Annual Dream Auction
Raising money and awareness for poverty in Richmond

Every Thursday from January thru November at 5:30 pm our congregation hosts a free community meal for anyone who would like to attend. The purpose of this meal is not only to feed the hungry but also to build relationships and community with people of all ages, cultures and economic conditions. Please join us any Thursday night for dinner

First United Church Mission

First United Church is a mission congregation in the midst of the downtown eastside of Vancouver. Gilmore Park makes and delivers sandwiches for the homeless on the second Wednesday of each month. On that day we also deliver non-perishable food items, toiletries and men's clothing. The second Sunday of Advent we call "white gift" Sunday, and we collect new men's underwear and socks for the mission. First United distributes 1,000 pairs of new socks per month in winter months.

Community Kitchen

Gilmore Park sponsors two community kitchen clubs where people gather together to learn to plan, shop and cook inexpensive meals. The cooking is done in community, and the food is shared among the participants.

The earth is God's creation, and we are all called by God to care for it, as much as we care for our fellow human beings. In addition to our social justice initiatives for the environment, Gilmore Park responsibly seeks to reduce, reuse and recycle. We have recently begun an initiative to reduce paper use in the Church by 50%, and reuse paper before eventually recycling it. We also recycle all our coffee house cups, plastics, cans and bottles.

Our congregation will be participating in the United Church of Canada's Water, Spirituality and Justice Initiative.

Social Justice Table

Our social justice table in the main hallway of our church features the latest letters and petitions to governments on social justice issues. There is also a library of information available, and fair trade coffee for sale here by the pound.

Fair Trade Coffee House

The last Friday of every month we hold a ‘Wondercafe’ featuring coffee, games and social justice conversation. We serve delicious lattes, teas, and blended drinks of all kinds—including decaf, low-fat and soy alternatives – all for just $1 each. All our products are fairly traded, giving maximum wages to farmers and suppliers in developing countries.

Poverty Response Committee

Gilmore Park is an active member of the Richmond Poverty Response Committee that includes 4 Task Forces: Families and Food Security, Housing, Advocacy and Access. The various groups make recommendations to City Council.

Project Linus

Project Linus is a collection of women—young and old alike—who gather together to make blankets for suffering or traumatized children. Blankets may be made in all styles including quilts, comforters or knitted afghans. Anyone is invited to donate a (new) blanket or to take part in one of our Saturday “quilting” days. No experience in blanket-making is necessary!

Mission & Service Fund

A portion of your offering every Sunday is automatically donated to the United Church of Canada’s Mission and Service Fund (“M&S”). As one of Canada’s oldest charitable funds, M&S supports missions both in Canada and overseas. Through global partners, M&S is able to assess needs quickly and respond immediately, and also to provide ongoing support. M&S also sponsors congregations in rural communities, hospitals, nursing homes, university chaplaincies and theological colleges. The M&S fund is approximately 3M annually.

Canadian Tire Money  

Canadian Tire Money is collected in support of Camp Fircom which sponsors children and families from the downtown eastside of Vancouver, “the poorest postal code in Canada”.

Families for Children

One of our members spends her retirement supporting this charity for Bangladesh orphans. Twice a year she flies to Bangladesh to live and work in the orphanage. Our fair trade coffee sales profits support this charity. More Info