News from the Gleaners

1550 Morrison Rd,

Cambridge, ON

N1R 5S2

(519) 624-8245

www.OntarioGleaners.org

Shelley Stone OCG Manager

[email protected]

Charitable # 85923 0476 RR0001

News from the Gleaners Summer – June 1, 2013

From the Field… Ontario Christian Gleaners

OntarioGleaners.org

Important Dates

Open House Tours: @ 10:30am

June 12th,19th & 24th August 15th & 27th

(No July Tours)

Soup Packaging: July 8th – 12th

Students grade 7 & up are invited to join us.

Summer Shut Down Friday June 28th –

Sunday July 7th

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Facebook /OntarioGleaners

Niagara Warehouse of Hope Niagara Warehouse of Hope receives donations of hospital beds, wheelchairs, computers etc, repairs them and sends them in containers to underdeveloped countries. All of the 40 foot containers are packed by volunteers who have become very adept at space optimization.

Our warehouse is staffed by numerous volunteers. One room is dedicated to eye glasses that are collected by Lions Clubs of Ontario. Volunteers check and mark the glasses with the prescription. A sewing room is used each week by a group of ladies to make and sort layettes, baby articles, blankets and linens for the hospitals. Computers are received from many sources including schools that are upgrading. After checking the computers, easy to use software is installed. Clothing and shoes (soccer items are a favourite!) are packed in used flower boxes.

In 2012, Niagara Warehouse of Hope sent out twelve shipping containers – two to both Nicaragua and Guatemala, six to Port-au-Prince and two to Cap-Haitien in Haiti. Each container costs $5000 to ship with the funds raised at garage sales and by donations.

Thanks to the Gleaners, we are now able to supply these countries with nutritious soup mixes and dried apples.

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in Central America with a population of 7 million, a literacy rate of 60% and a poverty rate of 55%. We work there with Caritas De Nicaragua. They distribute the soup mixes to 35 different locations including hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes and even jails. The recipients benefit greatly from not just the soup, but also the pails that the soup was delivered in. These pails are used to carry water from the wells and bring corn to the grinder. We are also working with four communities in Nicaragua to start a garden program by providing seeds and an Agriculturist to instruct the local people.

- Harry VanBelle For more information on Niagara Warehouse of Hope visit www.warehouseofhope.com

(Above) Warehouse, operated by Caritas for Nicaraguan Food banks (Right) Gleaners soup at Women’s

Hospital

Volunteer Appreciation Lunches

June 17th – 21st at 12:00 noon

Enjoy a little taste of Gleaners soup. If you plan to attend,

please reserve your seat by contacting us at

[email protected] or 519.624.8245

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Exciting Days!

We’ve been stockpiling all winter and are getting ready to package our soup in a BIG way. We will have large amounts of food available and are inviting applications from new mission groups as well as our present distributors. Local mission groups looking to take smaller amounts in suitcases are welcome as the samples of our product trickle around the world.

• Please consider bringing in some youth for a high energy morning on PA Days and over the summer months. Group booking info is on our website. Otherwise, fill your car and come on in. Some exchange students from France had so much fun during their 2 days last year, they are booked in and eager to return in July.

Coming This September - The Gleaners 5th Anniversary!

A fun day for the young and young at heart Info and updates will be posted on our website OntarioGleaners.org

Waterloo County Steam Threshers Reunion

Fri. August 23rd 10am – 10pm, Sat. August 24rd 10am – 5pm

Proceeds to the Ontario Christian Gleaners and Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association

For More Information: 519-572-1655 or www.waterloocountysteamthreshers.com

Hi my name is Chelsey Matthews and I love being a part of Ontario Christian Gleaners! I was first introduced to the Gleaners by the family I am currently living with in St. George, Ontario that also volunteers at Gleaners. These people have truly taught me the meaning of generosity opening their home to me for the year. I was so happy to learn about Gleaners where I am consistently humbled by the generosity of all who make Gleaners such a success. Recently I had the opportunity to represent the OCG at MissionFest in Toronto. I was overwhelmed by the positive response we received from people when they heard what the Gleaners was all about. After volunteering for a few months now it can be easy to lose sight of the impact Gleaners has all over the world on a daily basis. Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm these people had at MissionFest for the work of the Gleaners was beautiful and uplifting. The times in my life when I have felt the most purpose and passion have always been when I’ve had the chance to help someone else. For me Gleaners is God’s love put in action, “Using surplus produce to feed hungry people.” Thank you Gleaners for allowing me to be a part of something so special!

World Refugee Day – June 18th The Gleaners is featured in a special exhibit, ‘My Life as a Refugee’ at the

Waterloo Region Museum (10 Huron Rd. Kitchener)

This exhibit will be on display June 1st - Sept. 2nd.

For more information http://waterlooregionmuseum.com/

Volunteer Profile

• Sometimes we take the little things for granted. But the little things can be big things – like a PAIL, for example. Square plastic pails are needed so we can pack 4 bags of soup into each pail for shipping. Pails can be sourced from restaurants, retirement homes, food processing plants, and recyclers. The pails remain at their destination and become valuable tools for carrying water, washing laundry, bathing the baby, storing rice and beans from rodents, and having a shower. Please help us source the pails and drop them off at our building. - With Thankfulness,

Shelley Stone