Outreach Opportunities Fund
The Outreach Opportunities Fund Committee selects outside organizations to receive a portion of the Sunday offering.
Outreach Opportunities Fund (OOF)
Chair: Melody Mason
Statement of Purpose:
To distribute 25% of funds collected during the Sunday service to community charities, both those that are independent of the church and those that have some connection to the work of church committees. Priority is given to organizations undertaking social justice, refugee support and settlement and environmental sustainability work with a focus on vulnerable or other marginalized communities. Preference for funding is given to groups working primarily in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Members:
Rev. Lara Cowtan, Carolyn Grant, Elizabeth Geller and Bruce McIvor
Currently Collecting for:
Our OOF recipient (Oct 2020-Jan 2021), is The Treehouse Vancouver Child and Youth Advocacy Centre which has formed a multi-disciplinary team to intervene in and prevent child abuse and violence. The team comprises staff from VPD and three child and youth care agencies. Its’ programs and services build networks and community support systems that promote safe and sustainable environments for children, youth and their families. A critical goal of the centre is to raise awareness of child abuse in Vancouver.
Activities and Accomplishments
In 2018-2019, OOF distributed over $13,000 to the following organisations:
- Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (to be allocated to Warriors Against Violence activities)
- Community Legal Assistance Society
- Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society
- Rainbow Refugee Coalition
- Westcoast Environmental Law
- Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
- Sole Food Street Farms
Representatives from the above organizations gave a short presentation to the congregation on the purpose of their work.
Future Plans
Three organisations will be selected to receive funds from OOF during the next year. In the past, the committee has chosen the recipients but we now ask members of the congregation to nominate local charities for consideration by the committee.
To nominate an organisation please click on this link: OOF Nomination form or take a paper form from the bulletin board at the main entrance to Hewett Hall and leave it in the OOF mailbox in the UCV office or email it to Melody Mason.
History
Here are some of the organizations we have supported in the past.
2011
Elizabeth Fry Society $2500
2012
ACORN $2500
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities now the Disability Alliance $2500
Elizabeth Fry Society $1000
Rhizome Movement Building Centre $1500
VAST $1500
2013
Covenant House (no record)
ACORN $2500
Kinbrace $3000
Aunt Leah’s Place $2500
2014
Pedal Foundation $400
ARA Mental Health (Action, Research and Advocacy) $1600
West Coast Mental Health Network $2000
2015
Mom2Mom – Child Poverty Initiative $2,000
Kinbrace $2000
2016
Kinbrace – $1500.00
Vancity Community Foundation for activities related to Raise the Rates & Single Mother’s Alliance $3,000.00
2017
RAVEN Trust $2810
Qmunity $2800
Portland Hotel Society for activities related to Overdose Prevention Society $1681
Community Legal Assistance Society $2025
2018
Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (to be allocated to Warriors Against Violence) $2693
OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society $1635
Rainbow Refugee Coalition $2000
2019
West Coast Environmental Law $4010
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre $2367
Sole Food Street Farms $2000
2020
Aboriginal Mother Centre $2000
PHS Community Services Society $2000
Burns Bog Conservation Society $2000
The Treehouse (currently collecting for)