NEIGHBOURLINK
St. Peter’s has been a major player in the development and operation of NeighbourLink. Currently, it is one of fourteen local churches of eleven different denominations celebrating a significant development in the 14-year life of this interdenominational network that helps them to help people meet many kinds of need.NeighbourLink News
Our Church is a NeighbourLink member church. Neighbourlink helps in many ways. During the past summer requests for food and food vouchers have continued as well as the usual need for rides to doctors' appointments and elsewhere.
In particular:
One Volunteer gave us 10 hours of his time to drive a patient to Peterborough to undergo an operation and then returned the patient safely home at 1:15am. That's some volunteering!
Another Church Volunteer is always busy but in July did even more than usual by shopping, listening, cleaning, giving financial aid, and giving lifts - a wonderful gift of time.
To offer help or to receive help please call Neighbourlink at 905-373-1558.
NeighbourLink 800 number aids County-wide assistance
NeighourLink Northumberland, the inter-church system for helping people in need, now has a free phone number for those parts of the county outside the 905 calling area. The number is 1 888 200 2711.Telephone communication forms the basis of NeighbourLink’s operations. However, in the past, problems have arisen because the County spans three different calling areas, 905, 705 and 613. Until now, the only NeighbourLink number has been 905 373 1558, a Cobourg number.
“This will be a big help to some needy people and churches in the County.” Said Eric Carleton, President of NeighbourLink Northumberland. He added: “We have found that some of the needs we are able to deal with are just as common, and in some areas of the County even more so, than those in the Cobourg-Port Hope area where most of our work has been done in the past. It is our hope that this will interest more churches in the County becoming members of NeighbourLink. We can then respond better to those needs by calling upon resources located nearer to where the needs originate.”
Currently, the membership of NeighbourLink Northumberland stands at 14 churches of eleven different denominations, mostly in the Cobourg-Port Hope area. The organization evaluates the calls for help to ensure they are genuine and manageable. It also trains and coordinates volunteers from its member churches in meeting a wide variety of needs in an efficient and effective manner. Since its formation in 1993 it has met many thousands of requests for help. It also works closely with various agencies throughout the County to ensure there is no duplication of effort and resources.
For more information about NeighbourLink Northumberland call 905 373 1558 or 1 888 200 2711.
E-mail NeighbourLink Northumberland
How NeighbourLink-Northumberland Works
When someone in need calls NeighbourLink for help, trained volunteers first evaluate the request. These volunteers determine that the need is genuine and the solution manageable and appropriate for handling by the NeighbourLink system.The request is then passed to a designated contact at one of the sponsoring churches who, in turn, finds from his/her congregation an appropriate volunteer(s) to service the request. (Since we carefully avoid duplicating the activities of other organizations some requests are merely passed on to an existing agency).
Upon completion of a request NeighbourLink does a follow-up with the church contact person to find out how it all went.
Some Examples of What We Do
Through our member churches we provide:- - phone calls or visits to the lonely
- - transportation where appropriate
- - help to students in local schools
- - assistance in finding referral agencies
- - “Soupertime” lunches at two of our member-churches
- - toiletries such as diapers, toothpaste, feminine needs, soap, powder, etc.
- - staffing for breakfast clubs for hungry children at local schools
- - food vouchers to people in severe financial need
- - milk and meat for families with children (funded by County)
- - milk and meat for couples and singles
- - light home repairs
- - help in cooperation with service clubs
- - help to move household items
We Do Not
- - hand out money
- - pay utility bills
- - pay moving costs
- - undertake requests that would put our volunteers at risk
- - disclose our office location
- - duplicate the work of existing agencies
NeighbourLink News
NeighbourLink News
Our Church is a NeighbourLink member church. Neighbourlink helps in many ways.
For example, in the last little while:
- - We assisted one person in acquiring a pair of orthopedic shoes and another a new uniform.
- - We provided a ride to the Food Bank for a man with disabilities, the first time he had been there. He was most grateful to everyone.
- - Could we help a young family settle into their new apartment - fridge and stove needed? A little talking and checking confirmed that these two utilities are, in fact, included. A big sigh of relief!
- - Each month one of our member churches puts together 25 delicious, nutritious Meals-in-a-Bag which are distributed by another member church, the Salvation Army.
IMPORTANT!
Neighbourlink only receives requests by telephone at 905-373-1558 or 1-888-200-2711. The office is staffed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to noon.
At other times requests are received on an answering machine and handled on the next working day.
