The Working Centre - About Us

The Working Centre and St. John's Kitchen are grateful for the many contributions we receive from individuals, businesses, churches, schools, groups, and organizations. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that we thank those who make regular contributions to our work. We recognize that in doing so, we may leave out many who contribute in so many important ways to our work.

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters of 2010/2011

Aardvark-Vanaheim Inc., Carmeta Abbott, Aberdeen Homes, Vera Aldersley, All Saints Anglican Church, Dr. Neil Arya, Matthew & Nina Bailey-Dick, BDO Canada LLP - Corporate Office, Ross Beauchamp, Bell Canada, Dr. George & Dr. Janet Berrigan, Ray Beskau, Bingeman’s, Laurie Blaikie, Blenheim Ecumenical House Church, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Bloomingdale United Church, Paul Born & Marlene Epp, Vernon Bowman, Paul Bulla, C.A.W. Canada, C.A.W. Local 1106, Marian Campbell, Canadahelps.Org, Mel & Donna Cescon, Alan Charters, J. Chin, Church of the Holy Saviour, J. Douglas & Muriel I. Coleman, Coleman Equipment Inc., Community & World Service, Congregation of the Resurrection, Cote Lock Smith, Donald Cowan, Crosby Volkswagen Ltd., Cross Country Concrete, Kenneth & Virginia Davidson, Paul W. Davock, Maureen & Patrick Beaus Duffy, Ecoplans Limited, Emmanuel United Church, Jim Erb, Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, Erb and Erb Insurance, First Christian Reformed, First Mennonite Church, First Mennonite WMSC, Fleming Barrister & Solicitor, Patrick & Noreen Flynn, William Fox, Steven Furino, Esther (Carl) Gascho, Don & Elinor Gingerich, Andrew Glenn, Rodney Goetz, Bruce Gorvett, Dorothy Graham, Ron & Lorraine Green, Ronald Green, Valerie & David Grzesiak, Walter Hachborn, Iris Hall, Dorothy Hallman, Jim & Susan Hallman, Tom & Kathy Hallman, Hallman Construction, Anna Hemmendinger, Hilltop Acres Poultry Products, Pamela Hilton, Carol Holup, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, House Fund of St. Jeromes College, Malkin Howes, Peter Hundt, ITW Foundation, Mary Jackson, Ahmet Jakupi, Jay Fencing, Esme Johnson, Susan & Terry Johnson, Dave Jolkowski, Karos Health Inc., Helmut & Carol Kassik, Cecil Kavanaugh, Richard Kennel, Cameron Kitchen, Kitchener Oktoberfest Lions Club, Kitchener Waterloo Poppy Fund, Dave & Mary Lou Klassen, Greg Klymko, Knights of Columbus #1504, Jacobus Kok, Robert Kruse, Martin Kuhn, K-W Community Foundation, K-W Naval Association, K-W Region Elks Lodge #578, Jeremy Ladan, John Langlois, R.W. Lavigne, Lear Corporation - Jeff Mayer, Brenda & Gary Leis, Sally Lerner, Rita Levato, Jack & Daphne Lucas, Lyle S Hallman Foundation, M.R. Jutzi Properties, Ronald & Vicki MacDonald, Katherine MacIsaac, MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Ltd., Christina Mancini, Dr. Catherine Mancini, Rebecca Mancini, Manulife Financial, David & Bonnie Martin, David & Nancy Matthews, May Court Club of K-W, Mary-Louise Mcallister, Margaret McSorley, Steve & Eve Menich, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, Mennonite Foundation of Canada, Mennonite Savings & Credit, Mersynergy Charitable Foundation, Juanita Metzger, Frank Millerd, Alexandra & David Milne, Margaret Motz, Mr. & Mrs. K. G. Murray, Robert & Margaret Nally, Lucinda Neuru, Nicholson & Cates Ltd., Krista O’Brien, Sean & Mary-Jo O’Brien, D. O’Hagan, John & S. Mooibroek Oudyk, Darlene Patterson, Nancy Lou & Palmer Patterson, Brigitte Penzendorfer, Jenny Prior, Darren Reader, Rick Reichard, Marvin & Susan Rempel, Research In Motion, Resurrection Catholic Secondary School, Ruth Ristau, Robert & Judith Astley Family Foundation, Ann Robitaille, Rotary Club of Kitchener-Grand, Royal Canadian Legion Br. #412, Marguerite Rueb, Jim Sauder, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Glen Shantz, M. D. Sharma, John Shortreed, Warren Sinclair, Sisters of Providence S.V.P., Sisters of St. Joseph, Social Awareness, Sorbara Law, Norm & Carol Southwood, Christopher Springer, St. Agatha Church, St. Agatha House, St. Aloysius Parish, St. Anthony Daniel Parish, St. Columba’s Church, St. Francis C.W.L., St. George’s Anglican Church, St. Jacobs Country Inn, St. Jerome’s University, St. John’s A.C.W., St. Michael’s Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, St Paul’s Lutheran Church - Erbsville, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Peters Lutheran Church, Stirling Ave. Mennonite Church, Stirling Ave. W.M.A., Strassburger Windows & Doors, Strategic Charitable Giving, John & Kay Sweeney, Iva R. Taves, The Atkinson Charitable Foundation, Barry Triller, David & Shelley Tsarfati, Robert Veitch, Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc., Volkswagen Waterloo, Fred Von Heyking, John & Patricia Wainwright, Waterloo Christian Reformed, Waterloo County Recreational Pool League, Waterloo Heights Resident Fund, Waterloo Lions Club Bingo Account, Waterloo North Mennonite Church, Waterloo Wellington Dufferin & Grey Building and Construction Trades Council, Nelson Weber, James & Brenda Welch, Ken & Anne Westhues, Herbert & Barbara Whitney, Dennis Winterburn, Apolonia Witko, Elaine & Clifton Young, and Your Neighbourhood Credit Union.

Thank You to the Ontario Trillium Foundation

We would like to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their significant and ongoing support of many Working Centre projects.

In May 2011, the Ontario Trillium Foundation approved a generous grant that covered approximately half of the cost of two major projects. The first project involved making major repairs to the roof of The Working Centre's 66 Queen St. S. building. OTF contributed $19,100 to this project. The second project was the purchase and installation of a commercial-grade gas range and fire-rated hood vent in Maurita's Kitchen. This new equipment allows for more efficient preparation of food and provides kitchen volunteers experience with commercial-grade kitchen equipment. OTF contributed $21,500 to this project.

This past year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation also offered a supporting three-year grant to the Multicultural Cinema Club. It provided a capital grant for purchasing additional filmmaking equipment that included a RED Digital Video Camera amoung that will be rented out to local artists.

Over the past ten years, the Ontario Trillium Foundation has offered significant grants in support three Working Centre building projects. OTF provided a $75,000 grant towards the revitalization of 43 Queen St. S., $120,000 in funds for the 66 Queen St. S. renovations, and a $72,000 grant supporting the development of 97 Victoria St. N., including funds for the handicap lift at St. John's Kitchen.

Thank You to the Rotary Club of Kitchener-Conestoga!

At a luncheon in January 2008, the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club presented The Working Centre with a cheque for $200,000 from the Dreamhome Lottery. The contribution will enable us to retire the complete mortgage at 97 Victoria. We are grateful to the hard working members of the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club for this important donation that provides long-term support for the community meal and outreach projects offered at St. John’s Kitchen.

Thank you to InTown Internet

We would like to thank Harry Vanderzand and InTown Internet for generously providing The Working Centre with free web hosting over the last several years. Each month, thousands of people are able to learn about The Working Centre through our website. We are most grateful for their continuing generosity.