The Glenview Boarding Homes Ministry visiting team is a volunteer group that takes time to visit with people in various boarding homes around the city. The dwellings the team visits are all privately-owned  residences for people who need supervision in their lives.  Most of these people suffer from various forms of mental illness and/or the devastating results of substance abuse.

The ministry started in 2003. The team visits biweekly, on Tuesday afternoons, taking drinks and snacks, friendship and worship.  "The guys”, says Sheila Limerick, "as we affectionately refer to them, are waiting for us in their common room and seem happy to see us.  We start by sharing pop or juice and baked treats, fruit and cheese, all the while sharing conversation with them.  We are not there to give advice or to “show them the right way to live”; we are there to share friendship and God’s love.  When asked why we are there (which we were a lot in the beginning, but are seldom asked now) we have always answered that we were there because we wanted to be, because we are all God’s children and that He loves all of us.  It is an infinitely rewarding experience that can have some amazing and very special moments. One of my favourite of these is the fellow, only partly in touch with the day-to-day world, who went to his room and came back with his comb, which he wanted me to take to China with me, 'to keep me safe.'"

The highlights of the year at the Boarding Home, which the guys always seem to enjoy, are: a Canada Day BBQ at 180 Sherbourne, the joint BBQ at Glenview for Evangel Hall, Portland Place and our Boarding Home, Christmas and Easter Communion, Christmas Dinner (Swiss Chalet lunch for everyone at 180 Sherbourne together with a Christmas stocking of goodies), as well as quarterly birthday celebrations and other special treats.  The teams is grateful for the donation of baked treats, which magically appear in the freezer for us to take, baked by members of the congregation.

The team now consists of John and Lorna Hutchinson, Sheila Limerick, Bob Cartlidge, Heather Elliot, Rob Myer and Grace Raney. 

 

Boarding Homes Ministry is one way in which we as a congregation are attempting to transform lives. If you are interested in learning more about the Ministry or about joining the team, please speak to any one of the Team Members.  For further information about Boarding Homes Ministry visit http://www.standrewstoronto.org/boarding_homes_ministry.htm

 

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