CALGARY M.E.T.R.O. FILIPINO LAUNCHED "M.E.T.R.O. CARES"

CHURCH NEWS

In heeding the call to serve the hungry, Calgary M.E.T.R.O. Filipino Seventh-day Adventist Church launched its own soup kitchen ministry under the slogan "M.E.T.R.O. Cares." The church's goal and prayer have been to help many in the community. This, we believe, can be achieved by not limiting services to the few.

The Calgary M.E.T.R.O Adventist Community Services (ACS) department has been active in finding and expanding ways to help others, just as Christ administers to the poor, hungry, sick, widow, etc.

Two years ago, when the COVID pandemic hit, Calgary M.E.T.R.O. answered the call to extend help to 60 families by providing safety kits, food, and groceries throughout the family quarantine period, which we continue to do to this day. The church teamed up with Calgary Drop-In Centre by providing 450 bagged lunches to their residents. We open our church doors to newcomers in the community. Filipino international students and their families found their way into our church. They were given start-up assistance (e.g., rice and groceries, winter clothing, blankets, and other basic needs).

M.E.T.R.O Cares certified food handlers (clockwise) Nancy Cocjin, Marjorie Manuel, Rachel Dominguez, Mona Gumtang, and Pastor AndrewRoque.

Youth volunteers from Calgary Northwinds Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Packaged food ready for distribution.

Food preparation by Seventh-day Adventist Church volunteers.

The concept of a soup kitchen started this past February with the encouragement and guidance of Pastor Andrew Roque. Initial discussions were centered on an activity about mental health awareness as part of ADRA's program. However, due to limited time and the challenge of getting information, a permit, and support from the city, the plan did not materialize. Other activities were presented, like a walk for a cause, street cleaning, etc.

At Alpha House Drop-In Centre with Elder Rex Manuel and ACS Head, Marjorie Manuel.

We felt God had led us to reach out to our less fortunate brothers and sisters by feeding the hungry; thus the birth of M.E.T.R.O Cares. Like any other project, there are birth pains the ministry encountered along the way. However, we have a God who makes impossible things possible. From finding a suitable kitchen, funding, and food safety certificates for all food handlers, down to volunteers to bag the food, these were all accomplished in no time at all. The first food distribution occurred on August 13, 2022.

Submitted by Mona Gumtang