Program
Currently, we open the doors of the church Monday to Thursday,
1:30-3:30 pm to everyone in the neighbourhood who wishes to drop in.
The community members mostly live on a low income, and some are coping
with issues of mental and physical health and addictions. Most days we
serve a light meal as well as coffee and juice. On Wednesdays we offer
art classes.
We also invite representatives from community organizations to offer
information seminars on topics of interest such as income assistance and
housing advocacy. In addition we offer public health clinics.
We provide a phone, computer access, newspapers and information about
community services. We offer pastoral care and counseling. Several
times a year we hold special activities outside of our regular drop-in
hours.
The Oak Table Community Ministry is supported financially by the
United Church Mission and Service Fund and donations from local United
Church congregations. Augustine United Church also contributes space and
administrative support. Food donations come from local businesses.
Our volunteers come from many different places as well as Augustine.
Some volunteers come from other churches, some are members of the Oak
Table community, and other simply hear about us and want to get
involved.
The sense of community is very high inside the Oak Table circle, and
those who attend have created guidelines for acceptable behavior to
protect that sense of community. For example, inebriated folk are asked
to come back another time when they are not in that state.
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