As part of our emphasis on discipleship and living out our faith as well as our focus on peace and social justice, we are involved in a number of organizations and activities outside our congregation.
WELCOME WEDNESDAY
In October of 2008, Valleyview joined together with a number of other area churches and groups to form a community lunch and fellowship program known as Welcome Wednesday, hosted at Rowntree Memorial United Church. Welcome Wednesday provides a weekly nutritious hospitality meal as well as the social opportunity for fellowship and games to anyone who wants to come. Welcome Wednesday Social and Lunch - Rowntree Memorial United Church * 156 Elliot St (at Cheapside) * Wed doors open 11:30am, lunch at 12noon
FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
Valleyview is a member of the London Food Coalition, rescuing high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste, ensuring it reaches individuals and families facing food insecurity. Each week, volunteers distribute fresh food into the community. This program began on the initiative of the former Agape Fellowship, in efforts to coordinate a distribution to congregation participants and members of the general public within the local neighbourhood (Kipps Lane, Huron Heights). If you are experiencing food insecurity, please contact us to find out more on how you might access this program.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC)
Mennonite Central Committee is the relief and development arm of the North American Mennonite Church. MCC seeks to demonstrate God’s love throughout the world by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster. MCC strives for peace, justice and the dignity of all people by sharing our experiences, resources and faith in Jesus Christ.
MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE (MDS)
Mennonite Disaster Service recruits, organizes and empowers volunteers to repair and rebuild homes of those impacted by disasters in the United States and Canada. As Christians, we love to serve people who would not otherwise have the means to recover, our goal is to restore hope and bring people home.
COMMUNITY PEACEMAKER TEAMS (CPT)
As part of our commitment to Peace and Justice, a number of Valleyview participants are involved in Community Peacemaker Teams. CPT is an organization that strives for spiritually centered peacemaking through actions such as public witness, nonviolent direct action, and protection of human rights.
LONDON COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY
The London Community Chaplaincy is just one of the many community groups that Valleyview supports. It is an ecumenical community ministry in the heart of the publicly subsidized housing complex at the corner of Southdale Road East and Millbank Drive in the southeast corner of London, as well as serving the Limberlost housing community of northwest London. Through the work of the chaplain and many volunteers, they focus on strengthening families and providing programs to school age children.
LUSO COMMUNITY SERVICES
Valleyview supports LUSO Community Services, a northeast London non-profit multicultural neighbourhood resource centre dedicated to promoting inclusiveness, well-being and the prosperity of the London community. The Valleyview building is used for LUSO programs and events, as well as additional support by many volunteers from the congregation. Activities have included literacy programs for children, newcomer support and community building, free community meals for new families to London, as well as an occasional "pop-up" free produce market.
Valleyview provides a representative on The North East Basic Needs program of London, coordinated by LUSO. Activities have included providing meals to children at public Summer Day Camps in low income neighbourhoods. Volunteers prepare and deliver healthy snacks and food for the elementary age attendants.
SERVICE TRIPS
Valleyview participants have gone on a number of service trips together to other parts of North America. Often these trips have included youth. Volunteering in other locations helps us to see situations and needs in a way that we don’t necessarily in our own city. Service trips have included places like Chicago, Atlanta, or Denver as part of the DOOR program, and to New Orleans with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS).