The Latest News & Announcements

Ukraine Refugee Fund:  GoFundMe

We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for the Ukraine refugee fund.  This is definitely NOT/NOT to solicit donations from members of this congregation.  The people of St. Andrew’s and Knox have been more than generous and we are very thankful that we have been able (through donations, fundraisers and local public appeals) to pivot what we thought would be a one year normal refugee sponsorship to a three year (and counting) support program.  The fact is that we have exhausted all of the traditional means of raising money so, we are hoping that casting this bigger net we will bring in more donations – allowing us to extend our support beyond August of this year.  

The link to the campaign is:  https://gofund.me/d8124e46

What we ask you to do is to share it with your non-St. Andrew’s neighbours, friends and relatives.  This can go anywhere in the world; your cousin in Timbuktu can donate if she wishes.  So, please share far and wide so that we can help our Ukrainian friends to stay in Canada.

Chalmers is still looking for 1 or 2 used fridges

Please call 519-822-8778 if you have one or know someone who does.

Chalmers Challenge | Can of the Month: August

The Can of the Month for August is tuna! Tuna is a staple on the food line. If you are able to, please consider donating canned tuna to Chalmers this month!

Our pounds equivalent for June were 117.3 for a total to date of 1,529.6.  This is 76% of our 2,000 pound goal.  Praise God! 

Refugee Fund Update:

At the end of June, we had $29,235.16 in the refugee fund.  The awareness created by the GoFundMe campaign has generated enough additional funding to allow us to continue our support of our Ukrainian friends at the current level until at least April of 2026!  Thanks be to God!  Please continue to promote the GoFundMe to your friends and relatives outside St. Andrew’s.

Update on Refugee Sponsorships

1. Walizai family update. This is the Afghan family of 9 people who are waiting in Pakistan for Canada to process their refugee applications.  (Fahim – the head of the family is Frozan Hassanzai’s brother.) To stay in Pakistan legally, the family must continually renew their visas.  In late June, three were refused a renewal and a few days later, they were arrested and threatened with deportation.  After paying $1,000.00, they were released.  On July 28, 2025, Fahim Walizai, his daughter Hadia, his daughter-in-law Farhat and 2-yr-old grandson Farhan were arrested and taken to a prison camp where they were held in deplorable conditions for 5 days.  Fahim and Farhan became ill.  The only option open to them was to apply for an exit permit so that they can leave Pakistan voluntarily (not deported).  They were released on August 1 and must leave the country by August 13.  Please pray that the Canadian High Commission will intervene and convince the Pakistani government to allow the family to stay until their applications for Canadian Permanent Resident status are processed – and that that processing will be expedited. This is a developing situation which may have changed between the writing and the reading.

2. Kibreab Gereme Tesfamicel:  Kibreab is from Eritrea but, has been living in Israel for several years.  Not a good place to be at the moment.  We received word this week that the case assessment for Kibreab and his 3 children has been accepted and they will be included in the PWS&D quota for 2025.  The next step is to prepare and submit the formal application to the Government of Canada.

3. The Amini family of 9 people are from Afghanistan and are currently in Turkey.  We advised them this week that their case assessment has not been included in the 2025 PWS&D quota.  They are on the waiting list in case there are cancellations.

4. Same (pronounced Sammy) Elgaz is from Lybya and is currently in Germany.  Some of you may have met his brother Abdul (co-sponsor) who has visited St. Andrew’s several times during the last year at coffee time for meetings afterward.  As with the Amini family, we had to advise Abdul that his brother will not be in the 2025 PWS&D quota but, he is on the waiting list.

Please continue to pray for all of these people – particularly for those who did not “make the cut” this year.  All of them are living in fear of being deported to their home countries where unspeakable things could happen to them

Affordable Permanent Supportive Housing in Guelph:

St. Andrew’s has been approached by a group called 'My Own Place Guelph" .   They are hoping to add more deeply affordable permanent supportive housing in the city through a Christian organization called Indwell.  Indwell's focus is bringing deeply affordable and supportive housing based on providing mental health and nursing care, regular meals, recreational activities, and a community where residents can live in dignity and security.

“My Own Place Guelph” is looking for 1 or 2 people in our congregation who have a heart for the unhoused who might become engaged as liaisons.  If you feel called to such a ministry, please contact the MOCC for more information.

Hot Weather Response Plan:

With the hot weather upon us, the Poverty Task Force would like to remind you of the Community Hot Weather Response Plan for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County. The plans outlines a protocol for the 2025 Hot Weather season to support individuals who are unhoused to access and get to cool-down locations and emergency shelter. The plan is not triggered by a specific temperature. Partners and community members are encouraged to use their judgement about the temperature and weather conditions, as well as the safety and wellbeing of individuals. Find Downloadable posters with all of the details here.

Let’s Talk About Human Trafficking — Right Here in Guelph

It can be hard to believe, but human trafficking is happening right here in our own city — and not always in the ways we think. A recent newsletter from the Guelph-Wellington Rotary Cluster tells the story of an Afghan refugee family trafficked into Canada, abandoned in a park in Guelph, and the community effort that helped them find safety.

This is part of Against Traffick, a local initiative to raise awareness and action. Alongside the story, there are resources for getting help, getting involved, and a lawn sign campaign that launched May 5 with the message: “See Something, Say Something.”

If you’d like a sign for your yard or want to learn more, you can email: ehtc.rotary@gmail.com
Click here to read the newsletter

Let’s be people who care, who notice, and who show up.

Thresholds Homes and Supports

Some of us may be aware that many of the apartments owned by St. Andrew’s are rented through Thresholds Homes and Supports but, it is not something that we seem to talk about.  Through Thresholds, we are actually providing a type of permanent supportive housing!  Again as you may be aware, the house next to the Manse on Norfolk St. (that used to be an Abbeyfield House) was most recently leased by the County of Wellington to provide group housing.  For whatever reason, the house had been sitting empty but, St. Andrew’s recently negotiated a new 5-year lease with Thresholds.  This is wonderful news!

Learn More: https://www.thresholdssupports.ca/