Champions for Education

The Banwell Community Church is located on the corner of Banwell and McCabe. It’s the borderline between Windsor and Tecumseh.

But geography is merely a social construct. What matters to the Men’s Group at the B.C.C. and the rest of their benevolent ministry are precepts – ethical practices.

Those ideals reach much farther than the confines of their mere location.

The Men’s Group offers support, both physical and inspirational, to school communities on the far west side of Windsor and other locations in between.

Marlborough, Begley, Hetherington and Coronation public schools have all benefited from their altruism.

Food insecurity is a common issue in this area, with, in some places, 20% of households affected by a lack of healthy nutrition. 

The B.C.C. Men’s Group hold fundraising events such as car washes and chili cook-offs, and they reach out to the community for donations. With those resources, they provide food for breakfast and snack programs, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables.

And it’s not just a transactional exercise for the members. They personally deliver the goods to the schools.

Their generosity does not end there. Prior to holidays they supply canned goods and non-perishable items that are sent home to families in need, ensuring that students aren’t hungry while away from the school.

Also, during the colder months the men’s Group will provide hats, mittens, coats and scarves for children who need them.

It is often hard to determine who is more grateful, the people who receive these contributions or the ones who make them.

The Men’s Group at Banwell Community Church is fulfilling their mission to help all kids reach their potential – wherever they are.

They are Champions for Education.

What is a Gleaner?

The authentic definition is one who gathers grain or other produce left behind after the primary harvesters have passed. It is a concept that is promoted in the Old Testament to provide food for those in need.

It’s rooted in social justice principles.

The Ontario Gleaners are an inter-denominational Christian organization that does pretty much the same thing. Their mission is, “Using Surplus Produce to Feed a Hungry World.”

The Southwestern Ontario Gleaners, based in Leamington, do much more than that for the students at Leamington District Secondary School. They feed minds and create opportunities for experience and independence.

Their little plant is a short distance from the school, which allows Co-op students access to vital job placements where they earn credits in a fast-paced food processing and warehouse operation that helps them understand and adjust to the world of work.

As well, it’s a place where high school students can get important volunteer hours, which are mandatory for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Joel Epp, the manager, is incredibly accommodating to the students’ needs. The plant is usually only open in the mornings, but it will remain open in the afternoon for kids who can’t come over during school hours.

He also provides constructive feedback and he’s an eager work reference on resumes for students seeking employment.

The students in the LDSS MAPS class (My Achievement Pathway to Success) are also beneficiaries of the Gleaners’ good work. Classes volunteer for one period, one day each week, and all their social and physical needs are accommodated.

So now we have an alternative definition for a Gleaner – it is a Champion for Education.