Pickering pastor reaches out. PICKERING -- Garry Cuthbert, who
recently became a minister, is working with people in the streets on
the Durham Region. January 28, 2011. Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland
Pickering pastor reaches out
Kristen Calis
February 4, 2011
PICKERING -- A Pickering pastor has decided
to take his work directly to the streets.
Garry Cuthbert, traditionally Pentecostal, has
been speaking directly to people living on the
streets throughout Durham Region since
2004, often in conjunction with various
organizations and churches. A year ago, he
became a minister with the Universal Life
Church, which allows its ministers to serve
people of all faiths.
"My church is on the street," he said.
Now he's determined to make a difference
regarding homelessness, an issue he feels is
often overlooked.
"There's so much to get done and so little
time," he said.
He explained often people on the streets have had bad experiences throughout life, and are not always
trusting. By physically getting out there, handing out food, coats and clothing, he finds them more willing to
talk.
"I try to have a happy smile and I say 'hello'," he said.
He first lends an ear and if the people he encounters want religious guidance, he'll give it to them.
Mr. Cuthbert has cerebral palsy and relies on a wheelchair to get around. He hopes to get a proper lift for his
van to make traveling more convenient so he can reach more people. After being unsuccessful in getting one
from the government as well as a disabilities charity, he's saving up himself, and hopes to get some help
along the way. He's waiting to see if he can get a charity tax ID number in order to encourage donations for
his cause.
Right now, he relies on small donations from various Durham churches.
"They're hurting just as bad as we are but every little bit helps," he said.
Mr. Cuthbert got a taste of being homeless back in 2001. He had gone to Las Vegas to take a computer
course and when he returned, there was no low-cost housing available for him and he ended up spending 12
nights in Memorial Park in Oshawa before living in a crack house on Division Street. He eventually was
helped by a social worker, who got him out of there and into a more suitable apartment.
"I have a lot of compassion for it," he said.
"Wanting to be sure that the following individuals got the appropriate recognition that they so rightfully deserve for their willingness and personal and/or financial assistance"
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Helping Durham's homeless, one street at a time
A Pickering pastor is shining the light on homelessness in communities across Durham, using little more than a bright smile and warm handshake.
Garry Cuthbert, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has been travelling around the streets of Durham in a wheelchair since 2004 speaking directly to those who have fallen on hard times, lost a job or warm accommodations, who struggle with drug addiction or domestic abuse. Regardless of the circumstances that led these individuals to the streets where they come into contact with Mr. Cuthbert, it is the here and now that provides his motivation to raise awareness.
And he knows well the sense of disconnection and vulnerability that comes with finding oneself homeless. He spent nearly two weeks sleeping in an Oshawa park in 2001 before living temporarily in a crack house. He credits a compassionate social worker with giving him that hand up he needed and which set him on the path he currently travels.
That experience remains fresh in Mr. Cuthbert's memory as he comes across homeless men and women. Even in such relatively affluent communities as Ajax and Pickering, he meets them. He's also running into more youth, seniors and single mothers hit hard by the effects of the recession and whose needs have added to the ballooning burden of social service agencies in the region.
As a pastor, Mr. Cuthbert provides spiritual guidance to those who seek it, but also offers practical items such as food, coats or clothing. As he notes, his "main mission" is to raise awareness amongst members of the public about homelessness right here at home.
Poverty and homelessness are not phenomena unique to Toronto or other large urban centres. Governments must be cognizant of the growing need and take appropriate measures, to be certain. But the larger community can mobilize as well to help further raise awareness and lend a hand up similar to the one that took Mr. Cuthbert from homelessness to hope.
Donate to a local food bank, contact your local church or favourite charity to see what programs are in place to assist the homeless. Consider donating good winter wear that your children have grown out of, or start a neighbourhood drive on your street.
Like Mr. Cuthbert, that man or woman, struggling teen or single mom given an opportunity to do better, offered a hand up from a stranger, might find it sets them on a path to success.
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Pickering pastor struggles to fill service gaps
Holy Spirit Ministries offers aid to Durham's homeless
PICKERING -- After experiencing first-hand the good that can be done when communities work together, Pickering Pastor Garry Cuthbert is calling on residents to help ensure every family in Durham can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.
After being ordained in 2010, Mr. Cuthbert, who suffers from cerebral palsy, found it more and more difficult to continue his work of visiting those in the homeless communities of Toronto and Durham without a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
When the community heard of his plight, several residents and businesses came forward to help him obtain a wheelchair-accessible minivan, which has allowed him to continue his practice of bringing his ministry to the streets, providing food and other supplies to those in need whenever he can.
"It's devastating what's out there, there's a big need and things are changing drastically," Mr. Cuthbert said of the amount of poverty he sees through his work with the non-denominational Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket.
"I want people to know that people do listen, they do help, just like they helped me with the van."
Mr. Cuthbert founded the Food Basket in 2008 to help people who "fall through the cracks".
"So many people don't want to go through agencies," he explained.
"The thing is the agencies that are currently in place are overloaded and often one agency may not know what another agency is doing and so people fall through the cracks. There are a lot of cracks that are not being filled, so that's where I come in, to fill in the gaps."
Mr. Cuthbert collects donations of food and good used clothing, which he then hands out to people in need, either to those he meets doing work at street level or through referrals from local churches and organizations.
"This is not just about food," he explained of his work.
"I also make myself available if people just want to talk, whatever they need. In my calling I've discovered that if people are hungry they're not very tentative, they'll be much more willing to seek help."
Mr. Cuthbert is currently partnering with the Montessori Learning Centre of Pickering on a Thanksgiving Food Drive. Items can be dropped off at the school, 401 Kingston Rd., in Pickering, through Thursday, Oct. 6. Needed items include canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, canned and boxed meals, canned or dried beans, pasta, rice and cereal.
Mr. Cuthbert is also hoping to start a new tradition this year with a community Christmas dinner, which is still in the planning stages. Although he is currently running the Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket out of his Whites Road home, Mr. Cuthbert said he hopes to find a dedicated facility for the charity this year, as well as completing the organization's transition to a registered charitable organization, which would allow him to give tax receipts.
"A lot of people don't want to talk about it, they don't want to know what's going on right in their own communities," Mr. Cuthbert said, citing a recent study by the Community Development Council Durham that found as many as one in six Durham residents are living in poverty.
"There is a need for this. People need to realize what is happening and know that we can make a difference."
For more information on Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket contact Mr. Cuthbert at 905-839-9031 or gcuthbert@rogers.com.
Special recognition to the following individuals - From
(Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket)
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Williams ~
Pickering / Oshawa, Ontario
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Mrs. Pat Yole ~
Pickering, Ontario
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Holy Family Parish ~Alan Perron ~
91 Ribblesdale Drive, Whitby, ON L1N6Z3, Canada
Tel: +1 (905) 665-6470
Fax: +1 (905) 665-6651
******************************************
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Mr. and Mrs. Pat Cole ~
Peterborough, Ontario
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Medigas
Address:697 The Kingsway
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 6W5 Phone:705-742-5533 / Fax:705-742-7983
**Richard**
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Master Tune-Up & Complete Auto Repairs
509 Bayly St E
Ajax, ON L1Z 1W7
(905) 426-9943
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Quinn's Towing
Scarborough and Durhams local towing company.
416-809-5635
**JOEL**
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Ontario Motor Sales
140 Bond Street West
Oshawa, ON, L1H 7L8
Phone: (905) 725-6501
Fax: (905) 576-3213
Toll Free: 877-725-1777
** Trevor Caverly**
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Montessori Learning Centre of Pickering
Nicola Phillips
Principal
401 Kingston Road
Pickering, Ontario
L1V 1A3
Telephone: 905-509-1722
Fax: 905-509-8283
info@montessorilearningcentre.com
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Hope With Art
Steve Hamilton
Mobile ( 416 ) 984-1522
e- mail: steve@conceptevents.com
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Glendale Pharmacy
1101 Kingston Rd
Pickering, ON L1V 1B5
(905) 420-2211
Adal Hana
Glendale Pharmacy and Clinic officially opened in Pickering last month.
The pharmacy/clinic is located at 1101 Kingston Road at Dixie Road
in the Dairy Queen plaza.
Mr. Adel Hanna embraced the occasion of his
opening with greetings to clients, doctors at the adjoining clinic, the Mayor
and dignitaries, and a promise to provide great service, care and friendship
to his customers.
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SIGNARAMA
1801 Dundas St. E. (Kendalwood Park Plaza)
Whitby, Ontario,
L1N 7C5
P: 905-434-7773
F: 905-434-7999
E: whitby@signarama-whitby.ca
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Master Tune-Up & Complete Auto Repairs
509 Bayly St E
Ajax, ON L1Z 1W7
(905) 426-9943
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Carruthers Creek Community Church
599 Bayly St. East
Ajax, ON L1Z 1L4
Contact Angela Mason, City Care Pastor,
905-686-4450 x130,
amason@carrutherscreek.ca
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Salvation Army
Ajax & Pickering House of Hope
37 King's Cres
Ajax, ON L1S 2L8
Heather Lyons, Supervisor, Volunteer Coordinator, Hope Community Church
Phone: 905-683-0454; Phone: 905 427 7123
lyonsheather@hotmail.com
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Diana Gauthier
Client Advocate
The Salvation Army
Family Service,
37 Kings Cres.
Ajax, ON L1S 2L8
R: 905 427 7123
F: 905 426 8340
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Wendy Fuller
ASA; Sales Consultant
KELLER WILLIAMS REFERRED REALTY BRKG INC
416 445.8855
1.877.967.0008
www.east-toronto-homes.com
www.realestate-durhamregion.com
fullerwendy@rogers.com
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(Wal-Mart) - Store Number: 3186
1899 Brock Rd. N Pickering
Ontario ON L1V 4H7
905-619-9588
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After the latest news article in the paper on our ministry we were hoping that
the newspaper would be able to do a follow-up from the previous two articles
and that we would be able to give appropriate thanks and recognition that is so
rnightfully deserved by the above mentioned individuals who were willing to come
forth and give their assistance and financial donations when it was most needed
and certainly appreciated so that I may continue our ministry across Durham region.
Pastor Garry Cuthbert
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