‘Staggering’: Religious organizations create $10.3M in ripple-effect benefits to Georgina community

In an age when society is “deleting religion” from the everyday, supporting local religious organizations actually benefits the community fivefold, especially in Georgina.

Cardus, a Christian think tank whose research focuses on how society’s institutions can work together for the common good, does that through its Halo Project (haloproject.ca).

For every dollar in a congregation’s budget, the surrounding community gets $5.02 worth of benefits in rural areas, and $3.32 in urban ones.

In the case of Georgina, with a rural-urban mix of more than a dozen congregations, the economic benefit to the community is about $10.3 million. 

“That’s quite staggering,” said Rabbi Yossi Vorovitch of the Chabad Jewish Centre of Georgina. 

The “halo effect” is a combination of good works and programs such as establishing a local food pantry, working with shelters, educating youth, hosting community outreach programs and providing affordable space for community groups. 

But that doesn’t necessarily put a price tag on faith, Rabbi Yossi added.

“Its nice to hear a number. But the benefits to the community are endless, truly endless,” Yossi said. 

“We don’t necessarily see the fruits of our labour, but the long-term effects are extremely powerful.”

In Canada, religious organizations provide the surrounding community with about $18.2 billion worth of benefits. 

In York Region, congregations provide about $235 million in community benefits, while Georgina’s 15 congregations produce $10.3 million worth.

Cardus, which has been publishing research on the halo effect since 2016, bases its data on information submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.

“We think of the work they’re doing in terms of them teaching their faith and serving the members of their faith,” said Cardus research vice-president Lisa Richmond.

“But we said what kind of impact do these communities have on the economy? Obviously, that’s not the reason for their existence; they don’t exist to benefit the economy. But the fact is they do benefit the economy by doing the work or the activities they have already decided to do.”

Similar to trickle-down economics, the idea of trickle-down good deeds from one generation to the next is where the real economic benefit lies.

“Our most valuable asset is our members and their activity out in the community,” said Keswick Presbyterian Church community engagement pastor, Allyson MacLeod. 

Along with teaching the importance of charity, community benefit also stems from providing volunteers with community space to share resources. 

Over the years, the Keswick Presbyterian Church has been transformed into a blood donor clinic; a federal, provincial and municipal election centre, and most recently, a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic. 

The church library, which sat empty during the pandemic, turned into a food pantry for residents in need. Vegetables grown in the church garden are used in the community takeout meal program or are packed in the church’s food box. 

“Why re-invent programs if there are programs in place,” said lead pastor Kirk MacLeod.

Pre-pandemic, the church also worked closely with local elementary schools, co-ordinating volunteer reading buddy and math tutoring programs.

“It’s not about being a lone gun,” Rev. Allyson said. “We already have relationships. We want to strengthen and broaden the reach.”

This fall marks 25 years since the reverend couple started the Keswick Presbyterian Church. 

According to Statistics Canada, just over 20 per cent of Canadians participated in group religious activities at least once a month in 2018. That’s about half as many as those who participated in 1985. 

“Before, when people moved to town, they were looking for a doctor, dentist, school and church,” said Rev. Kirk. “That’s no longer the situation.”

Post-pandemic, religious organizations play an even more significant role, building — or rebuilding — community.

“So many people feel disconnected to the community,” Rabbi Yossi said. “Society was kind of deleting the religious aspect. We were living in these bubbles, alone. It is so important to be bound as a community, especially for seniors, especially for the children.”

— with files from Lisa Queen

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