Valley Connect Outreach Association
"To share God's love with neighbours in need through friendship and tangible, compassionate assistance with immediate helps and ongoing supports for new beginnings and ongoing life change"
Current supports, advocacy and food programming are expanding to address the growing needs in our region and we are in our second year operating the NightLight emergency shelter program in Kentville and Middleton. The sense of new identity and purpose arising from this work helps liberate people to make healthy choices as a part of God’s family. Our passion is for both spiritual renewal and that people discover an array of solid supports required to leave old negative patterns behind. Valley Connect Outreach Association provides oversight and direction for the following programs and services:
Community Chaplaincy, Navigation & Advocacy, Recovery Supports
Community Soup Kitchen
Middleton Outreach Centre
Kentville Outreach & Warming & Cooling Centre
NightLight Emergency Shelters (Kentville & Middleton)
Food Support Program
GIVING
WE ARE A REGISTERED CHARITY - tax receipts are issued at the end of year. Registered Charity # 711414409RR0001
E-transfer:
[email protected]
Canada Helps Online Giving:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/102797
Donations can be mailed to:
Valley Connect Outreach Association
PO Box 224
Kentville, Nova Scotia
B4N 3W4
After many years operating community funded and volunteer based emergency shelters and outreach programs, an experienced group of community volunteers are working in conjunction with the thirty-seven year old 'Community Soup Kitchen' to assure that a vibrant street ministry continues for people who are marginalized and at-risk in the Annapolis Valley. The focus of the associated Community Soup Kitchen is just as it began in 1986 (as Treasure House Soup Kitchen) and as it has remained in the fifteen years since it has been led by the current group of volunteers ~ food, faith & friendship. Our objective in our first year was to be available throughout the Annapolis Valley and to be regularly present in Kentville, Berwick and Middleton. With a Provincially funded Shelter Diversion Program (transitional housing) now in place in Kentville, a number of former Inn From The Cold and outreach volunteers reassembled to provide the kind of support and advocacy that makes meeting people where they are (however they got there) first steps towards a new direction. NOTHING NEW
This continuation of Street Ministry & Community Advocacy that began more than twenty years ago continues to welcome and assist people seeking help as a growing network of support. Food, faith & friendship together form bonds of friendship and a place of refuge for many through our weekly recovery supports, life skills programs and regular meals through the Community Soup Kitchen in Kentville and the Middleton Outreach Centre. This vision began percolating in 1998 and began picking up steam and capturing hearts a few years later when two fairly new believers launched out - discovering relevant ways to share the Good News. The original mission statement was:
"To demonstrate the love of Jesus by offering both peace and provision to people in crisis however they got there"
It was not until 2003 that the following was written down and two Acadia Divinity School students officially launched out into 'street ministry':
- To be a Christ-like support and friends for people in crisis and a bridge to community resources
- To be a source of material and spiritual assistance in times of poverty, brokenness and homelessness
- To explore and model 'community' as God intends it to be
VISION
With spiritual renewal at the heart of this vision, we believe that lasting change comes from within [a meeting of faith and grace]. We believe that hope and life are found through God in Jesus and that everyone therefore has potential for change in Him. Emergencies occur in our communities every day and for this reason [our] vision is to help respective community and church leaders better reach those in crises. We partner with community leaders to see our communities transformed by living the Good News of the peace, justice and reconciliation found in the Gospel. OBJECTIVES
* To be a liaison between individuals in crisis and the programs/ agencies whose services best answer their specific needs.
* To encourage the whole community to better address the poverty, homelessness and injustice around us
* To encourage and equip church leaders and members to extend charity to the people and places where it is most needed
* To help build a network of support which can address material and spiritual need throughout the Maritimes
* To be an evangelical (Good News of Jesus centred) presence in social action, both demonstrating and declaring the love of Jesus to every person.
* To offer pastoral support to those in need
* To offer practical hands of help in emergency situations
* To pass on this vision to others who would likewise step into the gap as ambassadors of Christ
* To pass on the work to where others are better equipped to meet specific needs
The Founding Board Of Directors for Connect Outreach includes:
John Andrew - President & Founder
Lisa Bezanson-Andrew - Co-Founder & Food Programming Leader
Simon Goodfellow - Middleton Outreach Advisor
Bruce Caldwell - Treasurer / Kentville Outreach Advisor
Rebecca Welton-Marshall - Food Co-Leader / Middleton Advisor
Heather Kroezen - Kentville Shelter Advisor
Other Directors:
Brooklyn White - Ethics & Communications
