Two hundred shoppers at the Foodland grocery store in Clinton, Ont., carried home their groceries this summer in a paper sack decorated by children attending the Clinton Christian Reformed Church's Vacation Bible School. It's part of the church's intent to look at each of its ministries and ask: while we carry out this ministry, how can we add value to the community?
Michelle Kaptein, Clinton CRC's ministry support coordinator, said since fall of 2025 she and the Community Life Team has been looking at each of the church’s ministries and proposing how to “add value to our community through that ministry—giving suggestions and researching what is needed in our community, thinking outside the box and helping ministries to find where they'd be able to contribute that's still within their ministry’s goals."
This spring Clinton CRC’s Soup and More free lunch program began partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association for walk-in case management and counseling.
At the community’s Crash Up Derby during the Spring Fair, the church supplied free earplugs, in case families had forgotten their own, and included invitations to their July Vacation Bible School.
When the VBS planning team was preparing the Rainforest Falls: Discovering the Nature of God theme, they partnered with local organizations and businesses before and during the week, looking to strengthen relationships with local families and the wider community.
“This year's theme naturally connected with organizations right here in Huron County,” Kaptein said. Staff from apiary Neebs Bees and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority “led great informative sessions that helped children discover God's creation through a local lens. During our craft station, we partnered with Foodland and Huron County Backyard Ecosystems. The children decorated 200 paper bags for Foodland to bag groceries in, and we used native flower seeds from Backyard Ecosystems to make seed bombs for a pop of colour in our local parks.”
A mom posting on The Corners of Clinton Facebook page said, “I had the privilege of spending the week alongside my youngest son—and 124 other kids—at the Clinton Christian Reformed Church’s VBS. … One of my favourite moments was watching the children decorate grocery bags that will be used at Foodland. As they drew colourful pictures and encouraging messages, I overheard one child ask another, ‘What are you going to draw to make someone smile?’ That question has stayed with me. Imagine if we all started our day wondering how we could make someone smile.”
Having partnered with many organizations on native plant education and habitat restoration projects, Krystal Brideau of the Backyard Ecosystems initiative said this was her first formal partnership with a church. “I think we shared a common goal of helping children appreciate and care for the natural world,” Brideau said. “This was a unique opportunity to introduce children to Ontario's native plants through a fun, hands-on activity,” and it “certainly helps me with my community project's mission: 60,000 new native plants added to Huron County every year—a plant for every person.” She provided Wild Bergamot and Lanceleaf Coreopsis seeds, “both native to Huron County and (they) are fantastic plants for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators,” with a typical two- to four-week germination period.
Kaptein said one of the biggest effects she’s felt is the community’s openness to partnership. “I wasn't sure how local organizations and businesses would respond when I asked if they wanted to be part of our Vacation Bible School, but they were enthusiastic and willing to join us. That has encouraged us to keep asking how we can add value in Clinton and be the hands and feet of Jesus outside of our building,” Kaptein said.
In the upcoming ministry year, the Community Life Team hopes to continue finding ways to come beside local partners and help them in the work they are doing. They intend to present suggested new endeavors to the congregation around October.