STORIES
We’re happy to share the following stories and experiences, as written by individuals and ecclesias who have participated in outreach initiatives.
Our hope is that by sharing these stories, others will be encouraged and inspired to do the same whenever the opportunity arises (Galatians 6:10).
Food4Friends
August 2024
Barrie
Barrie Women & Children's ShelterBarrie, Ontario
We are very thankful for the grant received from the Garden and chose to donate healthy food snacks to The Women & Children’s Shelter in Barrie. The shelter, committed to ending the cycle of violence, provides a safe refuge with 27 beds and emergency support services for women and their children experiencing abuse. We enjoyed …
Kits4Kids
August 2024
Picton
Local Food BankPicton, Ontario
We have stuffed 13 backpacks for distribution [soon]. The other 11 will be distributed next week. The food bank folks were very happy to receive these as there is great need for the young families in our community. We will also be providing school snacks. Thanks again for the great outreach that WCF helps out …
Kits4Kids
August 2024
Moorestown
Northgate Moorestown, NJ
With our Father’s blessing, The Moorestown Ecclesia successfully filled 48 Garden backpacks with school supplies and donated them to a local social service organization. Sisters, friends and Sunday School students created an assembly line and the task was completed with enthusiasm. We even had extra supplies (which were needed) to donate to the organization. We …
Kits4Kids
July 2024
LA
Project Hope AllianceLos Angeles, CA
Thank you so much for the backpacks [provided] to the LA ecclesia! We donated them to a local charity called Project Hope Alliance that serves over 400 housing-insecure kids in Orange County. We often donate to them for other events, so they are very appreciative of our continued support of their efforts. Each backpack contained: …
GotYourBack
April 2024
Baltimore
ShelterBaltimore, MD
We assembled backpacks to be donated to a local shelter that serves homeless teens and young adults. Each backpack included assorted personal items such as kleenex, hand sanitizer, chapstick, etc., as well as the items provided by The Garden Outreach, including a Bible and a postcard with a word of encouragement. The woman who accepted …
GotYourBack
March 2024
Los Angeles
FosterLoveLos Angeles, CA
Thank you for your donation of backpacks. Today I delivered to FosterLove an organization in Brea California that supplies new items to children in the foster care program. Today I saw the “store” where boys and girls come to pick out clothing and other items..accompanied by their social worker..to take with them. It was amazing …
Grants
February 2024
Richmond Chapel
Atlantic Outreach GroupRichmond, VA
Here are a couple of photos from my project. I funded it using the grant and additional donations from my ecclesia. In total, we made 40 emergency food bags! Atlantic Outreach Group was very appreciative of our efforts as they were running low on emergency food bags at the time I made my delivery. Thank …
Bags of Love
January 2024
Nashua Ecclesia
Nashua Department of Public HealthNashua, NH
There was a lot of love delivered last month –and just in time. The balmy weather was on its way out, and the next day was bringing very cold temperatures with significant winds. Shelters were filled sending our unhoused Nashua, NH neighbors back under the bridges to do the best they could. But this time …
Bags of Love
January 2024
Saanich Peninsula Ecclesia
Sandy Merriman HouseVictoria, BC
We delivered the sleeping bags to Sandy Merriman House, Women’s Shelter, Victoria BC. Just the day before it snowed. As the shelter has limited capacity women are turned away when there is no room at the shelter. The staff are delighted to have the sleeping bags to hand in these difficult circumstances. The staff member …
Kits4Kids
August 2023
Springfield Ecclesia
Springfield, Vermont
Our ecclesia members helped purchase items for the backpacks. Our youth group assembled them. We brought them to our local family center. They will pass them on to school teachers who will distribute them to children in need. Great project! Thank you!