Trinity donates $50,000 to The Working Centre

Joe and Stephanie Mancini of The Working Centre, together with Dave Rutherford of Trinity United Church

Recently, Trinity’s Supportive Housing Committee made a motion to the Board to donate $50,000 to The Working Centre to be used towards the reopening of their program, Queen Street Commons Café, and the Board approved the motion.

The Waterloo Region Community Foundation recent Vital Signs report, focuses on Social Infrastructure, the shared spaces and experiences, that contribute to wellbeing, belonging and inclusion. The Queen Street Commons is such a space. We feel that contributing to the re-emergence of this space safely and equitably supports people unsheltered and sheltered in our community and also follows Trinity's mission in downtown Kitchener.

Background:

Queen Street Commons Cafe, located in the heart of downtown Kitchener at 43 Queen Street, was a community space with affordable food and beverages, open to anyone from all walks of life. An accessible gathering space to afford welcome, inclusion and belonging. The food was prepared in the Working Centre's Maurita's Kitchen and many volunteers worked and trained in the Commons in customer service and food service. On any given day tables were filled, coffee was shared, books were read, the piano was being played and at night there might be a film or a workshop. All were welcome. It was closed during COVID. This is a bit more about the Queen Street Commons history and desire to reopen. Community Café: Queen Street Commons

About the term commons, Jay Walljasper writes, "The term may be unfamiliar, but the idea has been around for centuries. The commons is a new use of an old word, meaning “what we share”—and it offers fresh hope for a saner, safer, more enjoyable future. The commons refers to a wealth of valuable assets that belong to everyone... Some are bestowed to us by nature; others are the product of cooperative human creativity... Anyone can use the commons, so long as there is enough left for everyone else. This is why finite commons, such as natural resources, must be sustainably and equitably managed. But many other forms of the commons can be freely tapped... That’s the greatest strength of the commons. It’s an inheritance shared by all humans, which increases in value as people draw upon its riches.

Respectfully submitted by Janet Howitt and Cathy Baer, on behalf of Trinity’s Supportive Housing Committee