Meredith (Board Chair)

I began to go to Matthew House Board meetings in the fall of 2014 on the invitation of our beloved director, Miriam Rawson. I felt out of my comfort zone, but decided that, since I had prayed about the decision of pursuing my involvement with Matthew House, I would embrace the discomfort as an area of growth in my life. I was in a new place in my life, having left the full-time teaching profession of 25 years, and was seeking to carve out space to serve others in a fresh way.

I quickly saw that there is such joy in connecting with the newcomers to Canada, the refugees who arrive at Matthew House. They are so friendly, so open, so eager to connect and tell their stories. I have been humbled at the servant hearts of the amazing volunteers who give unstintingly of their time and energy. They are people who come a cook every week for lovely people who are dependent on what they provide, work on financial needs, help the residents with endless paperwork, accompany them to immigration hearings in Montreal, and much more.

Currently, I am organizing a fund-raising Variety Show for Matthew House which will be held at Kanata Baptist Church at 7:00 p.m. on April 24th. The cost is $10.00, and all youth 18 and under are free. It promises to be a fantastic evening, and I urge you all to come!

Volunteer, BoardAshley Reiter