Hello, St Matthew's!

Apologies for going overboard here with the fancy newsletter-style template, but we have had some exciting things happening, and we wanted to show you the pictures! 

First of all, a news update: The facemasks, hearts, and little free pantry are still going strong. We have distributed 900 facemasks to individuals, medical centres, and group homes, and 100 sets of knitted hearts to the ICUs of the Chatham and Sarnia hospitals, to some individuals, and to the residents and families of Park Street Place Retirement Residence in Dresden. The pantry uptown fills up as fast as it is emptied, so beyond checking it to make sure the flour-loving squirrel hasn't returned, it is taking care of itself. 

That's the people taken care of, but what about the property? Is it going to rack and ruin?

On the contrary!

The cemetery fence post caps, horizontal ties, and arch are fixed and painted, the cemetery bushes are trimmed, the cedar tree that was damaging the parish hall fascia has been removed, the hall bushes and garden have been trimmed and weeded, and the rotten windowsill at the back of the church is replaced! 

Huge thanks to Ron Walker, who was so generous with his time and talents. He did all that painting! And he trimmed all the bushes at the fence. Phil and Mary and Bob and Evelyn chopped out and cleaned up that tree, we hired a professional service (who gave us an amazing deal) to trim the parish hall bushes, Judy V has been doing the weeding, and Harry rebuilt one of those post caps and the windowsill. Jeff and Sue donated the very unique cement form, amongst other help and advice! And Barb of 3Ds has been an angel!