Bag Lunch Ministry

The Bag Lunch Ministry has three teams supplying lunches for the EXIT Outreach Program in downtown Calgary. EXIT offers a safe place where young people can find shelter, food, medical treatment and counseling services. The aim is to help them “exit” the street life.

Our teams prepare 100 sandwiches, and provide muffins, fruit, juice, milk and snacks on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday of each month. Most of the food costs are paid by the church. We are thankful for food donations by parishioners as well as ‘leftovers’ from parish events.

Wood’s Homes is a multi–service non–profit children’s mental health organization, working with families for over 100 years. EXIT’s building in Inglewood combines all the Wood’s Homes Street Services (counseling, Culinary Arts, Employment Programs, EXIT Outreach).

During the pandemic, the money budgeted for the ministry is being given to The Alex because their program for street kids is still active. Our bag lunch program has been running for more than 30 years.

Chinook Care Centre Hymn Sing

Prior to shutting down to protect the residents' health, on the fourth Sunday afternoon of each month, St James took its turn to offer a time of hymn singing at the Chinook Care Centre. This provided an opportunity for the residents who otherwise could not get out to enjoy a church service. At the moment, until health precautions are lifted, our three groups will stay in a state of hibernation/inactivity until the nursing home gives us the green light to start again.

St. Edmund's Food Bank

The Anglican parish of St. Edmund's in Bowness operates a food bank that St. James is pleased to help support. The need in the community is such that St. Edmund's has been distributing about fifty hampers each month, and continues to do so during the COVID-19 social distancing. Donations of non-perishable food will be gratefully received, and we will ensure that these items are delivered to St Edmunds.  Please call the church office and leave a message letting us know you have a food donation.  We will call back and arrange a time for drop-off.