The Rock Review

FOOD BANK FINESSE
The Rock Review
MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS
Wanting to make the humble waiting room of Living Rock’s
Food Bank more comfortable, a two person team stepped up
and took the initiative to redecorate. Cindy Macdonald, a long
time staff and & Susan Ransome (pictured above), a food bank
volunteer, donated money from their own pocket to make
sure the youth who visit feel welcome. Upon discovering the
surprise, Karen Craig, Program Director, was ecstatic urging
everybody to go and see for themselves. “Youth deserve
excellence. This room reflects love and care. The small room
where young mothers and teens wait, has been revived with
life. The attention to detail and hard work that dedicated
staff and volunteers put into the Rock is all around us.”
If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities
please contact:
Jœl Van Steenbergen, Volunteer Coordinator
905-528-ROCK (7625) or Email at jœl@livingrock.ca.
Or check out livingrock.ca for more details.
IN MEMORY OF:
RECEIVED FROM:
Be y Deboer
Dorothy MacDonald
Ed Prior
Eve Brown
Grace & Lloyd Saunders
John Oliver Baker
Myrtle Dawson
Susan Moffat
Barbara Lloyd
John & Margaret Jamieson
Kevin & Nancy Coxhead
Ken & Eva Kupisz
Paul Saunders
Dane e Sokoloski
Mar n & Nancy Dawson
William & Judith Moffat
IN HONOUR OF:
RECEIVED FROM:
Benjamin family
Bob Charters' Birthday
Eric & Ben, Colin & Mom
Kaitlin K's Christmas Wish
Kevin Vos
Lucie
Staff of Affinity Biologicals Inc.
Staff of CUPE Local 7800
Anthony David
Janine Charters
Claude & Marilyn Eilers
JB & Tara Matheson
Karen Vos
Louise Hart
True
Dave Murphy
ROCK RESOURCES RELOADED / FOOD SERVICES
UPGRADING YOUR OLD SNOWBLOWER OR POWERWASHER?
Donate your old snowblower and powerwashers to Living Rock!
905-528-7625 x250
30 Wilson St.
Hamilton ON
L8R 1C5
Phone: 905-528-7625
Fax: 905-526-8723
“Not being able to get a job as well as people judging
me have been my most challenging times. The
coaches gave me the confidence to believe in myself.
I think that, combined with my will power, [has helped
me] to say I’m done dealing with the old [bad stuff] and
need a change in my life.”
-Rock Resources Reloaded Participant
Serving youth since 1985
Spring 2015
with
“theInteracting
youth puts
TERRY’S TRI-ROCK TRIUMPH
Terry came into the TRI-Rock
Employment Training Program. Like
many others who apply, he was hoping
to find a job. At nineteen years of age
Terry had not finished high school and
had no work experience. He didn’t have
much hope for his future and couldn’t
recognize his own potential.
The TRI-Rock program begins by
engaging with the youth, helping them
discover what kind of future they want
for themselves and what kind of job they
would like to have in the short-term.
Engaging them to identify a goal that is
achievable and provides stability in their
first steps towards their long terms
dreams and aspirations. Terry told Mary
Anne, TRI-Rock Coordinator, “It’s never
too late to start working towards your
goals. I’m still not sure what I want to do
yet. I’m just as capable as anyone else to
succeed. I never gave that much thought
before.”
TRI-Rock encourages the youth to
overcome challenges by teaching them
how to turn those challenges into
“At the Living Rock everyone is
accepted and in TRI-Rock
everyone is given the same
opportunity.” -Terry
(pictured at placement during Phase 2 of the TRI-Rock Program)
strengths. It puts the ownership for
success into their own hands. Terry
realized that. He says, “At the Living
Rock everyone is accepted and in
TRI-Rock everyone is given the same
opportunity. It’s whether you use it or
not.”
WORK-TO-EARN
CHARITABLE#: 88345 8812 RR0001
If at anytime you would like to change the amount of mail you receive from us, please contact the Development Team at 905-528-7625
x239, and we would be happy to comply with your request. In addition, Living Rock Ministries assures its donors that personal information
is not used for commercial purposes. We do not rent, sell, trade or share our donor information. Personal information is kept confidential
and is used only to mail you information about our services.
”
Story continued inside
Check out Living Rock’s New Website www.livingrock.ca
YOUR RIGHTS AS A DONOR
everything into a
new perspective,
something I will
never be able to
thank them for. As
much as I am helping
them, they help me.
Not only dœs Living
Rock impact the lives
of at-risk youth,
it impacts everyone
involved.
-Volunteer
FOOD SERVICE TRAINING
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
He is risen.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
ALAN CRAIG • FOUNDER /
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I believe that God is still in the life changing business with
youth.
Just a little history about Living Rock. In 1985, I started the
Rock as a storefront Church. After doing this for about five
years, I quickly learned that it is way more effective to come
alongside youth and help them on their life journey, at their
own pace and in a sensitive and responsive way.
In 1990, the Rock made a fundamental change in our
approach and started focusing on street involved youth
using street outreach, meals and Rock concerts to build
relationship.
“We needed to try to disciple them in their own context & to
release them to ministry without requiring them to commit
cultural suicide along the way.”
-Peter Greig, Red Moon Rising
This brought us to 1999. We purchased the youth resource
centre and started employment programs to help youth find
vision for their lives.
In saying all
teachings of
retained our
moved it to
Gathering.
this, the Rock has always believed in
Christ. That mission has never left.
service, originally on Sunday afternoon,
Wednesday afternoon, known today as
the
We
and
The
In about 2006, the Rock came to a crossroads. What
direction would we go? Most of the work we were doing
with the youth was very practical, with programs focusing
on employment, parenting and education, as well as offering
a food bank and serving over 900 meals a week. In all of that
we still desire to see the ministry in all that we do. One of
the managers at the time suggested we connect with a
ministry in Hamilton called GOHOP that seeks to cover the
city in prayer and mentor the new generation.
After discussion with our leadership, I pushed aside any
worry of alienating the youth and made a contract with
GOHOP. It has been a great relationship over the years and
has made an impact on the ministry. Karen and I attended a
prayer event last week and we counted 11 youth that had
come through the Rock. They are providing the youth with
purpose and expressing ways of creative prayer, something
that youth are excited to be part of. Every summer, they
rent a truck and use it for a place for 24 hour prayer. Every
time I passed by the truck there were youth from the Rock
at it including some very hard-core street involved teens.
Thanks GOHOP!
Soupfest was a wonderful success yet again. Scot Urquhart
from CHCH provided awesome coverage stating “Soup has
been a force for good.” Thank you to all of our volunteers,
staff and friends that pray for Living Rock and help to spread
the “Youth Matter” campaign throughout the entire city.
We look forward to being able to interact more with the
community in our new Food Truck Social Enterprise:
“Follow The Harvest”. Find us on facebook or follow us on
Twitter @TheHarvestTruck.
TERRY’S TRI-ROCK TRIUMPH
The staff work side-by-side and
one-on-one to equip the youth with
strategies when obstacles arise that
threaten their employment and
stability. Terry has become more
confident in himself. Terry reflected
that “The Living Rock teaches you
about self-worth and boosts your
self-esteem.” TRI-Rock provides
training for practical, hands-on skills
such as janitorial work, inventory
control, portering, basic administration
skills and practical kitchen experience.
TRI-Rock also provides life-skills
groups and training in budgeting,
resume writing, interview skills, anger
management, the Safe Food Handling
course, WHMIS and First Aid & CPR.
All these opportunities equip the
youth with life lessons they can take
into their placement, any future jobs
and carry with them for the rest of
their lives.
Terry took the lessons that he learned
from TRI-Rock into his placement at
Bulk Barn, which led him to be hired
full-time after he graduated from the
TRI-Rock Program. Terry remembered
an important lesson he learned from
Bob Moore, TRI-Rock Coordinator.
“Bob said, ‘Always be hard working’.
I’ve learned that the hardest workers
are the most valuable…Now I accept
that I’m one of the hardest workers I
know. I take my job seriously.”
YOUTH PŒTRY CORNER
On Tuesday, February 24, 2015, Hamilton Conven on Centre by Carmen’s was alive with aromas of soup. The bustle of people was joyous as over 5,000 litres of soup was served to raise $70,000 to support cri cal programs at Living Rock. Over 5,000 people came out to enjoy music, meet celebrity servers and mingle with the community, all while tas ng stomach warming soups. SPONSORS
DIAMOND SPONSOR
BEST DISPLAY
Winner ‐ S llwaters 1st Runner up ‐ Taylor’s Tea Room and Take Away 2nd Runner up ‐ Fisher’s Eatery & Sports Lounge WINNERS
MOST CREATIVE SOUP
Winner ‐ Baci Ristorante ‐ Roasted Garlic & Potato w/ Maple Sriracha Cheesecake 1st Runner up ‐ S llwaters - Hot Chick Soup 2nd Runner up ‐ Sensa onal Samosa – Ash Soup BEST GROWN LOCAL SOUP
Winner ‐ Goodness Me! – Smokey Goodness 1st Runner up – The Burnt Tongue – Moroccan Vegetable w/ Pearl Couscous 2nd Runner up ‐ Cascata Bistro ‐ Vivacious Vegan Soup BEST SOUP
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
Winner ‐ Collins Brewhouse – Mac & Cheese 1st Runner up ‐ S llwaters - Hot Chick Soup 2nd Runner up ‐ Mustang’s Big Ol’ Grill ‐ Honey Roasted Sweet Potato FOODIE CHOICE AWARD
Winner ‐ Heritage Place Re rement – Leek & Mushroom 1st Runner up ‐ Earth Shake ‐ African Nut 2nd Runner up ‐ 4th Course Bistro ‐ Sweet Potato Kale & Sausage Soup 2nd Runner up ‐ Collins Brewhouse‐ Mac & Cheese RESTAURANTS
PLATINUM SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
CONGRATULATIONS WAYNE BAKER
GARY KRISTIANSEN LIVING ROCK SOUPFEST SPIRIT AWARD
“FOR EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTEERISM”
Special thanks to 2015 Spirit Award
Winner, Wayne Baker, who has
volunteered with Soupfest for 5
consecutive years. Wayne has added
his culinary expertise and passion through
his involvement on the Soupfest Committee
as well as coordinating the Restaurant
Support Team during Soupfest. *For more informa on see livingrock.ca CHECK OUT THE REVERSE SIDE TO SEE ALL WINNERS! FOODIE CHOICE AWARD
This year Living Rock added an additional award
category titled the Foodie Choice Award. Many of the
restaurants have mentioned through the years that it would be
amazing to have their culinary skills judged by members from
their own sector. Judges were given anonymous soup
samples. All soups were scored by each of the Judges and
then the votes were collected and presented at the Closing
Ceremonies.
From left to right: Amanda Kinnaird, Chanry Thach,
Dave Hanley, Alex Bielak & Karen Aquino
Doug Tulloch
The Ring of Fire
Tomi Swick
Al Craig & Friends
Acknowledgements Peter Tigchelaar
Darin Martin Band
The Overplayers
Special Thank You to Hume Media for
“Stirring Up Support for youth-at-risk”
by printing the programs.
KPMG Management Services LP • Blue Wave- FirstOntario Credit Union • Team Orange- ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Hamilton • Association of Administrative Assistants • BrokerLink Inc. ● Hamilton Bulldogs Bruiser ● Hamilton Tiger-Cats
● FirstOntario Credit Union Roo ● Pigskin Pete ● The Doodle Bug (Mascot) ● City of Hamilton ● Hamilton Bulldogs ●
Jill Trites ● Mercury Food Service ● The Meeting House ● Via Rail ● WestJet ● Intrigue Media Hamilton, Amy Spice
● Terri Busch ● Sealed Art ● Nick Cino, Y108 ● Kelly Cutrara, Fresh Radio 95.3 ● Andrew Gerrior, Fresh Radio 95.3
● Scott Thompson, AM 900 CHML ● Hamilton Police Action Team ● The Hamilton Professional Fire Fighter Association ●
Thank you to all the volunteers, staff and youth support!