Rimbey United Church and the West Country Outreach School found a way to help each other through a unique partnership brought together by food.
Finding the missing ingredients
Rimbey United Church operates a fully equipped commercial kitchen; however, for much of the week the kitchen sat quiet and unused. At the same time, students attending the West Country Outreach School need option credits toward their education and possibly some hands-on programming that went beyond their classroom.
United Church member and retired social worker Brenda McGillis started to look into the potential for a partnership with the school. There were students needing opportunities to learn practical life skills and a church facility – and congregation – ready to assist.
Stirring up a partnership
The resulting partnership proved to be a natural fit, with both groups playing to their strengths. The West Country Outreach School provides the necessary teacher support, supervision, and educational structure to ensure students receive proper credit for their hard work.
The Rimbey United Church opens the doors to its commercial kitchen, while a team of church volunteers are ready to step up to share their time and expertise with the students. This also provides a great opportunity for intergenerational bonding as our church volunteers are all seniors. So spending this time together can provide a sense of connectedness and inclusion for everyone.
Beyond just learning how to cook, students learn mentorship, teamwork and a sense of accomplishment as they prepare and share meals together.
Living out the Affirming mandate
The collaborative program also holds more significance for the congregation. Recently, Rimbey United Church became an Affirming Church – a public commitment to being inclusive, welcoming, and engaging with everybody in the broader community regardless of background or walk of life.
By opening its kitchen and welcoming the students, the church has turned their mandate into action.
It is a great reminder that sometimes the best way to build a great partnership is by gathering around a shared table.