Benevolent Fund

For food in world where

many walk in hunger.

For faith in a world where

many walk in fear.

For family and friends where

many walk alone

We give thanks, oh God.  Amen.

Sometimes I wish we didn’t need this fund, but in all honesty, I’m glad we have it.  The donations made by the people of Aurora United help sponsor this resource through the Outreach Committee.  The funding comes from four sources, the main one being the budget, the others including UCW, private donations, and Special Offerings.

Scarcely a week goes by that someone doesn’t approach the church looking for some kind of assistance.  Most of the calls involve requests for food vouchers.  A few seek assistance for prescription drugs, baby formula or unpaid utilities.  The fund is meant for emergency purposes and not for ongoing support.  However compassion takes precedence over policy and Aurora United does not attach “strings” or conditions to their benevolence and I am thankful for this. 

The many changes and reductions of service to the social safety net may have created this predicament.  Being poor and living on the edge is in itself, a crisis.  It doesn’t take much to create a crisis when precipitated by major change, such as losing your job, a severe illness or a marital break-up. You could lose your home and ultimately what used to be your lifestyle.  

From June 1^st 2001 to May 31^st, 2002, a total of $6,251.17 has been given in the way of food, cash, assistance payment of utilities, and prescription drugs and clothing.

On a day to day basis, I administer this fund, with occasional consultation with Myrna Capon and Rev. Don Bell.

Confidential records are kept of the disbursements, and close contact is kept with the other Churches in town to keep fraud to a minimum.  But, if we do err, it is on the side of compassion and kindness.

Many thanks to the UCW for funding and co-ordinating their generous Christmas stocking programme, which benefits many of our single parents and low income families .

Many thanks to Rev. Bruce Roffey for his guidance and insight, to Myrna Capon for her on-going support, and to Rev. Don Bell for his confidence in my ability to continue administering this programme.