We recently received this note from Montgomery Street Elementary's Home and School Association, to which the Cathedral has previously provided support for children in need.
I wanted to let the church know that with the remainder of the donation provided to our committee, after paying for the hot lunches and milk program to our children within the school who needed it, we were also able to help an urgent need to a family.
A recent call ended up with a family who had to quickly move out of their house due to pipes leaking through their ceiling. Home and School were able to purchase and drop off groceries for their family of six (with three children at Montgomery) and purchase their meals at the restaurant within the hotel for a few days. Without the donation from the church, we wouldn’t have been able to do what we did for them until their insurance was able to take over.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for always supporting our committee and trust that we will help whenever and where we need to.
Reegan McDougall President/Volunteer, Montgomery Street Home and School Association
In December, Christ Church Cathedral donated $2000 to Montgomery Street School, a nearby elementary school with a number of children in need. The money, given by the congregation through a Giving Tuesday campaign, supported a school lunch program. We recently received a thank you note from the Home and School Association, signed by children in the school's Leadership Program.
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM US...
It is so heartening when we receive a gift from a generous group that allows us to say "yes, we can help" to one more child within Montgomery Street School. We would love to extend our appreciation and thanks from the children, staff and Home and School Committee to the congregation of Christ Church Cathedral.
With your generous donation that was provided, we are able to ensure that children are fed, have warm clothes for wintertime as well as all the extra needs needed by our students and families.
We are so lucky and grateful to have your support.
Reegan McDougall President: Montgomery Street Elementary School, Home and School
Outreach Committee volunteers hand out 8 1/2 dozen muffins and 8 1/2 dozen cookies each month to people in need who visit the Monday Morning Outreach Program.
A few members of the congregation faithfully bake homemade goodies, but additional contributors would be most welcome to replace some folks who have stepped aside or who are seasonally unavailable.
If you could help out by baking muffins or cookies occasionally, please let the Cathedral office know and you will be contacted by the committee. Thank you! Email<office at christchurchcathedral.com> or phone (506) 450-8500.
The Outreach Program operates on the last Monday morning of each month. Volunteers provide food, vouchers, bus tickets, clothing and information about local support programs to approximately 50 guests each month. Learn more about this longstanding program to help those in need in our community.
This December, the Cathedral Outreach Committee supported a program from Prison Fellowship Canada, which provides gifts to children of incarcerated parents.
PFC's Angel Tree Christmas program connects church communities and individuals with the families of prisoners through the delivery of a Christmas gift on behalf of the incarcerated parent. Through the program, a prisoner applies, submits a list of suggested items for each child, and fills out a gift tag that will be attached to the gift. Prison Fellowship matches the children with sponsors in their local area, who purchase, wrap and deliver gifts to the family.
Through the program, children the joy of receiving a gift -- but more importantly, they know that their mom or dad is thinking about them at Christmas time. Prisoners experience some moments of brightness during a time of year that can be very lonely for them.
The Cathedral was approached in early December by the Atlantic Coordinator of the program.
"We have certainly had many prisoners among our Monday guests," said Outreach Committee volunteer Ann Deveau, "and we feel it's important for their families to have a connection at Christmas."
Outreach Committee volunteers purchased, wrapped and delivered gifts to six children in the Fredericton area. Charlotte McKnight, a young Cathedral volunteer, took particular pleasure in choosing gifts for kids just a bit younger than herself.
The Prison Fellowship's Christmas program operates in every province and territory in Canada. Last year, 3424 children received gifts thanks to the generosity of 1479 sponsors, including 113 churches.
The Outreach Committee also oversees a Christmas Angel program at the Cathedral which is coordinated by Greener Village, the Fredericton food bank.
In 2021, the Cathedral contributed funds towards a school lunch program, winter clothing, and the creation of two sensory rooms for children with developmental challenges. Adequate funding was not available within the school's educational budget, so the volunteer Home and School Association ran a fundraising campaign.
On 09 December, Dean Geoffrey Hall and Cathedral Treasurer Jamie Yeamans presented a $2000 cheque to Montgomery Street School. Members of the congregation had contributed to a Giving Tuesday campaign to raise money to help fund a lunch program at the school, which has a number of children in need.
This is the second year that the Cathedral has supported initiatives for children in need at the local elementary school. The Cathedral Bishop and Chapter approved a donation in 2021 to assist with its lunch program, provide winter clothing to students in need, and assist in the creation of sensory rooms for children with developmental challenges.
We're grateful for the contributions to this community outreach project which will help to feed children in our community.
The Principal of Montgomery Street School, David Burrell, also shared his thanks in a letter to the congregation:
(L to R) Back row: Sandi Mwenga (VP, Home & School Association), Jennifer Hamel (Home & School Association), Charlene Smith (Home & School Association), Geoffrey Hall (Dean, Christ Church Cathedral), Jamie Yeamans (Treasurer, Christ Church Cathedral), Reegan McDougall (President, Home & School Association), David Burrell (Principal, Montgomery Street School) Front row: students from Montgomery Street School's Grade 5 Leadership class
First of all, we are beyond thankful for the support given to Montgomery Street School again this year. As you know, students and families have been faced with new and unique challenges over the last two and half years. These challenges continue to push the need for support within our school community, and when we have partnerships with strong local groups such as the Christ Church Cathedral, we can provide much needed supports to our families.
This year, in collaboration with our Home and School Committee, we are again fostering lasting community partnerships that will continue to support our food programs such as hot lunch and milk programs. As food cost continue to rise, your donation will go a long way to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in our food programs. This generous donation will also support our clothing drive initiative that will guarantee all of our students have the proper winter attire so they can enjoy all the wonderful outdoor activities that comes with living in Fredericton.
I am very thankful for the time, effort and support we have received from you. It will have a lasting positive impact on our school community!
For 'Giving Tuesday' this year, we've chosen a community outreach project - can we count on your support?
We hope to raise at least $500 towards a December $2000 commitment to a local school lunch program at Montgomery Street School, which has a number of children in need. Can you help? Donate to this project online using our Giving Tuesday donation page, or use an envelope marked "school lunch program". Donations will receive a tax receipt.
The elementary school is located up the hill from Christ Church Cathedral, beside the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. The Cathedral Bishop and Chapter approved a donation in 2021 to assist with its lunch program, provide winter clothing to students in need, and assist in the creation of sensory rooms for children with developmental needs. We hope to continue supporting Montgomery Street School's lunch program for children in need, and hope that you will feel called to help.
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement which takes place each year after the retail sale days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The “opening day of the giving season,” it’s a time when charities, companies and individuals rally for favourite causes, encouraging people to give to charitable causes to transform their communities and the world.
We're pleased to help children in need in our neighbourhood. Christ Church Cathedral also provides community support with regular Monday Outreach events, providing space for community social programming, and hosting and encouraging the performing arts.
The Cathedral Outreach Committee sincerely thanks the congregation for fulfilling all 50 Christmas Angel requests by the November 14th deadline. Pictured are just a few of the toys and stocking stuffers delivered to the food bank to make sure needy children will have gifts under the tree this Christmas. Well done, everyone!
The toys were delivered recently to the Greener Village Food Bank. Client Services manager Chris Fougère happily accepted the donation to help needy families in Fredericton. The estimated value of the 50 Christmas Angels is $1,700 this year.
Did you miss getting an angel from the Cathedral, or would you like to help more children? Greener Village typically sets up an Angel Tree in the Regent Mall, so watch for it.
Another option for Christmas giving is to write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. Deliver your cheque to the Cathedral office by December 16. As in past years, these funds will be divided equally among the Fredericton Homeless Shelters, Women in Transition House Inc. and the Fredericton Community Kitchens.
Fifty paper angels from Greener Village (the food bank) are waiting patiently to be chosen from a small tree in the cathedral. Each requests a specific Christmas gift or some stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl in our city.
Please print your name and telephone number on the clipboard to indicate which angel you're adopting. Bring the unwrapped gift, with the paper angel firmly attached, to the church on Sunday, November 13th. Drop-off boxes will be set up near the angel tree.
If you can't bring your gift that Sunday, please take it to the Cathedral Office before Monday, November 14th, during office hours (weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon).
“It might seem early, but demand at the food bank has skyrocketed,” explained Outreach Committee treasurer Doug Milander. “They're dealing with 3,000 clients a month – 25 new families just last week – so they need plenty of time to collect and distribute the gifts.”
Doug said the Outreach Committee deeply appreciates the congregation's generous support in making Christmas special for children in our city, especially during a lingering pandemic, high inflation and a looming recession.
He added that the committee must purchase any gifts that arrive late or not at all.
Another option for Christmas giving is to write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. Deliver your cheque to the church office by December 16th. As in past years, these funds will be divided equally among the Fredericton Homeless Shelters, Women in Transition House Inc. and the Fredericton Community Kitchens.
The dedicated and talented chair of the Cathedral Outreach Committee, Penny Ericson, is being inducted into the Order of New Brunswick for her many accomplishments achieved during decades in this province.
Penny is a professor emeritus from the University of New Brunswick and a retired Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. She has been recognized for "outstanding achievements and leadership in improving the health, social and cultural well-being of her community and province."
Premier Blaine Higgs announced the 10 new recipients of the Order of New Brunswick during New Brunswick Day celebrations in Fredericton.
“It is with the greatest respect and admiration that I congratulate the newly appointed recipients of the Order of New Brunswick," said Higgs. "By awarding the province's highest civilian honour to individuals who use their skills and talents to serve others, we are recognizing exemplary New Brunswickers who, through their dedication and generosity, have made a real difference in the lives of people in their community and their province.”
At the Cathedral, we are immensely appreciative of Penny’s contributions.
The old adage "ask a busy person" was probably created with Penny Ericson in mind.
Aside from being a busy wife, mother and grandmother, she has successfully worn many hats in Fredericton: nursing instructor and university dean of nursing; nurturer and builder of such organizations as a research centre into family violence and a hospice for palliative care patients; long-time supporter of the arts, culture and heritage in Fredericton; advocate for housing initiatives to help the homeless and precariously housed.
Some would say that the common thread in her many and disparate activities is her leadership ability. Penny Ericson is the type of person who is always undaunted by obstacles and challenges. "It can't be done" or "we've never done that" are simply not in her vocabulary. Her approach is to swiftly size up a situation and go around, over, under or through any obstacles to achieve her stated goal. This might mean arguing her case, marshalling forces, overcoming opposition, hatching creative solutions. She always does so with shrewdness, tenacity, wit, grace and boundless energy.
It helps enormously that Penny is one of those rare people whose intelligence and charm allow her to be equally at home chatting amiably with an archbishop, a premier, a carpenter, a panhandler, a child. Her interest in people and her sincerity shine through in each conversation.
Others would say the common thread in her activities is her caring, empathetic attitude. If she spots a problem, she wants to solve it. If she sees a need, she wants to meet it. For example, she is the longtime Chair of the Outreach Committee here at the Cathedral. She has raised the congregation's awareness about the issue of poverty in our city and has rallied people there to contribute funds, food and used clothing to assist people in need.
Penny spearheaded a weekly drop-in at the church hall for people in need, but she knew it was not enough to simply hand out sandwiches and coffee. She arranged for the parish nurse, nursing students and law students to take part, knowing that the guests often needed to be put in touch with services in the city. She built community by bringing in musicians to play live music and friendly visitors to talk with guests and, more importantly, to listen to them. All are poor, and many have had difficult lives marred by family violence, addictions, criminal records, illiteracy, and so on. It illustrates her holistic approach to improving people's lives.
However, she is not only the stand-back supervisor of this program. She has worked as long and as hard as any volunteer on the team. She has always been willing to do the behind-the-scenes "grunt work" such as baking muffins, cleaning the kitchen sink, packing goodie bags of food and treats during the pandemic when in-person gatherings were impossible, and gathering jackets, boots and socks to keep the folks warm and dry.
Penny's warm welcome and big smile are much appreciated by the guests; she was lauded as "simply amazing" by one recent recipient of her kindness at the church hall. She has often helped folks outside of the formal hours of the program, e.g. talking with them on the telephone, driving them to medical appointments, helping them find a lawyer, file their income tax, or look for an apartment in a city where affordable housing is hard to find.
Some people have a big heart for the poor and the homeless, but Penny Ericson follows it up with concrete action, fund-raising, and hands-on efforts. She is a most deserving candidate for the Order of New Brunswick award.
The Order of New Brunswick celebrates the individuals who have served the province, its people and communities through a high level of excellence and achievement in their field. Since the first ceremony was held in 2002, over 190 New Brunswickers have received the award.
Penny and her fellow recipients will be invested with the Order of New Brunswick on November 2, 2022, in a ceremony at Government House in Fredericton.
-- by Ann Deveau
Read the press release from the Province of New Brunswick.
On the last Monday of each month, people in need are welcomed at Memorial Hall by members of the Cathedral Outreach Committee.
Between 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., volunteers hand out goodie bags containing fresh fruit, homemade muffins and cookies, a granola bar, a beverage and other food items such as cheese strings, soup packets and sandwiches.
Members of our congregation prepare food and donate funds to purchase non-perishable food items and gift cards. Other churches, such as New Maryland United Church and St. Margaret's Anglican Church also contribute to the Monday Outreach program.
Visitors, such as David M. being checked in by volunteer Ann Deveau, are always grateful for the treats and a $10 gift card to use at a local supermarket.
Bus tickets are also available as an alternative to supermarket gift cards. The City of Fredericton donated 100 single-ride bus tickets to the Cathedral Outreach Committee, one of 26 community agencies given an allotment of tickets. Outreach guests appreciate the chance for a free ride to attend medical appointments, access training, or look for work. The committee purchases additional bus tickets throughout the year to fulfill the need.
During the Monday Outreach program, visitors are also invited to choose items from a table of seasonal clothing and household items donated by members of the congregation. They are thankful for the the shirts, jackets, footwear, hats, sunglasses, water bottles, towels, and personal care items such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Typically, approximately fifty people in need attend the Cathedral's Monday Outreach program each month, with many regular visitors. While a majority of the guests are men, the program also sees women of all ages and occasionally children.
Throughout the pandemic, visitors have been appreciative of the continued support. Due to pandemic precautions, the program has been held as a drop-in program on the steps and lobby of Cathedral Memorial Hall. Guests look forward to a time when they may again be able to gather inside the Hall for music, conversation, and a buffet table.
One grateful guest delivered a card to program volunteers, which read, "On behalf of myself and people I've once known, I'd like to say how thankful I am to have received the blessings and gifts over the years. Thank you and from the bottom of not just my heart but others as well. You are angels."
I wanted to let the church know that with the remainder of the donation provided to our committee, after paying for the hot lunches and milk program to our children within the school who needed it, we were also able to help an urgent need to a family. 
