This photograph is by Nancy Barrett, Nature’s Dance Photography,  https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturegirl99/.  She posted it on Facebook and many people from Davenport Perth loved it and identified with it.  Like the Monarch butterfly, they are migrants and some have chosen to stay in this community.

This fall, a series of hurricanes struck several countries and territories in the Caribbean. Also, two major earthquakes have shaken Mexico.

The people at Davenport Perth were grieved and wanted to help. This community is in a neighbourhood identified as a “Neighbourhood Improvement Area,” a neighbourhood that is falling below the Neighbourhood Equity Score and requiring special attention. Yet they wanted to get together, pray, tell their stories, grieve, comfort each other, make art and raise funds. Lumy Fuentes created this poster.

Lumy Fuentes, local artist and founder / Multicultural Development Director at Canada Nos Une / Canada Unites led people in the creation of a tree sculpture where monarch butterflies were mounted, representing a gift, a wish for safety and re-building. Lucia Gallegos, a psychotherapist and counselor led a workshop in English and Spanish to help people go through their anxieties and grief. Artists  Nancy Barrett, Hilda Centritto, Sharon Anderson, Dan G. and others offered pieces of their work. Singer songwriter, Canadian Juno Award winner, Planet Africa Entertainment Award winner and Double TAMA, Toronto African Music Awards winner, Adam Solomon, sang, played music and led people in dancing. Many people came, went and many stayed throughout the day. Wendy Hillman from Bread and Bricks Social Justice Group helped in greeting visitors and in the collection of donations. Volunteers offered and prepared food to share. As their Community Minister, I offered acknowledgement of territory, led prayers and words of comfort.

The United Church of Canada is supporting efforts of global partners to assist people affected by these events. At the end of the day, this Monarch fundraiser by the people of Davenport Perth, raised $600, a gift sent to The United Church of Canada Philanthropy Unit – Emergency Response.

 ^“And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful,” Titus 3:14