City Dream Centre runs an active Adopt a School program, working with some 6,000 students and their families each year.
One of the best kept secrets around the work of churches in the Lower Mainland is the impactful work of three charitable organizations that are partnering effectively with schools across the Lower Mainland.
What is more, each of these organizations is also committed to partnering with churches in order to care for the growing number of children whose families are facing income and food insecurity.
They now work with at least 60 public schools in this area.
On Thursday, September 25 (9:30 am) at Sonrise Church in Surrey, the Serve Our Schools network will host a gathering in which you can learn more about how easy it is to partner with one of these fine organizations and with your local school.
The number of families struggling to feed, clothe and care for their children continues to grow in Vancouver.
According to First Call (a child poverty advocacy group), the ‘poverty gap’ – the difference between median incomes of poor families and the poverty line – has grown significantly, ranging from $14,000 to $16,000 annually.
This gap intensifies housing insecurity, with rising rents and lengthy waitlists for subsidized housing. As incomes stagnate and food costs rise, so too does food insecurity.
And of course, things like dental care, new backpacks and tutoring help get pushed out the window.
That is why the organizations that are part of the Serve our Schools network are so vital to the well-being of children.
Indeed, where there had in the past been some reticence among school boards to invite these groups to participate in their schools, now school boards are reaching out, inviting them to help care for the overwhelming number of vulnerable families in their schools.
And every school – even those in wealthier neighbourhoods – has children facing these issues.
Let me tell you a little bit about each of these organizations and the lavish care they are providing vulnerable children.
City Dream Centre
Ron Gaudet with a patient and dental hygienist in the City Care Dental clinic, which is affiliated with City Dream Centre.
This past week, City Dream Centre gave away more than 1,000 backpacks to Surrey students, to start them off on the right foot this fall.
And that is only a small part of their care for children. With their Adopt a School program, they have not only partnered with numerous schools but have now joined churches with these schools.
Jacob Seward was hired with that specific mission last fall, to help churches build that connection with their local schools and provide not only quality food but also supportive gatherings for families where they might get a hair cut, a meal and dental care.
Indeed, their mobile dental clinic is one of the most fascinating parts of their work, one that Flyn Ritchie and I had the opportunity to see first hand in June.
By offering children free bridges, crowns and other procedures, they are helping children find dental help far beyond what social assistance will provide.
We came away from that experience grateful for the sacrificial vision of these dentists and hygienists.
CityReach Care Society
CityReach Society works with many public schools and provides millions of dollars of aid every year.
Would you have guessed that Vancouver’s largest fresh food bank is run out of a Christian organization begun by a church?
For each of the last two years, CityReach Care Society (started out of Broadway Church) has given away the equivalent of over three million dollars worth of food. Yes, you read that correctly – $3,000,000!
I recall the first time that I walked into their warehouse and saw the quality of fresh food that they are distributing to families. These food hampers are filled with the kind of items I would be very glad to buy and eat in our home.
CityReach has developed a sophisticated supply chain of fresh food providers and a host of volunteers who work diligently to provide these vital resources for families who need a hand up. Like City Dream Centre, CityReach is committed to partnering churches with schools though their own Adopt-a-School program.
Toward that end, they hired Anais Asgharali to build those partnerships. What most churches don’t realize is that you don’t even need to contribute financially to get started; what you need are a few volunteers who are willing to build the relationships with the families and the school by helping with the food distribution.
I believe this is the kind of opportunity that any church could take up.
Vancouver Urban Ministries
Vancouver Urban Ministries works with public schools by tutoring children.
Vancouver Urban Ministries (VUM) has focused on tutoring children who face learning challenges.
Their passion is to provide them with specialized one-on-one tutoring so they can improve their reading, writing and math skills; develop self-esteem and a sense of achievement; and find hope for a brighter future – in part through the long-term caring relationships with their tutors.
VUM trains tutors in the proven Orton-Gillingham approach which engages a multitude of the children’s senses.
The dedicated time that these tutors spend with students not only enhances academic learning but also provides nurturing and encouragement for children, most of whom are also part of families facing financial struggles and all the attending challenges that go with that situation.
I had the privilege of speaking at one of their fundraisers a couple years back and meeting some of the children and families who have benefitted from this tutoring. These relationships and mentoring have literally turned the lives of these children around and brought a light and hope that is tangible.
A collective dream to transform the church’s relationship with schools:
Can you imagine if every church developed this kind of care and trust with a school near them? Can you imagine how that would transform the perception of the church in our cities?
At our fall Serve our Schools gathering, you will learn more about you can participate in this movement. You will meet the leaders of these organizations in person and have the conversations you need to get started in partnering with them and with a school near you.
Don’t miss this fruitful and feasible way to widen your own church’s care and impact. I can’t think of a more relevant way to love our neighbour as ourself at this time in our city. Go here for more information and to register for the free morning event.
To learn more about the mission of these three organizations, visit their websites:
Tim Dickau is Director of CityGate Vancouver, which is building or supporting several networks: Canadian Coalition for Reimagining Church, Land and Community; Churches Supporting Refugees; Serve Our Schools; Network for Neighbouring; and Metro Vancouver Alliance.
As well, he is Associate for the Missional Leadership Certificate Program at the Centre for Missional Leadership. Prior to taking on these roles, Tim served for 30 years as pastor of Grandview Church in East Vancouver.