St. Matthew's House Food Bank Shelves - NEED FOOD NOW!

 

We are desperately in need of food - Particularly:

• Peanut Butter
• Kraft Dinner
• Past
• Pasta Suace
• Canned Vegetables
• And...all other non-perishable foods

Please be generous...the poor in our cities really need you!

Fire Guts Future Community Centre
St. Matthew’s House Devastated; Expansion Was To Serve Those In Need

April 20, 2012
Hamilton – Last night a major fire erupted at “The Engine House”, a former hotel on Barton Street near Wentworth, which was being converted into a community centre by St. Matthew’s House.
St. Matthews’ House is a registered charity with its roots in the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.  St. Matthew’s House serves those most in need, regardless of religious affiliation.
The demand for St. Matthew’s House services, to support those most in need in our community, exceeds the organizations’ ability to supply.  Last year, it purchased the vacant hotel in order to expand several of its programs. 
Renovations where scheduled to be completed by September in order that several of its services could be relocated in  new facility including:
·         A Food Bank, which last month provided assistance to 2,655 individuals, including 1,188 children.  (Unfortunately, individuals are limited to accessing the food bank once a month)
·         A Seniors Program which provides breakfast and lunch to seniors and a place for them to gather.  This program operates Monday to Friday.  Last month it served 946 breakfasts and 2,221 lunches.
·         A Friday Lunch Program, which is currently limited to serving 30 people will be able to serve 60 people in the new facility.

St. Matthew’s House is working with it’s community partners to determine which other programs could be run out of this center to support the growth of the Barton St. Area.

Reverend Susan Wells, Director of Operations says “We are thankful that no one was injured and are grateful for the work of the Hamilton Fire Department.  While the fire gutted the interior, it appears that the building was saved.”
“The St. Matthews House community is devastated by the fire, but we are committed to the renovation project in order to serve those most in need”
“The project was budgeted to cost $600,000 and approximately $350,000 had already been spent.”
Donations can be made by contacting St. Matthew’s house at (905) 523-5546 or visiting them at 414 Barton St E. or online, at www.stmatthewshouse.ca.
Contact:
Rev. Susan Wells, Director of Operations at 905-741-8007 or swells@stmatthewshouse.ca

 

St. Matthew’s House receives HHS-MSA Charitable Donations Award for 2012

The Hamilton Health Sciences,Medical Staff Association (MSA) Executive Committee presented the $5,000 MSA Charitable Donations Award for 2012 to St. Mathew’s House for its Food Bank. 

Andrew Lagrotteria volunteered in our Food Bank, along with some friends last year as part of a youth philanthropy project.  Andrew was struck by the fact that our food bank remains open during December. Some food banks close during December, so that they can dedicate their time to their Christmas Program.  Thanks to many volunteers, we are able to keep our food bank open and still run our Christmas Program.  However, this means that our food bank is extra busy in December and by January, our shelves are bare.  Andrew submitted our story as part for a youth philantrophy project for a grant but came second.  Undaunted by this, Andrew convinced his father, Dr. Lino Lagrotteria, to submit our story as an application for the Hamilton Health Sciences Medical Staff Association Annual Grant.  We are very grateful that the HHS MSA awarded us this grant of $5000 which we received at their annual meeting on January26th. Thank you Andrew for your perserverance.   Thank you Dr. Lagrotteria.  And thank you, Dr. Baillie and the Executive of HHS-MSA for honouring us with this award.

This donation has already been used to help stock the shelves of the St. Matthew’s House Food Bank, at a time when stock was critically low.  This grant will enable us to continue to provide nutitirous food to our Clients.