Let's connect summer 2013

Let’s WOCRC Annual Report

highlights inside!

connect Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Summer 2013

WOCRC’s Open House & Report to the Community a great success!

On June 24, 2013, WOCRC hosted a successful Open House and Report to the Community. Over 120 residents from the catchment areas of West Carleton, Goulbourn, Kanata and Nepean explored dozens of no-cost and low-cost services for children, youth, adults, parents and seniors.

Special guests at the event included Kanata South Councillor Allan Hubley and College Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli.

Pictures courtesy of WOCRC Volunteer, Bruce Cairns

Find us on Facebook!

facebook.com/wocrc.crcoo

Let’s

connect

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

THE GOOD food BOX

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Let’s

connect

fresh.local.low-cost.

How much does it cost?

$5 $10 $15 $20 $25

Fruit bag Small box Medium box Large/family-sized box Certified organic box

Payments can be made in cash to the site coordinator or by PayPal online at

ottawagoodfoodbox.ca Photo courtesy of: Art Babych of the Anglican Church Diocese of Ottawa

From L to R: Priest Monique Stone of St. James Anglican in Carp, Gail Carrol Country Kitchen coordinator, Julie McKercher - Rural Community Developer WOCRC, Eva Stewart-Bindernagel-Country Kitchen coordinator, Councillor Eli El-Chantiry and Bishop of the Anglican Church Diocese of Ottawa

What is it?

How does it work?

The Good Food Box (GFB) is dedicated to selling quality fresh fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices as a means of supporting greater access to low-cost local (as much as possible) quality food. In its drive to provide great food at low cost to everyone, the GFB mandate is entirely different than that of the Food Bank, which is dedicated to providing those in need with emergency food assistance.

The Ottawa Good Food Box gives community members and neighbours the opportunity to order a box of local, nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices. These boxes come in a variety of sizes and price points and even come with recipe ideas to make preparation a snap. Also, there is a built in cost savings of anywhere from 30% to 50%.

While the program itself originates in downtown Ottawa, let’s face it, access to healthy food is not an issue limited to those living in the urban core. As a result, GFB has a new site – the Kinburn Client Service Centre in West Carleton!

2

Why? It works a lot like a collective, with centralized buying and coordination; it’s open to everyone – with no membership fees.

How do I get my food?

Thank you Councilor El Chantiry!

Orders are available for pick-up between 4 p.m. – 6 p.m .on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Kinburn Client Service Centre.

Councillor Eli El Chantiry, pictured at far right, rose to the challenge and generously donated $150 to The Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre to ensure that the Ottawa Good Food Box Program could transport the once monthly food deliveries directly to Kinburn easing the stress on the volunteers and keeping the food fresh for longer!

The site coordinator, Gail Carroll, will be on hand to ensure that boxes are received.

Orders and payments for the next shipment may be placed at that time.

Presently, we are looking to hear from people in the community that would have an interest in participating in the program, as a volunteer, or as a purchaser.

Please connect with Gail Carroll at thecarrolls@xplornet.com or Julie McKercher at 613-591-3686 x 498 or mckercher@wocrc.ca

Now ava ilable at t he

Kinbur n Clien t Service C e n t re in West C arleton!

3

Let’s

connect

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

For more than 25 years, the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) has been a solid foundation for individuals, families, seniors, children, youth and survivors.

Visit wocrc.ca to download and read the full WOCRC Annual Report. To request a paper copy of the Annual Report please contact us at 613-591-3686 or info@wocrc.ca

2,322 km

2

connect

x1000

The WOCRC 2012-2013 Annual Report is now available

Whether a client requires shelter from violence at Chrysalis House, a hot meal delivered by a volunteer with a warm smile, or an advocate to rally local schools to put a stop to bullying, we are tremendously proud of our history of providing these kinds of services to the greater western Ottawa community as a whole. Below are some statistical highlights.

Let’s

Students in our Bullying Prevention Program

861

4,418

Number of client contacts with the general counselling team

Violence Against Women counselling sessions

Semi-rural and rural Ottawa accounts for 90% of the land-mass of the city and houses 10% of its residents – about 125,200 people living on 2 2,322 km .

x1000

x30

Visits by parents & children in the Ontario Early Years Centre

Number of women & children who received shelter at Chrysalis House

x1000

Number of volunteer hours

24,177

x100

Drives provided to seniors & adults with physical disabilities

Number of meals delivered

4

5

Let’s

connect

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Ottawa has the Volunteer Factor

The day was opened by the Interim CEO of the Champlain LHIN Chantal Leclerc, and the United Way of Ottawa’s Matthew Beutel. Throughout the day, participants heard from speakers from The Canadian

Cooperatives Association, The Royal Ottawa Hospital, The Canadian Mental Health Association, The Ottawa Police Service and The Red Cross.

With a dedicated organizing committee spearheaded by WOCRC’s very own Volunteer Coordinator Laine Johnson, the conference was a huge success. Over 130 volunteers attended from organizations across the city. They took the opportunity to share stories and to learn new perspectives on issues encountered during their volunteer work.

connect

Free Dental Screenings at WOCRC courtesy of Healthy Smiles Ontario

This February, the Ottawa Community Support Coalition’s Coordinators of Volunteers Committee hosted The Volunteer Factor: Helping you Helping Others.

Held at the RA Centre, this day-long conference was organized to recognize and reward the efforts of each Coalition member agency’s community support volunteers. Those volunteers support seniors and adults with physical disabilities through programs such as transportation, meals on wheels, and day-away programs.

Let’s

Free dental screenings, fluoride varnish applications and dental health information are available to the western Ottawa community the third Tuesday of every month, 9a.m. to 11 a.m.

• All ages welcome • Denture cleaning offered at this location • Dental health information • Fluoride varnish applications • Healthy Smiles Ontario enrolment

For more information please contact WOCRC at 613-591-3686 or Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744

WOCRC holds successful clinic for people leaving ODSP and applying for OAS

By Moniela von Conruhds -WOCRC Community Developer This past fall, the WOCRC held a successful information session and hands-on clinic for people transitioning from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and applying for Old Age Security (OAS).

Over 120 people were in attendance at the first annual OCSC Volunteer Factor Conference in February of this year. Photos courtesy of Karl Butler

6

Jean-Pierre Taschereau, Head of Emergency Operations with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society.

Members of the OCSC CVC Committee L to R: Serge Falardeau, Elizabeth Parcher, Terry Moxness, Lydia Botros, Laine Johnson, Bev Johnston, Lonelle Butler, Jessica-Rae Linzel

"All my questions about drug payments and transfers to OAS and CPP were answered," said John, ODSP OAS Clinic Participant.

The day included informative presentations from the municipal, provincial and federal government along with a clinic that helped simplify the process and decrease the anxiety around the complicated paperwork.

With participants indicating a 92 % knowledge increase, there is an obvious need for such workshops and support, especially as our population ages.

The clinic began in 2009 as a half-day community workshop organized by the Financial Accessibility Committee (FAC) of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch.

Interest quickly grew and in 2011 the "Transitioning to OAS Work Group" was formed. To date, five ODSP transitioning to OAS sessions have been held with the most recent one being at WOCRC. For more information and to register for the next ODSP Clinic please call 613-737-7195 ext. 2303

B y the n u m be r s

(Task Force on Financial Literacy, 2011, p55).

•The Ottawa ODSP estimates that 500 to 600 people in the Ottawa area transition off of ODSP to OAS annually •Nationally 160,000 eligible seniors do not receive 1 billion worth of OAS benefits •150,000 people do not receive GIS •Approximately 55,000 Canadians are not receiving benefits from the Canada Pension Plan

7

Let’s

connect

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

The EYC- Carleton was Hot! Hot! Hot! Moms and their babies

spent an afternoon enjoying fun music, learning new moves and making new friends during this innovative workshop. A special thank you to Jennifer Turco from Salsa Babies (Ottawa-Gatineau)-Latin Beat for Tiny Feet.

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Let’s

connect

WOCRC Success Story - Driving in Style with Ken Bedford “People in our community need help and this program is really aimed at serving those individuals,” says Ken.

“It is easy to see that people really appreciate the drive.”

Ken Bedford is a charismatic retiree that brings care and compassion to the seniors he drives to various appointments, social events and programs “It is a good feeling to be able to help someone and make their day easier,” Ken says when asked about his reasons for volunteering.

Ken has a sales background in scientific and medical sales and truly enjoys meeting new people. This makes him a natural confidante to those travelling in his care.

“Each new client that you meet there is an opportunity to know someone better and tie-in another ‘smaller world’ story,” says Ken. He, along with other CSS Volunteer Drivers that take seniors and adults with physical disabilities to a variety of appointments, have become an integral part of WOCRC.

The EYC- Carleton Summer Calendar is now available for download. Visit our website, wocrc.ca, to discover what is in store this summer for you and your little ones.

8

Ken is happily married to his wife for 47 years and has three adult children. He started volunteering nearly 20 years ago and upon retiring five years ago, he increased his volunteer hours with WOCRC. Ken looks forward to driving many more people within the years to come.

You can make a difference, just like Ken Make a difference in the lives of seniors and adults with physical disabilities by joining the WOCRC’s Community Support Services (CSS) transportation program. The CSS transportation program requires the services of community-minded individuals to provide transportation to its clients to attend medical appointments and social activities and programs. Engage in a client-focused opportunity, while enjoying the benefits of flexible hours and mileage compensation.

Volunteering with CSS can involve half year commitments or full year commitments. Contact Laine today at johnson@wocrc.ca to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Keeping You Connected

Let’s Connect is published a minimum of four times a year – spring, summer, fall & winter – to keep you informed of news and activities at the WOCRC. If you would like to read more about a specific topic or have a story idea, please email info@wocrc.ca and we’ll try to cover it in an upcoming issue!

2 MacNeil Court, Kanata, Ontario K2L 4H7 Tel.: 613-591-3686 Fax: 613-591-2501 TTY: 613-591-0484 www.wocrc.ca info@wocrc.ca B.N. 12821 9201 RR 0001

9