For more information about our community programs, click the following links
Community Meal • Emergency Food Pantry • Thrift Store • Christmas Meal
How Can I Help the Incoming Syrian Refugees?
» Read More HOW TO HELP REFUGEES IN NEW WEST The Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster (WINS) Local Immigration Partnership Council which comprises of business, community, faith, settlement and social service organizations, is providing the following information to assist those who want to make a difference. Inquiries related to Accommodation and Volunteering Inquiries related to Private Refugee Sponsorships MOSAIC is playing a key role with regard to facilitating Private Refugee Sponsorships. To access information about being a sponsor or to attend an information session, please visit: Inquiries related to Making a Donation To make a donation and to receive a tax receipt, the following methods are available. Don’t forget your return address for a tax receipt and indicate that your donation is for the ‘LIP Refugee Fund.’ Inquiries related to Offering Employment Inquiries related to Donating Products and Services at No or Low Cost Inquiries related to Donating Clothing and Household Items Inquiries related to Food and Meal Programs » Less
The Immigrant Services Society of BC has established a registry where those wanting to make a contribution can sign-up to provide accommodation and employment or volunteer their time.
Please visit:
http://www.issbc.org/prim-corp-nav/our-work-with-refugees/refugee-crisis/how-can-i-help-refugees
Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides information related to sponsoring refugees. As a sponsor, you would provide financial and emotional support for the refugees for the duration of the sponsorship, which is typically one year. This includes housing, clothing and food.
Please visit:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/refugees/sponsor/index.asp
http://www.mosaicbc.com/refugees/refugee-support-you-can-change-lives-refugees
The Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster (WINS) Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) Council has established an account to hold cash donations to help support the settlement of Syrian refugees in New Westminster. The Lower Mainland Purpose Society, as host agency for the LIP initiative, is designated to hold the funds. Use and distribution of the funds will be overseen by a sub-committee of the LIP Council.
By Cheque: Payable to the ‘Lower Mainland Purpose Society,’ plus indicate ‘LIP Refugee Fund.’ Cheques can be dropped off at:
40 Begbie Street,
New Westminster, BC, V3M 3L9.
In Person: Drop by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society, 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster
Fraser Works Co-op, which is a one-stop WorkBC Employment Services Centre in New Westminster, can match employment opportunities with Syrian refugees of working age.
Fraser Works Co-op
Second Floor, 519 Seventh Street,
New Westminster, V3M 6A7
info@fraserworks.ca or 604-522-9701 ext. 123
A registry has been established where businesses and organizations can offer products and services to assist in Syrian refugee resettlement in New Westminster – e.g., dental services, grocery gift cards, etc.
7615 Sixth Street,
Burnaby, V3N 3M6,
peter.julian.c1@parl.gc.ca or 604-775-5707MLA Judy Darcy’s Community Office
737 Sixth Street,
New Westminster, V3L 3C6,
judy .Darcy.MLA@leg.bc.ca or 604-775-2101
Discussions are underway with the New Westminster Inter-Ministerial Association and Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar (Sikh Temple) with regard to establishing reception sites for the donation of new or good condition clothing and households items. These reception sites will not be operational until there is a better idea as to refugee numbers, age, gender and family composition. In this way, donations can be targeted to the needs of refugees. This information will be available on the City’s website and WINS member websites.
Discussions will soon commence with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, which operates a food bank in New Westminster, and the Muslim Food Bank. These discussions will help ensure that Syrian refugees who are in need of food security programs can access culturally appropriate food. In the meantime, those wanting to make a contribution can purchase a food bank voucher at their local grocery store, in which the proceeds will be used in New Westminster, or make a donation of food or money to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and the Muslim Food Bank. This will not only benefit Syrian refugees but residents with low-incomes or living in poverty. Please visit:
https://www.foodbank.bc.ca/ and http://www.muslimfoodbank.com/
Reaching Out to the Community
St. Barnabas is a place of active outreach in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood and in the City of New Westminster. Throughout its history, St. Barnabas has been actively involved in the local community and currently offers a community meal, emergency food cupboard, thrift store, pastoral care and counseling, spiritual development and educational programs, and referral services. We have on-site a community garden, daycare, and transition house (each operating under the umbrella of their own societies). A number of community groups use our facilities for their programs. We work together closely with other local churches and organizations to meet the needs of all those in our local area.
Neighbourhood Ministries at St. Barnabas
Community Meal: Thursday 11 am
Our community meal is open to all and offers homemade soup, sandwiches, with a veggie plate, fruit dish, along with coffee, tea and baked goodies. Come, share a delicious, wholesome meal with friends. Our parish priest is available for pastoral care and consultation. A prayer table is available for people to write their cares and concerns. Thanks to the volunteers from the parish and community who prepare the meal on Wednesdays, and serve it and clean up on Thursdays.
Emergency Food Cupboard: Friday 10 am – 12 pm
Our emergency food pantry provides enough food for a couple of meals, including a bag fresh vegetables and a source of protein such as meat or fish. When available, we also offer hygiene items, socks, underwear, gloves/toques, and pet food. If you or your family need immediate assistance, please call us or drop by during Parish Office Hours, Wednesday to Friday, 10am – noon.
We are thankful for the many donations we receive from local organizations and individuals to assist in this ministry. We always need volunteers to help with sorting incoming donations and distribution. For more information, please see our Volunteer Opportunities page, or give us a call at 604-526-6646.
Thrift Store: Wednesday to Saturday 11 am – 3 pm
Barnabas Thrift, located in the basement of our church, is an affordable place to shop for clothing and household goods. As part of our community outreach, those in need may request vouchers for necessary items, by calling and speaking with Emilie.
Volunteers are always needed to help sort incoming donations, tidy the store, and other general duties. For more information, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.
We accept donations during store hours, Wednesday to Saturday, from 11am – 3pm. Please ensure your donations are clean and in good condition. We also kindly ask that you do not leave donations outside our door during off-hours.
The thrift store opened in 1997 and continues to serve the community and support the ministries of St. Barnabas. All proceeds raised go directly back into the community.
Stay on top of deals, giveaways, and specials, by liking Barnabas Thrift on Facebook!
Facebook.com/BarnabasThrift
Christmas Meal, 1pm:
Friends and neighbours gather on Christmas Day to celebrate the season and share in traditional Christmas dinner of turkey with all the fixings.the meal is prepared and served by volunteers to about 130+ people in our festively decorated hall. There’s carol singing, gifts for all, and a whole lot of fun!
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers who share in the ministry at St. Barnabas are key to it being a place of hospitality. We could not accomplish what we do without the help of those who give freely of their time. There are many opportunities within the Thrift Store or our Food Ministries, for you to get involved in your community. Ask yourself how you can offer your gifts or talents here at St. Barnabas. For more information about volunteering, please click here.
Spiritual Development and Education
We place great importance on spiritual formation for all ages, seeing it as an opportunity to teach and learn from one another as we grow in faith. The parish strives to offer a variety of programs throughout the year – bible studies, book studies, workshops, and special presentations and events.
Children and Youth
Children and youth find a friendly and accepting home at St. Barnabas. They are encouraged to take an active roll as acolytes, assisting in various ways during our worship services, as well as to be involved with our neighbourhood ministries. Our children and youth programming is integrated into our regular service and is geared specifically towards the younger members of our congregation.
Facility Rentals
A number of community groups rent our parish hall for regular meetings, workshops, and educational programs. Our hall (with or without use of the kitchen) and the smaller adjacent community room are available for rental on a one-time, short-term, or long-term basis at reasonable rates.
Stewardship and Sustainability
Creation matters! We are called to be stewards of the earth in our daily living, striving to care for creation by our actions.
Here at St. Barnabas we strive to live out that calling by, not only sharing with and caring for each other, but also by ‘greening’ our parish. We have rain barrels to collect rain water for use in our community garden, use a solar panel to heat the water in our parish hall, we recycle and compost as much waste as possible, and use energy efficient lighting and furnaces. We continue to strive to find new ways of exercising good stewardship through sustainable practices.
St. Barnabas sells fair trade coffee for $15/ 1lb bag – Cafe Jusiticia is grown in the highlands of Guatemala and imported by BC CASA and we are selling it through the Thrift Shop or the parish office. cafejusticia.ca
Emilie, our priest, brings to our parish a passionate commitment to social and environmental responsibility and justice.
New Westminster Ministerial Association
An active member of the New Westminster Ministerial Association we work together with other churches in New Westminster to provide programs and services to meet the needs of all those in our community.