Royal York Road United was instrumental in forming the Stonegate Ministry to support this local neighbourhood of 90 low rise apartment buildings and to provide an interdenominational Christian presence. Stonegate Ministry operates an Outreach store featuring used clothing for all members of the family plus toys and baby equipment at reasonable cost. Special events and festivals are arranged in summer as is a farmers’ market. Stonegate Ministry works in partnership with the St James Humber Bay Food Bank, the Stonegate Community Association and the Stonegate Health Centre to address community needs. Community Coordinator Rev Linda Dixon can be reached at 416-234-9948.
The local Out of the Cold program operates Friday nights at All Saints (Kingsway) Anglican Church from Dece
mber to April. We support this program by providing dinner twice each season, by volunteering there on a regular basis and by collecting and giving warm clothing and toiletries.
Each December, the choirs of five local churches including our own Royal York Road United put on a spectacular ecumenical concert to raise funds for Out of the Cold.
Many members joined other volunteers to build Habitat for Humanity homes in Etobicoke in late 2006. Skilled and non-skilled workers were welcomed and reveled in the experience.
Refugee resettlement is often part of our outreach program. In spring 2007 we sponsored a young Karen family from Myanmar (Burma). The family consisted of a Mom, Dad and baby girl. The man's family of mother, father and four siblings came at the same time and were sponsored by Islington United Church. We were delighted with the opportunity to work with a neighbouring congregation to assist this talented group in assimilating into Canadian society.
In 2005 our church initiated Ecumenical Outreach Links - South Central Etobicoke to help network, and coordinate activities and support services among congregations of different faiths.
Members enthusiastically support social and justice issues through Amnesty International, which has met in our building for over 25 years, and Kairos. Fair Trade coffee is served at Coffee Hour.
