Category Archives: Outreach

Visions Outreach Activities

Visiting the Food Bank

The Vision Aiders were out in November to visit the Peter McKee Community Food Centre. They were taken on a tour of the facility and were excited to share their experience and some pictures with the congregation.

For more about the centre you can visit their website: http://fooddepot.ca/en/default.php

Plastics Reduction Petition

Visions Signs Petition

Plastic is everywhere. It makes up the bags at our grocery stores and the lids of our coffee cups. But most of us don’t think about where these plastic items go when we’re through with them. Unfortunately, these plastics are making their way into our waterways, lakes, rivers and eventually into our oceans. It is now common for us to find species that have been negatively affected by plastic pollution, some become entangled and others ingest plastic (mistaking it for a food source).

Join Us!

Did you ever wonder what 388 signed petitions would look like? Well, Visions United has collected that number of signed petitions in support of the Canadian Wildlife Federations "Plastics Reduction Petition"

We encourage everyone to take a look at the Web site, Canadian Wildlife Federations Platic Reduction Petition and join the global community in supporting this cause.

 

The Teal Pumpkin Project

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project®?

Visions is promoting the Teal Pumpkin Project this year.

Launched in 2014 by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the Teal Pumpkin Project® promotes safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies. This movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option, and keeps Halloween a fun, positive experience for all!

We are proud to support the Teal Pumpkin Project®. Through this international initiative, families are encouraged to place a teal-coloured pumpkin in front of their home to show they have non-food treats available for children with food allergies and other kids for whom candy is not an option. Its aim is to create a safer and happier Halloween for all!

How can you participate?

Here are some fun ways you can participate:

  • Paint your pumpkin teal and display it outside your home
  • Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters (stickers, glow sticks, playing cards etc.)
  • Download and display a free printable poster/sign in your window (See downloads)
  • Tell your families and friends and ask them to join the campaign
  • Host an allergy-friendly Halloween party and paint pumpkins with friends

Head Start Backpack Program

Being August you would think the VisionAiders would be taking the summer off to recharge. Instead they were out in full force ensuring that the Moncton Head Start School supplies program had lots of back packs full of school supplies for those in need.

Taste of Syria

Taste of Syria

Syrian Dinner

A dinner, catered by 5 Syrian ladies from a "Taste of Syria", was enjoyed by 58 people on May 26, 2017, at Visions United. It was not a fund raiser, but rather all proceeds went to the caterers.  One of the ladies did a brief presentation on their experiences since coming to Canada 1 1/2 years ago.  Everyone attending agreed that it was a unique and most enjoyable evening.

Coats For Care Year 2

Year 2 of Coats for Care

In the fall of 2015 we launched a test project to address the issue of poverty. We had heard the stories of those living on the streets and unable to obtain winter shelter due to mental illness. Our generous congregation supported our cause, along with many others and it was determined we would place 5 coats (sleeping bags) in each of the seven Maritime  cities. We followed up in the spring and winter of 2016.

It would appear that we had a mild winter and the coats were not all given out. We were also testing our distribution contacts and have made a few changes in 2017. The following list is an update by Provence .

New Brunswick - St John (Ramero House) gave out all the coats and requested more / Fredericton (Wilmet United Church ) gave out all the coats and requested more / Moncton ( Reconnect) gave out three and still have two, will contact Visions when more are needed.

Nova Scotia - Sydney ( United Protestant Church) gave out all the coats and requested many more, the need is tragic, / Halifax ( Brunswick Street Mission) gave out three and still have two,  so they suggested MOSH which is street nursing and the nurses really want to use them so we sent 6 as a trail.

Prince Edward Island - Summerside ( Summerside United Church) they received three and still have one left/ Charlottetown (Salvation Army) they did not use them so we collected 4 of the 5 and have them in Moncton.

We recently ordered another 10 coats to start the second year (2017 winter). Again we will monitor this and report in the spring. We still have money in the Coats of Care account.

Our supplier is The Empowerment Plan in Detroit, they are great to work with and we continue to enjoy this partnership. You many be interested to know they have provided 23 jobs for homeless women and their families, all now are able to provide housing and food for their children.

Thank you for your continued support, this is an important project for those in need.

Visions Pride!

Pride 2016

Visions United joined with local area United Churches, Central and St Paul's, to march in this year's River of Pride Parade.  Our Visions United Doors 'God Doors Are Open to All' were proudly displayed on the float. Here are some pictures from the day.

Headstart Presents Award

Glenna Lightfoot, representing Visions United, with Mary O'Donnell , receiving an award for donations to Moncton Headstart .
Visions has received an award each of the past 4 years for generous donations to the school supply and Christmas Toyland projects.

Mission & Service Update

Wearing the colours of  Mission and Service of The United Church of Canada- Pam Harrison, Glenna Lightfoot, Lila Briggs and Joan Hawkes presented current information on several projects supported by your generosity. Visions United Church has set a goal of $22,000.00.

Coats of Care

Coats Of Care

Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA

Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA.  The COATS of CARE is a special project to support homeless people during the long cold winter. We have placed 5 coats in the following cities with a reserve of 12 coats at Visions United Church (Moncton):

Location City
Sydney United Church Sydney, NS
Brunswick Street Mission Halifax, NS
Wilmet United Church Fredericton, NB
Reconnect YMCA Moncton, NB
Ramiro House Saint John, NB
Trinity United Church Summerside, PE
Bedford MacDonald House, Salvation Army Charlottetown, PE

The hooded coats are water-resistant, self-heating and transform into sleeping bags. The two large pockets act as storage, and can be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. The coat is constructed of up- cycled automotive insulation, fabric from Carhartt, and other materials provided by generous donors.

The coats are made by homeless women in Detroit, USA as part of the EMPOWERMENTPLAN project. This project began in 2011 and to date they have produced over 9,000 coats. 28 women and their children (approximately 75) now have income security which is life changing.

The campaign resulted in 86 generous donations totalling over $11,000.00. Approximately 34% of the donations came from Visions United which represents roughly $3,700.00

This is a pilot project for the winter 2015-2016.  We will be requesting feedback from these organizations about these coats and reviewing the results in the spring to determine future action.  Stay tuned more for exciting news about this project.