A New Partnership Supporting Kingston’s Homeless

February 10, 2012

For Immediate Release: St. Andrew's Church and Kingston Street Mission are hosting a Pancake Supper on Mardi Gras, February 21, to announce an exciting new partnership.

For almost 20 years, St. Andrew's church has offered a hot meal and fellowship on Sunday evenings through the months of September to June for lonely people or those in need. However, a flood in the church hall last summer along with the lack of a coordinator for these meals suspended operations.

The Kingston Street Mission have parked their truck on a corner of St. Andrew's property for almost the same amount of time providing a warm place, hot beverages, food, clothing, blankets and community for those who are trying to escape the cold nights on Kingston streets. The mission operates from 8 p.m. – midnight during the winter months. "There are people living on our streets and when it gets cold, we don't want to see or read about people freezing," comments Bill Esford, Chairperson of KSM. "The Truck is old and needs to be replaced and KSM were facing a huge fund raising effort to replace it. The Church approached us about the possibility of moving our ministry into their place where the meal can happen on Sunday evenings."

The KSM plan to use the Gill Hall of St. Andrew's Church for the base of their operations and have offered to provide a coordinator for the Church's special meals program. It is a partnership that benefits those people needing a warm place on a cold night and needing a meal on Sunday evenings the most.

On Tuesday 21 February the congregation of St. Andrew's and volunteers from the Kingston Street Mission will provide a pancake supper between 5 – 7 p.m. The supper is free but there will be an opportunity to provide a donation to this ministry. "We need to raise $ 6000 for security and Hall upgrades to make this partnership happen and to ensure that the volunteers and those they serve are safe. We are hopeful the community will respond to this need," comments Rev. M. Tremblay." There will be pancakes, sausages, maple syrup and a swing band to foster that festive Mardi Gras atmosphere."

Mardi Gras has come to mean different things in different communities. The church season of epiphany celebrates the nearness of God and in many places has led to grand parties and display"s of great opulence. Mardi Gras marks the last day of this celebration; it is the day before the beginning of Lent, that 40 day journey of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter. The day that we mark a change of season, a change from focusing on the nearness and goodness of God around us is the perfect day for reflecting, remembering and sharing our celebrations with those who have little reason to celebrate.

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Contact: Rev. Mark Tremblay

Email: mark at StAndrewsKingston dot org; Phone: 613-634-2070