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![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4202569_web1_Deacon-Cassandra-Golondrina-stands-beneath-a-hole-in-the-roof-at-St.-Thomas-Anglican-Ch.jpeg\")
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John Longhurst \/ Free Press<\/p>\n
Deacon Cassandra Golondrina stands beneath a hole in the roof at St. Thomas Anglican Church.<\/p>\n
The roof is failing, and there is a risk of long-term structural harm if it isn\u2019t repaired.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo ensure safety and preserve our mission, the roof must be replaced as soon as possible,\u201d Golondrina said.<\/p>\n
If that doesn\u2019t happen, the church might have to close. That would affect a lot of people in the area; more than 300 people get a home-cooked meal from the church every Wednesday, including about 100 children.<\/p>\n
About 60,000 meals have been prepared and served by volunteers who work out of the parish hall since the meal program began in 2019.<\/p>\n
People who stop by can also pick up a box of fresh vegetables, non-perishable food and other items to help them stretch their budget for the week. Ninety to 100 food boxes are handed out each Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Local Anglican churches, Manitoba Harvest and Peak of the Market donate most of the food while Maple Leaf Foods donates hams. The cooking, sorting and packing is done by volunteers from the church and other Anglican churches in and near Winnipeg. Expenses are covered by donations and grants.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Longhurst \/ Free Press<\/p>\n Built in 1906, St. Thomas Anglican Church on William Ave. W needs $50,000 in repairs to fix its failing roof.<\/p>\n Together with other programs offered by the church \u2014 including an emergency pantry and a clothes closet that provides coats, hats and gloves in winter \u2014 its economic impact to the community totals $2.1 million, according to Halo Project Canada, an organization that measures the socioeconomic impact of places of worship.<\/p>\n The organization, which studied the small congregation of 40 or so people, found every dollar donated to St. Thomas results in $43.87 of impact in the community. That\u2019s more than ten times the national average for places of worship.<\/p>\n It\u2019s all in danger if the roof isn\u2019t fixed. \u201cWe\u2019ve been getting holes in the roof patched,\u201d said Golondrina, noting there are holes in the roof where water once leaked through.<\/p>\n Those holes have been patched, but that isn\u2019t sufficient, she added; a new roof is needed.<\/p>\n Al, who didn\u2019t want to use his last name, has been coming to the church every week for three years for food. \u201cIt would not be a good thing if it closes,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope the money is found to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n Gerrard Lightfoot feels the same way. He also gets food from the church, volunteering to help on days when the food is distributed.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Longhurst \/ Free Press<\/p>\n Volunteer Meredith Robinson fries eggs for meals at St. Thomas Anglican Church.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to fix the roof so this can keep going,\u201d he said, adding that the food he receives \u201chelps out a lot \u2026 it makes my food budget go further.\u201d<\/p>\n Volunteering, he added, \u201cis my way of giving back.\u201d<\/p>\n The cooking is done by Meredith Robinson, who has been volunteering in the kitchen for the past seven years.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tSunday Passages<\/p>\n Sundays<\/p>\n Kevin Rollason\u2019s Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for Sunday Passages<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cI don\u2019t want to think about it if the roof can\u2019t be fixed,\u201d said Robinson, adding that providing food is \u201cwhat churches are supposed to do. We want to be there for you when you want to celebrate, when you are mourning, and if you need food.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead, St. Thomas has a vision for updating the church\u2019s kitchen to meet rising demand for food and other services.<\/p>\n \u201cBut nothing else can really happen if we don\u2019t have a roof,\u201d said Golondrina. \u201cIt\u2019s the umbrella that we do all of this under. So much is already happening here, and more could come, but not if we don\u2019t address that first.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t John Longhurst \/ Free Press<\/p>\n Volunteer Gerrard Lightfoot packs food boxes at St. Thomas Anglican Church.<\/p>\n Those who would like to donate to help the church fix its roof can do so at wfp.to\/stthomas. Cheques can be mailed to 1567 William Ave. W, R3E 1A7.<\/p>\n faith@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\tThe Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba through our Religion in the News project. This reporting continues because readers like you step forward to fund it.<\/p>\n Donate now to support our reporting on religion. \t\t\t\t John Longhurst John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.<\/p>\n
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