Like other public gatherings, churches have temporarily needed to close their doors during the pandemic, but a couple of local spiritual leaders have been hard at work on a new initiative to help the less fortunate.

At Easter of this year, Roger Armbruster of Niverville was moved by the words of a Hamilton, Ontario emergency room physician, Dr. Spencer MacDonald, who said, “Instead of holding a church service, spend your time strategizing about who needs help in your community and developing a plan to get it to them.”

This got the ball rolling on Love Niverville, a project spearheaded by the Niverville Ministerial Association, along with Gordon Kroeker of Niverville Youth for Christ.

“With the advent of ‘COVID churches,’ we’re working hard on how to provide meaningful engagement and support for the community without the ability to host events or serve in large groups,” says Kroeker. “Roger Armbruster managed to tie all the threads together with a suggestion to partner with Niverville Helping Hands [to address people’s] physical needs and create a network to meet spiritual and emotional needs, each piece doing its part.”

Kroeker describes Love Niverville as an initiative designed to broaden and deepen the work already being done by Helping Hands. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of local churches, Helping Hands can expand its existing foodbank and offer more far-reaching support to people in our communities.

“No matter your structure of belief, it is a truism to say that man does not live on bread alone,” Kroeker points out.

To receive food aid, residents of Niverville, New Bothwell, Otterburne, and Ste. Agathe can reach out to any one of the eight Niverville churches or the Bothwell Christian Fellowship. Care packages can also be obtained directly through Helping Hands.

Applicants will be required to fill out a simple requisition form, providing their name, contact information, the size of their household, and details for package pickup. Hamper distribution days are currently set for the second and fourth Thursday of every month, and applicants are asked to make their request by the Monday prior to delivery.

Kroeker says people should feel no shame in reaching out for help. “Needing help doesn’t make you a worse person than anyone else, it makes you human. Volunteers sign a confidentiality agreement and every effort is made to show appropriate respect and care for people.”

He adds that there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to Love Niverville on someone else’s behalf, although he strongly encourages having a conversation with the recipient in advance in order to confirm whether such support would be welcome.

Of course, in order to keep the shelves stocked, organizers are relying heavily on generous donations of food and cash. Cash donations over $20 are eligible for a tax-deductible receipt through the Maranatha Church. And those who want to donate food can check the Helping Hands website for an updated and ongoing list of current needs.

In its early stages, Kroeker says Love Niverville has garnered tangible support from a number of local businesses, including Niverville Bigway, the Niverville Credit Union, and at least one local real estate agent.

“Niverville Bigway has been a huge supporter of Helping Hands for many years,” Kroeker says. “John and his staff provide a level of service and assistance that most food banks can only dream of. For the Love Niverville initiative, along with donations of food and money, John is helping us navigate a disrupted supply chain and locate essential foods for our hampers. Bigway is also instrumental in providing access to fresh milk and eggs for our hampers, which due to their perishable nature are usually left out.”

More Than Food

For those in need of emotional support, each church has a support person on staff ready to pray, lend a listening ear, or refer them to someone qualified to offer professional help.

“Everyone has different needs,” Kroeker says. “Some people may just need someone to talk to, some a person to help them organize their thoughts, while others may need sound medical advice. Pastors have years of experience and have received training in counselling and conflict resolution. The volunteer team of Love Niverville has certified counsellors involved who can offer referrals and guidance as necessary.”

While Niverville and its neighbouring communities may not be in the same situation as larger cities, Kroeker says people here are still faced with most of the same pandemic burdens: navigating work and family responsibility, isolation, layoffs and future uncertainties, as well as a constant barrage of conflicting information.

“Meaningful community is an essential component of a worthwhile life,” he says. “In a crisis, this is doubly true. Our society, for all of its fantastic tools of connectivity, often fails to meaningfully connect the hearts of people. Many of us have a tendency to suffer in silence, trapped in shame, without supportive relationships, or trying to maintain a false sense of self-sufficiency. For those that are at their wits’ end, whatever the reason, the value of a listening ear or meaningful support can change the trajectory of their life.”