Lakeside Community Initiatives

We offer hope, encouragement and practical help for individuals and families who are navigating the circumstances of life. If you have a personal need, or are seeking resources for a friend, contact our Community Care team.

 

 

Community Partnerships

Lakeside provides assistance in our community through a variety of ongoing projects and partnerships with community support agencies. This assistance includes:

            • Back to School Backpack Program

            • Support and feeding the under-resourced in the downtown core

            • Student Care Package

            • Single Mom’s Collective Kitchen

            • Food Pantry

            • Hodge Podge

            • Run and Read

 

 

 

Food Pantry Ministry

Lakeside’s food pantry started a few years ago as a way to help a local neighbourhood group, but we soon began receiving calls for help from others in the community. At the time, we housed some of the non-perishable food items on shelving in the basement so we had some food on hand to meet an immediate need that might arise. We continued in this way for a couple of years until word got that Lakeside had a food pantry ministry on the premises.

When the new addition was complete two years ago, our little food pantry moved upstairs into the “old” kitchen which we have almost completely taken over, filling the cupboards and pantry with non-perishable food and hygiene items.

To some, the people and families in need may be just anonymous faces, but to us they are men and women with families and children - some with very hard life stories. Some have experienced job losses and are accessing a food pantry service for the first time, some have experienced health concerns, some are going through retraining programs and just need a bit of help in the interim. Through it all we are being given the opportunity to impact their lives in a positive way and for many of these families we are their only connection with anything faith based. Those who serve in this ministry are called on to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a very real and practical way.
Matthew 25:40 says “The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Our food pantry has exploded with growth and we have gone from having a few items to meet a few needs in the community to quickly becoming a full fledged ministry.

Each family we help receives non-perishable groceries to last them a few days which includes items such as pasta and sauce, canned meat, mayonnaise, canned vegetables, mac and cheese, cereal, pancake mix and syrup, and the list goes on.  If the families have school age children we include lunch type of snacks in their packages such as fruit cups, granola bars, pudding cups etc.  We also try to include one bag of hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, dish detergent etc.

We accept donations on an on-going basis.

Currently we are in need of:

- boxed macaroni and cheese

- mayonnaise

- canned potatoes and vegetables

- pancake mix and syrup

- jam

- laundry soap and cleansers

- kleenex

- shampoo

- 4 or 8-roll toilet paper

 For more information, contact Karen Kamphuis at 519-836-8141 ext 226.

 

 

Family Care Ministry

A unique ministry that serves our Lakeside community in areas that include:

            • Hospital, home and prison visitation

            • Providing hot meals or casseroles to families in crisis

            • Providing support with cards and encouragement, flowers, and fruit baskets in various life situations

 

Email Prayer Team

This team prays for the Lakeside family on a daily basis. You can submit your prayer requests by writing them on the Connection Card included in the Sunday morning program or by phoning or emailing the church office. All prayer requests are held in the strictest confidence by the prayer team members. Requests are emailed to team members on a daily basis to respond to the needs of our church family.

 

For more information, contact Karen Kamphuis at 519-836-8141 ext 226.