WE PICK THEM UP WITH THE TEASPOON

It is 11:00pm, we are heading to our car, at the time of the closing of a small theater which we own in Joliette. It is at this moment that we meet this woman, alone and intoxicated, dressed in rags, probably hurt by painful life experiences. We had decided, my wife Lyne and I, a few weeks ago, never to look away from these poor people, but to greet them warmly. But the day came when we wanted to do more.

 

It was in March 2015 that Teaspoon Ministry was born. We have booked the Sunday evening of our Theater to offer a free meal of soup and sandwich for the underprivileged, low-income people and families, homeless people, those with addictions, those with mental health problems or intellectual disability, in short all those in need.

 

Our heart grew quickly and we wanted to give even more. Knowing that these people who visited us had very little opportunity to attend shows in a beautiful Theater, we therefore almost immediately added the element show to our evenings by offering musical performances, theatrical, or artistic on stage.

 

Although very important to us, our dream is not just to see less privileged people being fed and entertained. We aspire to help give them a better life, a source of inspiration and motivation. So we also added some informative elements. Well-selected speakers communicate essential values of human life; accompanists are trained to assist people personally in their life journey; opportunities to serve the organization are continually offered.

 

Today, two and a half years later, the little theater has ceased to exist to better focused on Teaspoon Ministry which is constantly growing. We host, for these dinner-concerts, nearly 75 people each Sunday, serving a global clientele of more than 400 people with 150 new visitors per year, and more than 25 regular volunteers.

 

Our charity brings together an executive committee of 6 people, including Michel and Laurette Deaudelin (chefs), Sébastien Macameau and Sandra Fontaine (member of the administrative committee), Lyne Lamarche (co-founder, administration and finances) and myself, Francois Verschelden (co-founder and President).

2 new components have been added to the activities of Teaspoon Ministry in 2017.

 

a) Privileged by two major donors, Teaspoon Ministry receives and redistributes its food surpluses to other local organizations that help the most disadvantaged in the region.

 

b) Teaspoon Ministry is recognized as a welcoming organization for the social reintegration of people from prison. We also receive people who are required to do community or compensatory work.

 

In order to continue our mission we need to raise $ 50,000.00

 

Phase 1: $ 50,000.00

 

Your contribution will be used to continue what we have started and described so far.

 

Basic fees include:
* Room rental for dinner-show every Sunday
* Use of premises for help relationship, personal training, storage.
* Purchase of specific food
* Purchase of stage equipment
* Purchase training materials
* Expenses for the artists and speakers
* Administrative expenses
* Advertising and marketing

Phase 2: $ 75,000.00

 

In order to allow you to visualize the future with us and give the opportunity to those of you who are philanthropic in nature, here is what we plan for 2018-2019

 

Opening of the Café Mosaic.

A café that will offer snacks and light meals to allow the poorer clientele to meet with friends and enjoy a place to meet and eat at a small cost.
In addition to the goal of self-financing, it will be a source of income for the charity Teaspoon Ministry.

Café Mosaic will be attractive to high and middle income customers, allowing them to contribute more generously to their consumption to support low-income customers.

In order to encourage social reintegration and to provide adequate job positions due to the limitations of our members, the labor would be workers who have been discovered as a volunteer serving at Teaspoon Ministry dinner-concert.

 

We hope to help give them a better life for a better future.

Thank you very much for your contribution,

 

Francois Verschelden & Lyne Lamarche
founders, Teaspoon Ministry

(450) 803-3359
www.ptitecuillere.ca
www.teaspoonministry.com

P.S. If requested, we will be happy to give a charitable tax receipt to Canadian citizen for any donation over $ 100.00

 

P.S.S. For the sake of your charitable tax receipt, American donors are invited to send their donation via FGC , a 501(3) (c) non-profit.  

 

P.S.S.S. If you prefer, make check payable to :  Cafe Mosaique.
Mail to: Teaspoon Ministry, 29 Ave. des Buissons, Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Quebec, J6E 6N9

Thank you for helping us even more by sharing this fundraise on your social networks :-)