A gift from across the country
Nourishes the work of the Sorrento Centre
This article was published on Nov. 22, 2019.
The envelope that arrived that included a beautiful little card with a hand-written note: “I enjoyed reading the article in the Anglican Journal October 2019,” wrote our newest friend, who lives in a town not far from Little Heart’s Ease in Newfoundland. He enclosed a cheque for $100 “to be used where needed the most”.
His hometown on the beautiful east cost of Newfoundland shares two characteristics with the little town of Sorrento, where the Sorrento Centre is located, in the beautiful Shuswap region of British Columbia. Both little towns (villages, really) are very small, and both straddle the TransCanada Highway.
The Anglican Journal article that prompted the note and kind donation from across the country appeared under this headline “Reconciliation, restoration vision for Sorrento Centre, new executive director says”. It told the story of how the Centre, which was founded in 1963, is strengthening its powerful legacy while at the same time building towards a dynamic future.
Our newest friend joins with many others stretching back over decades, who are all celebrating a great 2019 at the Sorrento Centre. We welcomed more than 4,000 overnight guests and day visitors to a diverse array of activities and events that nourished the heart, body, mind and soul.
With the help of many new and continuing supporters, we have been able to live deeply into our mission to serve as a holy place of transformation for learning, healing and belonging. Thank you… and thank you again!
The year 2019 was a year of strong stewardship of lands and buildings on our 24-acre main campus and our 8-acre natural farm. Our generous donors helped us invest in people, place and programs and to lay a solid foundation for financial, social and environmental sustainability in the coming years.
We have exciting plans for 2020 – a major new Indigenous arts festival, cycling tours of the Shuswap, our always dynamic Five Weeks of Summer and other events and activities. We are strengthening our work with children, youth and young adults. We are deepening our engagement with our neighbours in the Shuswap.
We continue to be a lively hub for fabric and fibre artists, musicians and other artisans throughout the year. After an abundant year on our farm in 2019, we are adding a new greenhouse and expect even more growth in 2020. The electronic mail, and Canada Post, are getting set to deliver our Gift of Sorrento 2019 brochure. One of the many ways that our friends show their love for the Centre is to make a donation to our annual Christmas appeal. The donation can be made as a gift to a family member or friend – a very special way to send a holiday greeting. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt.
If you have already given a donation to the Sorrento Centre this year, thank you! Please consider making another gift, or even joining our growing circle of monthly donors.
From all of us at the Sorrento Centre, we wish you a happy, joyous, blessed Christmas and holiday season.
In gratitude,
The Rev’d Michael Shapcott, Executive Director
