Alongside Hope
St. George’s parishioners are pleased to support the work of the Alongside Hope.
Alongside Hope is the Canadian Anglican response for emergency relief, refugees, sustainable development, and global justice. And it’s making a difference in the world. Its guiding principle is to listen and learn from partners in its development work. With the support of Anglican parishes across Canada, Alongside Hope makes financial and human resources available to support partners’ initiatives and to promote knowledgeable actions of solidarity at home and around the world.
Previously known as PWRDF, Alongside Hope has grown dramatically since its inception following the Springhill mine disaster in 1958, in which 75 men died following an underground mine explosion in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Once named for the Primate, the head of the Anglican Church in Canada, in 2024 the membership approved our new name. Read more about our history, our volunteers and our governance structures here.Learn more about the far-reaching work of the Canadian PWRDF right here.
NEWS:
In Cuba, Hurricane Melissa brought destruction, leaving flooding, power outages, and heavy damage to homes and infrastructure. The storm forced the evacuation of thousands, with more than 181,000 people already receiving emergency food distributions while sheltered. Many Cuban communities remain isolated and without basic services, which is complicating rescue and recovery efforts. Despite these challenges, international and local partners continue to work together to deliver aid to those most affected by the hurricane’s impact.
Alongside Hope has provided $15,000 solidarity grant to the Episcopal Church in Cuba in response to the deadly and devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. A longtime partner in the country, the ECC is well placed to support people with the greatest needs in finding safety and emergency supplies.
At our baptism we – or our parents on our behalf – were asked a series of Baptismal Covenant questions: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?” and “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” to which we respond, “I will, with God’s help.” Those two questions, along with the others posed in the Covenant now find expression in the Five Marks of Mission of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Anglican Church of Canada, through Alongside Hope (previously PWRDF) has been responding to refugees and displaced persons ever since its founding in 1959, one year after a tragic mining disaster in Springhill, N.S. prompted an outpouring of donations from Anglican churches. The following year, 1960, was declared World Refugee Year by the United Nations and PWRF (the “D” was added in 1969), earmarked $100,000 of the $162,000 raised in its first appeal for refugees overseas. In partnership with church-based and secular refugee-serving agencies, that work continues to this day continue reading here:
How you can help
Donate online or go to alongsidehope.org/give-today. You may also send a cheque to Alongside Hope, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2. You may also donate by phone at 416-822-9083 or leave a message toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and we will return your call.
To read about this and other Alongside Hope initiatives, please click here.