Churches can make their Advent wreathes—and someone’s life—a little brighter with a set of beeswax candles creates by residents and clients of Evangel Hall Mission in Toronto.
The candle making is a form of social enterprise for vulnerable women, a way of teaching skills and building community, said Jo Ann Hislop, the director of programs at the Presbyterian mission. Although the candles are currently made in the chapel, she said EHM was seeking funding to set up a space dedicated to the activity, and hoped to receive enough money to pay four or five people to make candles for a few hours each week.
People on social assistance in Toronto are permitted to make up to $200 a month without it affecting the amount they receive in assistance.
Heather Riley is a resident of EHM and a volunteer candle-maker. For someone whose mental and physical health benefits prevent her from holding down a steady job, the idea of making an extra $195 a month is “a big deal,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like a lot for somebody with a regular job, but for somebody like me that’s 20 per cent of my income.”
“For a lot of people, $200 a month is the difference between being able to rent a room or living on the street,” said Lorraine Leader, who is currently the mission’s arts and crafts coordinator but will become its social enterprise production director. “It’s the difference between being able to buy groceries or standing in lineups for free meals everyday for an hour.”
Churches and individuals can order candles through Evangel Hall’s website. Although the mission is focusing on Advent and Christmas candles in November and December, they are available in many sizes and colours.
