We help others

We believe that each person already has an outreach ministry wherever they find themselves, in their family, the community, or at work.

Soup Making

A group meets once a month on the second Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. to make soup for the morning soupline at First United.

Contact: Wendy Morgan through the church office at 604 266-5377.

Meal-a-month

On the first Friday of each month, we offer a supper at First United for people of the Downtown Eastside. An amazing experience which offers volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.

Contact: Kathleen Barber through the church office at 604 266-5377.

Saturday Night Fellowship

On the second Saturday of every month, Ryerson volunteers sponsor a sandwich and movie night for the people of the Downtown Eastside.

Contact: Richard or Lori Keenan through the church office at 604 266-5377.

Thrift Sale

The Ryerson Thrift Sale, which has been held at least annually since 1946, now takes place biannually in April and October. (Please watch the Events Calendar on this website for further details.) It is a very large sale, utilizing premises in both the Memorial Centre and the Gym next door, and it raises a significant contribution to Ryerson's annual budget.

A small group of volunteers works more or less continuously throughout the year, planning, organizing, and collecting merchandise, but their number swells to about 150 during the week of each Thrift Sale.  Many volunteers look forward to these weeks as a time of socializing and community building as well as of fund-raising.

Goods are collected year-round, and a special box is placed in the Ladies' Cloakroom of the Memorial Centre to receive donations, but special collection days are also held on certain Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the 8 - 10 weeks prior to each Sale, when goods may be brought directly to the back door of the Gym for sorting and storage.

The Thrift Sale also has a strong Outreach component.  Almost none of the goods donated to each Thrift Sale are retained for future sales.  At the end of each sale, members of the Outreach Working Unit come with "shopping lists" to collect goods specifically requested by a number of other charitable organizations, including First United Church, Persons With Aids, and various women's shelters.  What remains is then donated to yet another charity, and any unusable items are dismantled for recycling. 

Donations of good quality, saleable items and offers of help are always welcome.  For more information, please contact Gwyneth Westwick at 604-263-6612.