Our vision:  A community that loves, and is transformed by it.

Our mission:  Church Out Serving is a faith-inspired, volunteer-run care network with a focus to "love our neighbours." We do this with our actions, serving in practical ways, drawing together people who are committed to making a difference in our community.

Our charitable projects include:  First Serving Dinners, The Ice Box, Community Christmas Day Dinner, The Gathering Food Gardens, Donation Station, Home For The Night, and Riversyde 83.

First Serving Dinners

First Serving is a free community dinner served twice each week on Mondays and Fridays from First Baptist Church’s kitchen in downtown Simcoe.  Averaging 300 meals each week, over 102,000 dinners have been served.  This program provides food and friendship to neighbours living with the struggles of financial or social poverty.

The Ice Box

The Ice Box offers hearty home-style frozen meals to neighbours that are unable to cook for themselves, due to health and mobility concerns, age, homelessness, or other life crisis, coupled with financial need.  Averaging 100 meals each week, over 23,000 dinners  have been served, most of these delivered directly to their doorsteps.

Community Christmas Day Dinner

On Christmas Day each year, we offer a hearty Christmas Dinner “with all the fixings” to anyone who needs a meal or a place to be.  With carols, a visit by Santa, and gifts of an ornament and chocolate, this event has become a cherished way for people to celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year.”  This dinner has welcomed 150 guests and continues to grow each year. 

The Gathering Food Gardens

The Gathering Food Gardens is our community garden initiative, with produce grown specifically for our neighbours who have limited access to fresh, healthy food.  The harvests supply local meal programs, teaching kitchens, and food banks.  27 raised garden beds are located at 6 sites:  Indwell-Hambleton Hall, Unilever Simcoe, Evergreen Heights Church,        Colborne Village United Church, Calvary Church and Riversyde 83.  Our harvests of 25 varieties of vegetables and herbs average 20,000 vegetable servings per year, with over 124,000 veggie servings shared since our gardens began.

Donation Station

Donation Station is our home-basics service.  Donated gently-used furniture, appliances, and kitchen items are repurposed and shared with families experiencing disability, abuse, addiction, unemployment, health or other life struggle.  Gently-used kid’s clothing helps young families with need.  Recipients are referred by local care agencies.   ~ 250 area families are served each year.  Kids clothing packages are also shared with elementary schools, assisting teachers and students in JK, SK, grades 1 & 2.   

Home  For the Night

A homeless shelter has been long on our hearts, and last year became our newest project.  The warm and cozy space has 20 overnight beds available.  Staff, volunteers and security care for our guests.  The shelter is open every evening from 8:00pm to 8:00am from mid fall to early spring.  Comfortable beds, hearty cooked meals, movies and games, and a listening ear are offered to our most vulnerable residents during the cold nights of the winter.  Guests eat breakfast and take snacks-to-go in the morning, compliments of local businesses, schools, and families who care.  Last winter, shelter was provided to 65 individuals.

Riversyde 83 (Community Teaching Kitchen, Cafe Eatery, Meeting Spaces)

Located at 83 Sydenham Street, our newest project is a community-center-with-a-food-focus, offering neighbours and visitors alike a space to discover and enjoy food-to-the-full!  Our staff and volunteers are pleased to welcome you inside to experience the unexpected blend of rural, chic and delicious, an amazing addition to Simcoe’s downtown.  Come and check us out!

Our Community Teaching Kitchen features a large residential style kitchen equipped with gas and electric cooktops and burners, multiple ovens and small appliances for student use.  Cooks of all ages and interests are encouraged in a variety of subjects including food preparation, and presentation, and preservation, and will find delight in learning more about in-season local produce from area farms.  Hands-on learning inspires healthy choices, creative skills, and new friendships.  For current information on cooking classes, check out our website (riversyde83.ca) or our social media.

Our Chef’s Kitchen features most of the equipment required for large-scale food prep, and is a bustling spot for our café, catering opportunities, private events, and community activities. 

Our Café Eatery has a southern exposure with large windows, laptop counter with complimentary WiFi, and both table and lounge seating.  Café guests enjoy coffees, teas and specialty drinks, along with our chef’s exquisite breakfast and lunch menus.  Come for an hour or for awhile.  Meet with old friends or make new ones.  Savour the notch-above food and service.  Bask on the outdoor patio under sun sails in the summer.  Cozy up in the firesyde lounge in the winter.  And on Friday nights,  there’s often special activities happening including musicians or speakers or games nights…  making your visit even more memorable.  Weekday hours with full menu 8am-3pm.  Fridays from 3-9pm, only the café menu is offered, and if you're into fun activities, there's often something special going on Friday evenings.

Our Meeting Spaces offer the perfect spot for your private activity or gathering whether it’s a small (1-5 people), medium (6-14 people), or large (65-100 people) room you’re looking for.  Competitive rental rates complement the option to order from the café, our special room/event menu, or a custom food request.