At St. Andrew’s Guelph, we believe in not just hearing the Word, but putting it into action. Jesus called his followers to do good, and James urged us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. It's one thing to know about something; it's another to act on that knowledge. This is why we’ve always sought ways to knock holes in the darkness—whether through visits, calls, donations, volunteering, or standing up for justice. Now, we’re continuing this work with the Chalmers Challenge, and we invite you to be a part of it!

The Chalmers Challenge: A History of Generosity

In 2014, St. Andrew’s took on a bold challenge: to donate 2,000 pounds of food to Chalmers Community Services Centre in a single year. That goal has been renewed annually, and each year we have met or surpassed it—until the pandemic. When in-person worship was halted, food donations slowed significantly, but the generosity of our community remained strong through cash donations, and in some years, we contributed double our original goal.

2024 was a turning point:

  • We donated 567 pounds of food and $1,610, equaling a total of 2,177 pounds at the original $1 = 1 pound equivalency.

  • However, with the current equivalency of $3.50 = 1 pound, we were able to contribute the equivalent of 1,027 pounds of food.

Now, the 2025 Chalmers Challenge is here, and our goal has been set back at 2,000 pounds (or equivalent).

This is where you come in.

How You Can Contribute

  • Donate Food
    Bring food donations to the church! Look for the cart near the kitchen door, where we collect in-kind donations. Edmund Bauer continues to deliver these weekly to Chalmers.

  • Donate Cash
    For those who prefer to donate money, we still use the equivalency of $3.50 = 1 pound. Every dollar you donate helps us meet our goal.

  • Volunteer Your Time
    In addition to donating food and money, consider volunteering at Chalmers or other local initiatives. Time is a valuable gift in serving those in need.

Track Our Progress

We’ll keep you updated monthly with reports in the congregational email and on the MOCC bulletin board in the Westminster St. Paul’s Memorial Church Hall. In February, we collected 43.5 pounds of food and $475 in donations, totaling 179.2 pounds.

  • Info coming soon

  • Our pounds equivalent for February were 49.47 for a total to date of 228.67.  This 11% of our 2,000 pound goal.

  • Info coming soon

Why Does This Matter?

Food insecurity is a growing issue in Guelph. By supporting Chalmers, you’re making a tangible difference in our community, embodying the Kingdom of God in action. Every donation, whether food or funds, contributes to filling a gap between the way things are and the way God wants them to be.

Bring in items this week, or donate online today.