Open Arms

***Community Chaplaincy / Street Ministry (Annapolis Valley, NS) ***Drop-in Centre - Our main location is in Kentville at 32 Cornwallis St. (temporary and our at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Belcher St. Our first outreach location started in Berwick in 2012. Future locations are planned for other locations in the Annapolis Valley. Aside from toast and coffee every morning and lots to eat Saturday night, daily Drop-in activities include: - Art and literacy projects (developed in cooperation with the Valley Community Learning Association)) - Bible study and support groups - Volunteer training ***Essential Skills Program - A detailed assessment is provided for individuals desiring increased quality of life or employability - Programs and workshops focused on building work and life skills and teamwork. ***Oversight of 'Inn From The Cold' - coordinating seven local churches to function as emergency shelters for the Valley region (Hantsport - Digby) during the colder months. The churches currently operating 'Inn From The Cold' are: * Alton Baptist churches, North Alton * King’s Presbyterian Church, New Minas * New Covenant Community Church, Cambridge * New Hope Wesleyan, North Alton * New Minas Baptist Church, New Minas * St. James Anglican Church, Kentville * St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Kentville ***Treasure House Soup Kitchen (Tuesdays & Thursdays from September to June) ***S.A.F.E. Houses (Shelter Always For Everyone) - Developing safe and affordable housing for people in transition. ***Prison Ministry / Outreach to youth and adults released from correctional facilities ***Savory Souls shared garden (with Edible Garden Society) ***Rural Food Delivery Program To Families in Crisis ***Apartment locating / Transitional & permanent residence ***Collection, storage and delivery of donated furniture and other essential household items in cooperation the existing furniture bank. - If you have furniture items in good condition that you would like to donate, please call Open Arms (365-3665 or e-mail john@openarms.ca) ***Saturday Suppers The groups currently operating 'Saturday Suppers' at the Kentville drop-in are: • 1st Saturday - St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Wolfville • 2nd Saturday - New Hope Wesleyan, North Alton • 3rd Saturday - Movie Night (a meal is already available at St. James Anglican Church - 'The Welcome Table') • 4th Saturday - New Minas Baptist Church, New Minas • 5th Saturday - Open Arms' Board of Directors *Our Saturday suppers and Wednesday nights meals deliberately offset the Kentville Soup Kitchen which runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays Other nights are hosted by a variety of community volunteers and include involvement from: Kings Presbyterian Church Lawrencetown Baptist Church Middleton Baptist Church New Covernant Community Church St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church ***Distribution of donated Christmas gifts Board of Directors Robin Marshall Sheila Lawrence Carl Coburne David Morse Gideon Travis Steave Hingley John Andrew Karen Purves