Serving lunch and spiritual nourishment
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/10/2018 (2833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Young United Church advertises itself as “a church for everyone,” and the staff and parishioners mean it.
One of the people who exemplifies the motto is Jeanette Rose.
Rose is the driving force behind a lunch program at the church that feeds people in West Broadway every Sunday.
“It’s really gratifying,” says the 85-year-old, who has attended the church for more than 50 years.
Rose buys the groceries using money provided by the church.
She shows up Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with three or four other volunteers and prepares lunch.
Rose and the volunteers attend the 11 a.m. service and duck out 15 minutes before it ends so they can begin serving lunch at 11:45 a.m.
Some of the people who eat lunch have attended the service and others show up just for the food.
On a busy Sunday, Rose and her team serve sandwiches, cupcakes, coffee, tea and juice to as many as 60 visitors.
Many of them are already familiar with the church, which is on the corner of Furby and Broadway, because it shares its building with West Broadway Community Ministry.
The ministry offers a variety of programs and services to the community, including lunch four days a week.
Since the ministry doesn’t offer lunch on Sundays, Young United fills the gap. Once everyone has been fed, Rose and her team clean the tables and dishes.
By about 2 p.m., she’s headed home to the house she shares in Windsor Park with her husband, Allan.
Rose began serving lunch 10 years ago, when she noticed people coming into the building, looking for something to eat during the church’s post-service, cookies-and-coffee fellowship time.
Today, the need is greater than ever.
Rose notes that many new visitors have walked through the doors during the past three or four months.
“It saddens me,” she says. “It’s sad that in this day and age, we have so many people hungry out there.”
The people who visit Young United for lunch receive more than just a meal, says Lynda Trono, community minister at West Broadway Community Ministry.
“There are just so many places where they try to go and they get booted out,” Trono says. “They have no place that welcomes them, and the church is trying to provide that place.”
Trono praises Rose’s compassion and commitment.
“To me, that is what church is about,” Trono says. “It’s about feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger.”
Rose wishes they could offer more.
“I just feel that there should be more done for these people that we’re feeding,” she says, noting that many of them are homeless. “I don’t know what the answer is.”
At the same time, serving lunch on Sundays is a meaningful experience.
“I feel good that some people have come to our table and had something to eat,” she says.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Volunteers needed
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is an opportunity to prepare returns for people with modest incomes, in a collegial and supportive environment. The program is looking for people to volunteer weekdays in March and April. Experience is an asset but not necessary, as are interviewing skills and basic knowledge of computers. Training is provided. For more information, call Diane Isaac at 204-989-1912.
FASD Life’s Journey is a government-funded agency providing disability services in rural and urban locations in Manitoba. It is seeking highly ethical, engaged volunteers to serve on its board of directors. Board members are responsible for maintaining the commitment to the agency’s mission, establishing strategic direction, oversight of operations, ensuring compliance with all applicable legal requirements and maintaining the organization’s financial well-being. Members are expected to participate in committee activities and attend meetings as required. Send your resumé to g.wyllie@fasdlji.ca.
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for people to join its team of dedicated volunteers who are prepared to help people impacted by disasters such as forest fires and floods. For more information, go to redcross.ca, call 204-982-7330 or email vrs@redcross.ca.
The Manitoba Prostate Cancer Support Group is seeking board members. All training and support will be provided. The group has tasks for anyone interested. Email eschade@mymts.net or call 204-489-1648.
Skate Winnipeg needs energetic and positive people of any age who love to skate and are willing to share that skill with young skaters. It offers CanSkate (learn-to-skate programs) and needs program assistants Mondays, 5:15 to 6 p.m., to help skaters by offering support and encouragement, and to help coaches in leading activities and circuits. A skating background in hockey, ringette or figure skating is an asset. A weekly volunteer commitment from October to March is required. Email canskatecoordinator@skatewinnipeg.ca.
The Breast Health Centre needs volunteers to greet clients and help them through the clinic process. Volunteers are needed weekly on Mondays, 1 to 4 p.m., and casually for shifts from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays. For more information, call Suzie at 204-787-7247 or email volunteer@wrha.mb.ca.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us
