Lunch today was a Famous Pepper’s Spud Islander pizza (yes, it has slices of potato on it). We got one to go from FP’s new Summerside location and decided to find a shady spot in Memorial Park to snarf it down.
We parked in front of St. Mary’s Church Hall across from the park and spied a nice little picnic table under a tree in front of the hall. Next to it was what looks like a newly installed water tap, free for all to use, and I would guess specifically targeted at unhoused people who often use the park as a gathering place. Pizza consumed, I topped up my water bottle, and we were on our way.
Seeing this thoughtful act of love and care for others filled me up way more than the pizza did. I think if church had included this type of social action when I was a young person, I could very well have still been a believer.
If you are looking for a quiet, green, welcoming space in Summerside, I can’t think of a better spot.
This was my church when I anttended and I have to admit they’ve really gotten involved in a number of community minded projects like this. They initiated the Feed My Sheep Saturday morning breakfasts that are now rotate through other churches every Saturday, and the current rector has been quite involved with the unhoused population.