Port Hope Conference

Our Lady of the Visitation Parish

The Port Hope Conference provides both food and food vouchers to families in need through on-call teams of two who make home visits. The on-call teams also handle requests for furniture, clothing and household items. These items are available through the SSVP Bowmanville Value Store. Other requests that are dealt with include monies for heat, hydro and rent, which are often in arrears. These requests are handled jointly with other organizations. Last year the conference assisted 276 families, made up of 429 adults and 310 children. The conference spent $41,000 last year assisting those in need.

The conference also provides a yearly bursary of $1,000 to a student in financial need to pursue a post-secondary education. In addition, the conference works closely with the Giving Tree, an organization dedicated to providing gifts and food at Christmas to those in need. Last year the program assisted 50 families that were also served by the Port Hope conference.

Funding and food are provided by the Parish through donations from the parishioners. As well, the local school provides food through food drives. The conference supports the Bowmanville Store by having a yearly clothing drive.