The people of St. James generously donate to missions on an ongoing basis.
MISSION
Food
As food security becomes a growing issue in our country and community, St. James has become a hub for food distribution in downtown Stouffville:
Did you know, St. James is now a meal distribution location for Stouffville’s own The Good Food Impact?
Good Food Impact is a nonprofit “focused on increasing access to nutritious meals for anyone experiencing food insecurity. Our meals are prepared by local volunteers, made with real ingredients, and will fuel you to tackle the day.” Meals are available for pick up at our church every Wednesday from 1-4 pm.
Big thanks to our friends at The ABLE Network for distributing the frozen meals – and assisting in all of our food projects at St. James.
St. James is Stouffville’s location for York Region’s Affordable Fresh Food Markets.
Open to everyone, “these markets are more than just places to buy veggies and fruits – they’re vibrant, inclusive hubs designed for community connection.” Operated by the York Region Food Network, the market is open two Wednesdays a month year-round at St. James.
Since COBS Bread first opened in Canada in 2003, every bakery has committed to partnering and donating leftover baked-fresh daily products to local charitable organizations through COBS Bread’s End of Day Giving program.
St. James, via our Little Free Pantry, was selected as one of those organizations by COBS when it opened in Stouffville’s SmartCentre plaza in March 2024.
“Over $560 million worth of product has been donated to over 500 charity recipients, including food banks, school breakfast programs, after school programs and youth charities,” COBS says on its website.
“With $1,000 worth of product, on average, being donated each day by every franchise, this program is a cornerstone of our business, as well as one of the most important ways that we connect with our community.”
Every Friday night, a small team from St. James goes to COBS, picks up the leftovers and returns to the church Library to bag them. Then, on Saturday morning, a few people gather at St. James to help distribute the bread to other Stouffville organizations.
Aside from our pantry, we distribute bread products to Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons), Loft Community Services, Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold at Wideman Mennonite Church, Shadow Lake Centre (Community Living Toronto) and Stouffville United Church.
St. James Little Free Pantry opened in 2021 with the motto “Take what you need, give what you can”.
Thanks to the congregation and the community for their generous donations of cash (on the offering plate, please) and food to help us keep the pantry full.
Kenora Fellowship Centre
Since 2019, St. James has collected clothing and shipped it to the Kenora Fellowship Centre, which is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, several times a year.
Valerie Starr, who visited ‘KFC’ during a Presbyterian Church in Canada Healing and Reconciliation Tour in 2019, co-ordinates the program within the congregation and the larger community.
The Kenora Fellowship Centre is a place for people facing homelessness and poverty to feel safe in the Northwestern Ontario Community. The Fellowship Centre is a part of the National Native Ministry Council. It serves all homeless, those living in poverty, working poor, seniors, and people living with physical and mental disabilities of all ages.
“We believe that each person has a chance to heal themselves, and each person has a story to be told,” is the fellowship centre’s motto.
Our annual Lenten Missions.
Other Missions:
St. James annually contributes to Presbyterians Sharing. Presbyterians Sharing is the name of the fund that supports the national programs and ministries of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. The fund is supported by gifts from congregations. It was formerly called the General Assembly Budget. Presbyterians Sharing does not fund development work and emergency relief, they are funded through gifts to Presbyterian World Service & Development.
Other opportunities for Mission:
Save plastic milk bags for the making of mattresses