HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-08-18, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011.
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On Sunday, June 26, Nancy Buttar
gave a presentation in
Londesborough United Church on a
program called ‘Soup & More’. I
was unable to be there that morning
but those I spoke to about Nancy’s
talk had me thinking I should do a
follow-up interview. Consequently
this past week Nancy spoke with me.“God does this,” is a phrase Nancyrepeated time and again thatafternoon.
On the morning of Jan. 12, 2010,
phones were ringing all over the area
as news of a major fire on Clinton’s
main street spread as fast as the fire.
The reminder of that fire, which
threatened more than one building is
a gaping hole on main street where
the Salvation Army’s storefront had
been.
On the telephone that morning
were members of the Heartland
Community Church. They felt called
immediately to put their faith into
action and offer help to the
firefighters and other emergency
personnel, the people who had been
relying on the Salvation Army fordaily help and the handful of themforced out of their apartments earlythat morning by the fire. Their
intent was to provide food to these
people.
Word of their concern spread and
by the time the women arrived at
their church, the former Wesley-
Willis United Church, there was a
line-up of people waiting. There
were those who needed shelter from
the cold and wet, others who would
need to be fed and others with
donations. Nancy remarked that no
appeal was ever made for help, but
help just materialized in the form of
food, articles of clothing for those
who had lost everything but the
pyjamas they were wearing,
necessary hygiene items, monetarydonations, etc.The 40 or 50 people of that faithcommunity tended those in need for
three days. By the time that
immediate need was over the church
realized that there was an ongoing
need in the area for what many refer
to as a ‘soup kitchen’. Once again
putting their faith in God, they have
been ministering to this need ever
since. Every Monday and
Wednesday, teams of volunteers
offer ‘Soup and More’ from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. to anyone who drops in,
free of charge.
The volunteers serve between 40
and 60 people every time, proving
there is a need in the area. Nancy
noted that the volunteers work with
whatever fresh food has been
donated, making all meals on site as
the health department requires. The
day I spoke with Nancy they were
planning, for the next meal,
meatloaf, potatoes, peas, cucumbers
and, of course, soup. She
commented that monetary donations
enable the group to purchase
some things to round out the meals,
such as the meat and breads.
And there is always soup. Anything
else is dependent on donations.
Nancy says they have never
made an appeal for items, they just
come.
Each day’s volunteers are split
into three teams, one works in the
kitchen, one serves the meal and one
team visits. Nancy stated that the
volunteers are not counsellors, but
they feel visiting with those who
come is an important part of the
mission. Those who come are in
need of food, the soup part. But they
are also in need of nonjudgmental
interest and caring and
companionship, the more part. There
is a need to fill stomachs and then to
attend to other needs.
Those who come have developed a
trust in the program and the
volunteers knowing they are
accepted for who they are. The
consistency of the program has
brought amazing changes in these
people, who tend to be the unseen in
our society.
And, she noted, the volunteers feel
they get “way more out of the
program than they put in.”
Moreover, these volunteers come
from across the area; they do not all
belong to the Heartland Church.
Many good things have risen from
the ashes of that fire.
Help continues to arrive for the
program from area businesses and
private individuals and from the
Food Distribution Centre in Exeter
and the Good Food Box program.
The church has also received
donations of next-to-new clothing,
towels and bedding from time to
time which is made available to the
diners. This, too, is the more
part. The program quotes Mathew
25:35.
To find out more about this
ongoing and needed program, you
might give Paul and Nancy Buttar a
call, 519-482-8426, or the church
itself, 519-606-1015.
On Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. the
community is invited to a free gospel
concert offered by George Hamilton
IV at the Heartland Community
Church.
Fender Bender
Ontario Provincial Police and Huron County Emergency Medical Services personnel were on
hand for a two vehicle collision that happened on August 11. The accident occurred at the
corner of Base Line and Londesborough Road at approximately 9 a.m. and resulted in one
vehicle going into the ditch. While an ambulance was on scene, no serious injuries were
reported. (Denny Scott photo)
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO
NEWS
FROM LONDESBORO
Speaker highlights need for ‘soup kitchen’ in CH
Unfortunately, we
couldn’t fit everyone
in the picture.
THIS YEAR, ONTARIO CREATED MORE JOBS
THAN ALL OTHER PROVINCES COMBINED.
Source: Statistics Canada.
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Clinton Office: 519-482-5630 | Kincardine Office: 519-396-3007 | www.carolmitchell.ca