News Community rallies for youth when freezer breaks


Emily Wierenga Special to ChristianWeek


HAMILTON, ON—An outpour- ing of generosity in response to a freezer meltdown this summer at Living Rock has warmed the hearts of staff and volunteers at the 26-year-old ministry. “People responded almost


immediately,” says Karen Craig, whose husband Alan founded the street-affiliated youth outreach in 1985. “We were extremely sur- prised and blessed.” Te freezer, which stores


enough food for 900 meals each week, broke down in the mid- dle of summer, when donations are lowest and the need for food highest. “It was an unfortunate incident,”


says Julie Conway, open access manager for Living Rock. “Instead of allowing the items in the freez- er to spoil, we were able to donate it to other agencies throughout the community who could use it,” Conway explains. And in return, the communi-


ty—which had been informed of the breakdown by local media— responded in an outpouring of giſts. “Tey say Hamilton is a gen-


erous city,” says Alan, executive director and ordained minister.


“We have seen that generosity put into action.” Individuals and business-


es were quick to offer money and online donations, as others


Living Rock runs a food bank, breakfast program, music night and coffee house for Hamilton youth. Living Rock


pulled up to the ministry with carloads of food and clothing. Living Rock’s street-youth, rang- ing in age from 13 to 25, helped to unload the giſts. “Churches, individuals, other


non-profits and organizations gave out of what they had to help lessen the loss,” says Karen. “Near and far, big and small, the donations both of food and finances came to sup- port youth-at-risk.” Today, says Alan, the ministry’s


needs have been met. “Te freezer bill is paid. Te freezer and food bank are full. We are planning for longer-term solutions. We want to say thank you!” Fenwood Farms, founded


by John and Carol Fennema of Ancaster, was one of many busi- nesses to give. “It is a pleasure to help out an


organization such as Living Rock,” says Carol, who donated free- range chickens. “Youth need good


mentors during their teen years... Living Rock provides structure and boundaries.” More than that, however, the


two-building outreach run by 30 staff and 50 volunteers seeks to share God’s love.


“Some of the youth that we work


with may be the hardest and most damaged population of our soci- ety,” says Alan. “At times, it seems like the change is slow. But I can also tell you stories of youth whose lives have been changed.” Once at-risk himself, Alan—


now a father of two—has a heart for Hamilton’s young peo- ple. Today he runs a breakfast program, food bank, chapel on Wednesday nights, Freestyle Fridays for young musicians, as well as an evening coffeehouse through Living Rock. Reaching 60 to 200 kids per day, the ministry is open seven days a week. And, thanks in part to the gen-


erosity displayed this summer, “I believe the Rock is going to con- tinue for many years to bring qual- ity service to Hamilton.”


Operation Christmas Child in full swing


Aaron Epp Manitoba Correspondent


WINNIPEG, MB—A program organized by an international Christian relief and development agency is aiming to transform the lives of more than 700,000 children this Christmas. Operation Christmas Child, a


program of Samaritan’s Purse, packs shoeboxes with a variety of giſts and delivers them to children all around the world. In 2010, the organiza- tion collected 640,714 boxes from Canadian families. Te goal for 2011, according to


Ben Silcox, program coordinator for Operation Christmas Child Canada, is to distribute 10 per cent more shoeboxes than last year. “We pack the shoeboxes to share


the love of God,” Silcox says. “Every shoebox that is packed is an oppor- tunity for us to share the gospel with a child.” As always, Samaritan’s Purse is


looking for churches, schools and individuals to get involved by col- lecting shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and other giſts. A Manit oba-wide kick-off event hap- pened Septe mber 17 at Te Forks in Winn ipeg. Silcox says that over the past 17


years, 86 million shoeboxes have been distributed to children in


6 • November 01, 2011 •


more than 130 countries. Te stories that result can be


incredibly moving, he adds. He tells of one recipient, a woman named Izabella McMillon who received a shoebox as a child living in Romania shortly aſter the Romanian Revolution of 1989. McMillon was 13 at the time


and had been attending secret Bible studies on Saturday nights with her brother. For months, she had praying for snow to fall. When she received her shoebox,


she opened it and found a snow globe inside. It wasn’t quite the kind of snow she had been hoping for, but it affirmed for her that God exists and that God answers prayers. McMillon is now a teacher at


a Christian elementary school in North Carolina, where she packs shoeboxes each Christmas with her students. “It’s amazing how God works


through such a small thing…around the world to show He loves each individual person, each individual child,” Silcox says. In addition to packing individu-


al shoeboxes, participants can pack shoeboxes online at the Operation Christmas Child web site (www. samaritanspurse.ca/Operation- Christmas-Child), as well as down- load additional resources, curricu- lum and promotional materials.


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