accommodate higher labour costs in the next fiscal period as discussion begins on the 2018-19 Ontario Budget, as requested by the Ontario Non-profit Network’s pre-budget submission (PDF, 333 kBytes), supported by the Social Planning Network of Ontario. Many smaller non-profits without TPAs also require consideration for increased funding support to adjust to new employment standards and fair wage practices take effect.
From: Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries <info@spccnd.org> Date: Friday, 1 September 2017 Subject: Affordable Transit Study – Help Get the Word Out
Hello everyone,
The Region of Waterloo is looking for volunteers to participate in a research study.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of different reduced fare transit passes. People who are selected for the study could get:
Off-Peak Pass: $23 per month
20-Ride Pass: $25 per month
Combo Pass: $48 per month
Unlimited Pass: $65 per month
Please help spread the word and advertise in your offices / through your communications.
Community members can sign up to attend study information and registration sessions through Eventbrite links that can be found on the GRT website.
Please see the GRT webpage for more information/details of the study: