A patio barbecue, weather permitting, will mark the first community dinner at Gordon United Church.
A few faith communities are coming together to offer a couple different choices in a family dinner option on the West Shore.
Matt Parker, of West Village Church is among the 15 to 20 people who were in search of a way to offer something back to the community.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been looking for a way to serve,B次元官网网址� Parker said. TheyB次元官网网址檝e taken on the meal hosting it at LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Gordon United Church where the people have been B次元官网网址済racious and supportiveB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nowhere else that serves a meal regularly free of charge,B次元官网网址� he said.
Another West Village Church group started a Sooke meal program at the start of summer, providing a strong template for the West Shore group. This crew offered a few barbecues at Ruth King elementary this summer.
The goal is to B次元官网网址減rovide a meal, but also a community,B次元官网网址� Parker said.
Community is also key to another group offering meal and companionship once a month at Lighthouse Christian Academy.
The Open Gate Church will offer a free full meal the first Wednesday of each month, starting in October, at Lighthouse Christian Academy. After dinner, organizers say babies can head to the nursery, dadB次元官网网址檚 can get grubby with sports and crafts with kids while moms can hang out together.
B次元官网网址淭he whole idea is to be a support and encouragement for moms,B次元官网网址� said Chris Zoephel, lead pastor. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of single moms that are working and there seem to be a lot of things during the day. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not getting a lot of time together as a family to eat.B次元官网网址�
He sees it as an opportunity for families to come a healthy meal and stay for connection with kids, or other parents.
B次元官网网址淧lus I think thereB次元官网网址檚 some hidden poverty in Langford thatB次元官网网址檚 not talked about,B次元官网网址� Zoephel said. B次元官网网址淚t could be a huge blessing for families.B次元官网网址�
Parker agrees, seeing them want to fill emotional, physical and spiritual needs.
B次元官网网址淲e want to meet those all in some way. We have a heart for young families for sure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of low income people living paycheque to paycheque. We want to go above Wonderbread and PB and J.B次元官网网址�
It will fill a need too with more and more homeless staking a place in the Western Communities said the president of Goldstream Food Bank Society.
B次元官网网址淓verybody thinks of the homeless on the downtown streets of Victoria, but theyB次元官网网址檙e out this way too,B次元官网网址� said Gayle Ireland, who also serves as co-ordinator of volunteers for the local food bank. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e living out in the bush quietly B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e in the bush and theyB次元官网网址檙e camping out.B次元官网网址�
The Goldstream Food Bank served more than 10,000 people last year including 32 per cent children.
B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 all groceries, itB次元官网网址檚 not a hot meal program,B次元官网网址� Ireland said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a very good complement to the community.B次元官网网址�
Parker figures theyB次元官网网址檒l start with twice a month with plans to grow.
B次元官网网址淚t would be awesome by the end of the year to see it happening every week,B次元官网网址� he said.
The first meal was Sept. 25. The next is Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. at Gordon United Church, 935 Goldstream Ave. The Open Gate Church meals are the first Wednesday of the month, starting with October through December from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Christian Academy, 1289 Parkdale Dr.
B次元官网网址淚 know that we get a lot of calls about the Christmas dinner at the Our Lady of the Rosary church every year and itB次元官网网址檚 packed,B次元官网网址� Ireland said. B次元官网网址淥nce the program gets established IB次元官网网址檓 sure that a lot of people will make good use of it.B次元官网网址�
