Regional Ministries
At Compass, we want to be known by love and reflect the love of Christ in all we do. The Regional Ministries of Compass, and its partners, are vessels to extend the love of Christ into our community, our region and beyond.
Many times throughout scripture the Lord directs us as believers to support the poor, needy, widows, orphans and foreigners. There are many ways to meet the needs of those requiring support in our communities and in other parts of the world. The way Compass meets those needs is through volunteer teams that meet specific areas of need within our region and the world.
Newcomer Settlement Team
The Newcomer Settlement Team is in place to welcome and settle refugees from foreign lands. This ministry has a support team comprised of volunteers and a lead administrator. Areas of support provided by the team to the newcomer families are as follows:
Housing
Education/Children
Medical /Dental
Shopping / Groceries
English as a Second Language
Transportation
Employment
Finances
Technology
Government correspondence
The Newcomer Settlement Team is structured with a point person for each area of support and as needs arise they respond with dedication and commitment to be examples of Christ to these newcomers to Canada. Compass is a recognized Constituent Group Sponsor by the Government of Canada and we are responsible for the newcomers for one year after arrival. Often, our support continues beyond the year to help with their ongoing integration into Canada.
Since 2018, Compass has had 22 newcomers arrive under our sponsorship program. They have all originated from Eritrea, Africa.
Move Team
The Move Team provides moving services to those in need of moving household items from one location to another. It is provided to specific individuals who cannot afford to cover moving expenses. We have provided move support through a number of local social agencies as a point of contact for them. It has been functioning since 2010. The Move Team responds to calls for moving services on an as needs basis. Many individual recipients have received the benefit of the Move Team services over the years and no association with Compass is required. We offer this service to the community as an act of love and support for those going through emotional, financial and other difficult issues. Our team is very sensitive to the needs of those receiving their services and often the recipients and the social agencies we support, express much appreciation for the Move Teams efforts.
Compass Run
In 2014, we saw a need in our community. There were so many people going from day-to-day not knowing where their next meal would come from. We, and others in our community, felt compelled to do something about it. This is how the Compass Run for Food started. It was an opportunity for people from around the community to run for a cause greater than themselves.
After ten years, with tremendous community support from local businesses, schools, individual donors and participants, together we have raised over $467,000 in support of feeding the hungry in our area. All funds raised go to feed kids and families through the food banks and the school breakfast programs across our region.
Cry Not
Cry Not is a volunteer organization formed, in partnership with The Rotary Club of Orangeville, to bring awareness of the threat, tactics, symptoms and resulting devastating personal effects of human trafficking to the greater Dufferin-Caledon communities.
Out of the Cold
Compass has received a request from the Town of Orangeville to provide volunteer support for the Out of the Cold program. The Town and Choices Men’s Shelter are partnering to provide overnight beds and lodging for individuals who are without warm shelter when temperatures drop below -5C. Volunteers will assist a Choices staff member at the shelter.
Regional Partners
Headwaters Hospital Chaplaincy
Regional Food Banks, Orangeville, Shelburne, Grand Valley
Youth for Christ
The Lighthouse, Orangeville
The Soup Haus, Shelburne