from our House to yours….
Transcription
from our House to yours….
from our House to yours…. THE LLOYDMINSTER INTERVAL HOME SOCIETY LIH Board of Directors December 2011 Greetings from our Board of Directors As the holiday season approaches, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and donors for their support in 2011. It is people like you who make the jobs of our staff a pleasure and make the Interval Home successful. Glenn Stang, Board Chair Dale Kunamen, Dennise Friday, Vice Chair Secretary/Treasurer The Interval Home has been truly blessed with dedicated talented employees, volunteers and board. Everyone shares a common vision and desire to improve the lives of people by eradicating family violence. May your holiday season and the New Year be filled with much joy, happiness and success. The Interval Home looks forward to working with you in the coming year and hopes our business relationship continues for many years to come. Glenn Stang, Board Chair Mark Alexander, Carrie Brooks, Director Director Joni Harbin, Director Director Greeting from the Board 1 Executive Director & Assistant Executive Director Reports 2 Public Education Report & Child Support Services Report Second Stage & Community Outreach Report Elayne Harris-Lorenz, Chelsea Schmidt Director Director Family Violence is a problem in ALL countries. There can be abuse in ANY family. Abuse is WRONG in every culture. Every minute a woman in CANADA is abused. According to statistics from Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS), ALBERTA has the highest rate of spousal abuse in the country Since 1980, the Lloydminster Interval Home has provided emergency shelter to 4,713 women and 6,236 children. In this issue: Program Coordinator & Support Services Coordinator Reports Kenton Giesbrecht, Did YOU Know? (info: www.child.alberta.ca/home & www.intervalhome.ab.ca) 3 4 5 ‘For the Interval’ Store & Volunteer Operations Report 6 Wish/Needs List & LIH Award Winners 7 Donor Appreciation 8 Donations & Membership Info 9 LIH Society Executive Director: It is Christmas Newsletter time, which, like Christmas, tends to creep up on me every year. It is hard to believe that Christmas is only six weeks away. The newsletter and the forecast for lots of snow this weekend, have both prompted me to start thinking about and planning for the season. Our staff, Board and volunteers do make Christmas as bright as we possibly can. Staff & residents join together to prepare a traditional Christmas dinner with roasted turkey and all of the fixings. We decorate the shelter to make it bit more festive for the families who will spend Christmas with us. Thanks to the kindness and generosity Christmas tends to be a rather hectic time for of many of you, the women and children most of us. It is filled with Christmas shopping, will also have gifts to open under the tree. baking, decorating, children’s Christmas concerts, and getting ready for incoming family Our staff and residents are overwhelmed and friends. It is a good kind of busy, though, every year by the spirit of giving and the as we plan for and look forward to spending kindness shown to our families. It is humtime with those we love. bling to accept the kind offerings of food and gifts that arrive at our door from those Christmas should be a warm and wonderful who are concerned about the Christmases time for everyone. My work at the Interval of others. Home, though, reminds me that ‘warm and wonderful’ is not the case for many families. A special thank you to those special indiThe season can be a trying time for families viduals and to all of our staff, volunteers, who spend Christmas with us at the shelter; Board members, friends, families, comtheir Christmas involves trying to quietly heal munity members, funders and supporters from abuse, spending Christmas among for helping us make Christmas a little strangers, and having to bravely face the many brighter for abused women and children. unknowns in their future. Assistant Executive Director: Greetings to the LIH Board, staff members, volunteers and community partners. I have been with the Interval Home since April; my time is coming to an end here at the end of November, but not before I have had a chance to learn a lot and witness many wonderful things with everyone involved with the agency and with our families. Intellectually, I knew that the Lloydminster Interval Home was a safe place to stay for women and children, but it was not until a conversation one day that I saw exactly what that meant. During a short-staffed morning, I was helping take care of the children during an intake, and a little child looked at me quizzically and asked, “What is this place for?” After a moment, I replied, “Sometimes people need a safe place to stay for a little while and we are here to make sure they have a place to go to.” In that moment I saw the direct connection of how what we do affects the day to day reality of a family in need. Also, the children who stay with us are not often in positions to have plentiful smiles and as such, being able to connect with them and see them smile is even more meaningful. Thank you to everyone connected with the Interval Home who not only provide the day-to-day necessities for our women and children, but also the opportunity for them to smile and therefore feel, if only in brevity, that things might be okay. Another thank you is in order for everyone who was involved in some way with the Great Duck n Dine Event in September which raised a total of $32,500; ($6,500 for each agency involved: the Lloydminster Interval Home, The Rescue Squad, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Lloydminster Sexual Assault & Information Centre and FOCUS Vermilion). It was a great evening and the planning committee has already started on next year’s event which is shaping up to be even bigger and better. This year is the Interval Home’s 31st Christmas spent serving abused women and children. We are forever thankful to each of you for your kindness and generosity and for the opportunity to serve families in need in our community. Wishing you and your family a warm, peaceful, and wonderful time together this season. Merry Christmas! Doreen McCaw Executive Director Encourage: to give support, courage or hope Courage: strength in the face of pain or grief ~Oxford dictionary~ Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible. ~anonymous~ Thank you for your part in providing hope & building courage in those who are “having to bravely face the many unknowns in their future.” Thank you to everyone for everything you have done in 2011 for the Interval Home. Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2012. Sherri Harty, Assistant Executive Director 2 Program Coordinator: Hello to all our wonderful staff, board members, volunteers, community members and partners. I hope this past year has brought many joys and good health to you and your loved ones. We are so very fortunate to have a dedicated team of staff, program facilitators and volunteers who commit their time and knowledge, to increase awareness of the issue of family violence with our community and surrounding area. It is with this dedication, our program department has seen some great work in providing quality programming, to hopefully meet the needs of all the women, children, youth and men who participate. As the fall sessions are starting to wind down and we enter the Christmas season, we encourage people to start registering now for the next set of programs. Please phone the Interval Home at (780) 875-0966 to register for our winter programs, commencing January 2012. For the committed group of program facilitators, support workers, volunteers and all our supporters, I would like to give a warm thank-you for your time, energy and dedication. Your hard work is always recognized and appreciated. To those individuals who participated in our programs, we wish you all the very best as you strive to make positive changes in your life. I hope you can find time to enjoy the all the precious moments and make wonderful memories with your family and friends. May you find peace and joy this Holiday Season. Merry Christmas to everyone and all the best to you in 2012!!! Charlene R., Program Coordinator PROGRAMS: Self Empowerment for Women I Self Empowerment for Women II Insights for Women (for women whose partners are participating in the Men’s Program) New Perspectives for Men (16-week program) Go GRRRLS (12-14 yrs) New Directions for Youth (13-15 yrs) Building Trust, Making Friends (6-10 yrs) Child’s Play Program (0-6 yrs) Mentorship Program Volunteer Program Outreach Program Public Education Presentations and Workshops THANK YOU to our funders, who support our agency and programs: The Office for the Prevention of Family Violence & Bullying Saskatchewan Justice City of Lloydminster FCSS Camrose Alberta Health Services Public Health Agency of Canada Town of Vermilion FCSS The United Way Husky Autumn Leaves Golf Tournament Rudolph’s Roundup Community Businesses & Organizations Personal Donations The County of Vermilion River FCSS ACWS Emergency Fund AB Community Initiatives Program Support Services Coordinator: Another Christmas season is upon us, any life crisis and find themselves needing and the Lloydminster Interval Home information, referrals, or simply someone emergency shelter has seen another to talk to. year full of activity, seeking to support Since its opening in 1980, the Interval families in crisis and help end the cycle Home has provided residential services to of violence in their lives. We have 4,713 women and 6,236 children to date. provided shelter, support, information Interval Home staff have the unique and referrals to a number of women privilege of offering help and support to (and their children) who have bring about change – however big or small experienced – in these families’ lives at some family violence. of their most critical points. By ...staff have the unique Our 24 hour and large these families are crisis line extremely grateful for and voice privilege of offering remains an their appreciation of these help & support to bring instantaneous services available to them. about change—however resource for During this Christmas season, big or small in these those in the we gladly partner with the families’ lives at some of community community in providing services their most critical points. once again to these families who who are experiencing have experienced crisis in the past year, as well as others in the community facing financial crisis, in the form of Christmas gift and food hampers. This support will dramatically change the way these families are able to celebrate Christmas and join in the joy of gift giving this season. On behalf of these families and our staff, we extend our sincere thanks to the community for the donations we continue to receive. This generosity allows the Interval Home to continue to provide necessities for the families we serve over the Christmas Season. Nicole B. Support Services Coordinator 3 Public Education The holiday season is fast approaching and here at the Lloydminster Interval Home we like to look back on the past year and focus on the importance our organization holds within the community. Over the past year the Public Education Program has been extremely busy and going very well! To all the community members, groups and organizations that help support the Lloydminster Interval Home, we would like to thank you. Without your support and generosity, we could not do what we do. Happy holidays to all! We have a newly designed website which is updated regularly with exciting news and events. www.intervalhome.ab.ca I continue to update and create new presentations and other print materials. We have had many requests over the past year for presentations on Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships, Family Violence, Dating Violence, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Self Esteem and Anger. Since January, I have completed 56 presentations in 14 different communities! I’ve also attended interagency meetings in Vermilion, Provost and Wainwright as well as other community events to provide information on the Lloydminster Interval Home Society. November was Family Violence Prevention Month and we once again held our ‘Breakfast with the Board Event’ which was a great success. Another highlight for November was the creation of a radio ad with the help of some great men in our community who took a stand against Family Violence. We greatly appreciate the support of our community in helping us with our vision; to passionately work towards eradicating family violence. Leslie B. Public Education Coordinator Child Support Services: Season’s Greetings! The air is crisp, the ground is sparkling white, and a feeling of something new is on the horizon! I feel extremely fortunate to be able to provide warmth & encouragement to the families during their stay with us. My role as the Child Support/ Care Worker allows me to help children through tough moments but also share with them new, wonderful experiences. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that allows the children to be themselves. Our community’s generosity allows us to help provide those “little extra’s” that make their stay a little less scary and a whole lot more welcoming and warm. The playroom has undergone a magical transformation this past year. A fantastic wall mural completed by local artist Michelle Lake has transformed the space into an underwater fantasy. Imaginations come alive as every glance reveals something new! Our Child Care Program allows our mothers flexibility for attention to appointments and personal matters while our children engage in activities such as crafts, outings, music, movies and one on one time with our child care staff. Our Child’s Play Program continues to run three mornings a week, Tuesday through Thursday. Our program consists of themed activities, craft time, snack time and free play. Each new week brings another healthy, fun, alphabet orientated theme. Our program is open to children from the community whose mothers are attending our programming and to children residing at the Interval Home and at Second Stage. Volunteers are an essential part of our Child’s Play Program and we are so thankful and grateful for their time each week. Due to the generosity and kindness bestowed upon us by you, the community, we are able to provide our families with a safe, warm and caring environment. The support shown to us and our families during the holiday season and throughout the year is such a blessing. Our families are able to experience a Christmas that they may not have otherwise experienced. We truly appreciate all of the kindness and love our families are shown. It is with your support that we are able to do what we do. From all of us to all of you, THANK-YOU, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all of the best this holiday season, Tammy T., Child Support/ Care Worker 4 Caption descr Second Stage & Community Outreach Hello and greetings from Second Stage! On behalf of all the staff and residents living at second stage we would like to pass on a heartfelt thank you to those who so generously donated food, household items and clothing for the women and children who have been residing at Second Stage. We have served eleven women and twenty children to date, it has been so rewarding for us to be a part of their healing journey. Through laughter and tears our job becomes so meaningful to know we played some small part in helping the women move forward & grow stronger. Having so many children with us has brought more fun and laughter for all of us to see how even the children feel so welcomed and at home at Second Stage. Our walls are decorated with many colored pictures for whichever holiday is upcoming. Now all the Christmas pictures are being colored so we can get into the festive season. Their excitement is contagious! Our programs are underway again; moms women can access Parenting, Life skills, and In-House programs. We have Play Program that younger children can attend and an After-School program for school age children. We also offer childcare for moms so they can go to appointments and meetings. As we look forward to the Christmas season with anticipation the little ones with their big smiles and exuberance are waiting for the trees and decorations to be put up, knowing Santa Claus will soon be here. With that being said “May the Peace and Joy of Christmas be yours throughout the New Year”. Maureen H., Second Stage Coordinator As the community Outreach worker, we are networking with various community agencies as well as with the women who have left the shelter or who have entered the Self-Empowerment programs. We anticipate that our numbers will continue to grow and more women will be able to utilize the services that can be provided to them. At present we have had 12 women and 7 children access the outreach program. The focus is on increasing Shoes to Fill There is always an enormous need for Staff cultural blend present in our community. and Volunteers in order for all aspects of the As such, the LIH is happy to welcome em- LIH to function efficiently & to adequately ployees from a variety of backgrounds in care for those who depend upon the services order to better meet the needs of those of the Interval Home. we serve. Our staff & volunteers are exceptional, how- Offers of employment have ever, as is the case with many organ- been made to two individuals in izations, the needs often exceed the the Philippines. They’ve begun number of qualified, available & suit- the process of obtaining their able individuals. necessary immigration docu- partnerships, expanding services to a wider variety of women in the community, and in doing so, we hope to create more awareness through brochures, business cards and work collaboratively with the LIH Public Education Coordinator in an effort to be able to reach more women & families. It is a wonderful experience to work with the women who have accessed this service; and we hope that every woman has the opportunity to access the support they may need in their journey towards living a happy, healthy lifestyle. To each and everyone of you, have the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year! Community Outreach Worker The Christmas Candy Cane originated in Germany about 250 years ago. They started as straight white sugar sticks. A story says that a choirmaster was worried about children sitting quietly all through the long Christmas nativity service. So he gave them something to eat to keep them quiet! Sometime around 1900 the red stripes were added and they were flavored with peppermint or wintergreen. current job postings listed on our web- Currently there are vacancies in some key mentation. We anticipate the arrival of site, www.intervalhome.ab.ca as well areas within the Lloydminster Interval Home these two new employees sometime in as the Lloydminster Chamber of Com- Society. They are: Assistant Executive Direc- the New Year. merce site, tor and Crisis Intervention Workers. As well, If you know someone with experience/ www.lloydminsterchamber.com additional volunteers are always welcome! education in the Human Services field and Saskjobs.ca The Lloydminster Interval Home strives to be who may want to join the LIH team, an employer that reflects the ethnic and please encourage them to check out the 5 Volunteer Coordinator: FOR THE INTERVAL STORE & VOLUNTEER OPERATIONS Season’s greetings and warm holiday wishes from all at the ‘For the Interval’ Store. Another year has come and gone and although 2011 seems to have passed far too quickly it certainly was a busy and productive year at the Interval Store. The generosity shown by Lloydminster and the surrounding communities continues to be truly remarkable. Your support and charity is greatly appreciated. Many thanks to each and every one of you! In addition to our regular sales, antique and novelty collectors enjoy items displayed for bidding in the monthly Silent Auction. Unique treasures and one of a kind items can be found during our regular business hours: Monday to Friday 10:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. and Saturdays 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. We have outstanding individual volunteers, who donate their time, working long hours to accommodate the workload –sorting, separating, cleaning, displaying, and selling clothing, furniture, pictures, toys, household items, books and collectables. To all the volunteers who help at the store, within the Shelter and directly with the children, as well to all of the volunteer Board of Directors; thank you very much for your time and tremendous support. Staff and volunteers have enjoyed planning Lloydminster Interval Home’s extremely and partaking in a variety of social events. supportive staff. You are a truly amazing The annual LIH Spring Fling was enjoyed by group of individuals. both volunteers and staff. During Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Happy New Year! Lloydminster Interval Home partnered with Tammy S. the Prairie North Regional Health Authority, Volunteer Coordinator Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, Mothers Support and Jubilee Home for a very entertaining Volunteer Appreciation Tea. Throughout the summer we had a delightful time touring the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living and the Fort Pitt Colony. We also enjoyed a trip to Edam, Saskatchewan where we rode over the Saskatchewan River on the Paynton Ferry. Volunteers also attended The Great Duck and Dine event that the Interval Home has partnered in since September 2002. In December we are once again scheduled to attend the Southridge Community Church Dinner Theatre where volunteers will enjoy the wonderful meal and an amazing performance. Volunteers are one of the main supports of the Interval Home Society. We are always looking for and accepting new volunteers to help, specifically at the Store, however, we also recruit volunteers from time-totime for our Child’s Play Program. If you know someone who may be interested in volunteering, in any capacity, please contact us. We would be happy to followup with them. To all of our extraordinary volunteers, I truly appreciate your dedication of both time and energy that you bestow to the Lloydminster Interval Home. We realize and acknowledge that your valuable contribution enables The Lloydminster Interval Home Society to help many abused women and children throughout the year, and ultimately, this is what our efforts are all about! Audrey Earl & Tammy Shopland celebrate at For the Interval Store 20th Anniversary Gala held June 1 1st The Lloydminster Colonial Days Parade was held on July 13th. The LIH float which showcased the 20th Anniversary of the ‘For the Interval’ Store, was selected as the FIRST PLACE winner in the non-commercial category! ‘For the Interval’ Store NEW Donation Receiving Hours Monday – 8:00 am-3:30 PM Tuesday – 8:00 am-8:00 PM Wednesday – 8:00 am-3:30 PM Thursday – 8:00 am-8:00 PM Friday – 8:00 am-3:30 PM Saturday – 8:00 am-3:30 PM Sunday – 10:00 am-3:30 PM We are asking that donations ONLY be dropped off during the above times. PLEASE DO NOT leave any donated items outside or near our receiving door. Thank you! It is an absolute pleasure working with the 6 * * * *NEEDS LIST * * * * * * * * WISH LIST * * * * Liquid soap for Shelter Sweatshirts & hoodies—all sizes Women: Long-distance phone cards Journals Makeup Bath & hair products Hand/body lotions Hair accessories Christmas decorations Haircut & esthetics gift cards Disposable cameras Calendars/Day timers for appointments Theatre, bowling, and swim passes Movie passes Movie videos—family/humorous/or of interest to women Cab vouchers Tim Horton gift certificates Small radios Inexpensive watches Travel mugs Women: Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine products Hair straighteners and hair brushes Underwear (all sizes, especially L and XL) Socks & slippers (non-slip) Nightwear (pajama pants, nighties—all sizes, especially L and XL Sweat suits Thank You! Children: Sweatshirts, hoodies—all sizes Sweatpants Lunch bags School supplies (binders) Nightwear Slippers & socks (non-slip) Underwear—all sizes Diapers—all sizes, except newborn Pull-ups—sizes 5 & 6 Baby wipes Soothers, teething rings, baby bottles, sippy cups Gifts for older children, ages 10-16—boys & girls Children: Toys, books, sticker books DVDs Theatre, bowling, and swim passes Fast food gift certificates for outings Baby monitors Congratulations 2011 Lloydminster Interval Home Award Winners! The R J Nelson Family Foundation was the recipient of The Friends of the Interval Home Award. LIH AWARDS Kevin Lundell (left) accepted the award on their behalf from LIH Executive Director, Doreen McCaw. The Financial Contributor Award was presented to: Mrs. Edith Blythe (above) and to the Lloydminster & District United Way Colleen Fulton (right) received the award on their behalf. The LIH Professional Award recipient was The Saskatchewan Institute on Community Living. Robert Drummond (no photo) accepted the award on their behalf. Staff Awards: The Nattress-Cummine Award was presented jointly to Michelle Flint, Natasha Skyrpan (above) & Maureen Hunt (no photo). The Staff Excellence Award went to Marlene Edwards (left). 7 Each year our not-for-profit agency receives a significant amount of donations, that come in the form of money, in-kind, and indirectly from donations through our Interval Store. Whether the donations are once a year, every month, in larger amounts, or small ones, we are truly appreciative of all of them. We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the Interval Home and over the course of a year there are far too many to mention; however, we have listed a few: Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 001 H.P. Management Ltd. R J Nelson Family Foundation Allyson Nelson Heather Wilson Round Valley Western Shop Amik Oilfield Jaymount Development Corporation Scott Nelson Family Trust ATCO Electric Just Kruzin’ Shopper’s Drug Mart ATCO Power Canada & ATCO Power Employees Job’s Daughters Alberta Alumni Association Southridge Estates Residents Bar 5 Lounge Kinnette Club of Lloydminster St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church Beta Sigma Phi-Preceptor XI Knox Manor Ladies Studio 780 Clothing Co. Bootlegger Lashburn Elementary School Synergy Credit Union Bridal By Chan LA-Z-BOY Gallery of Lloydminster Tannis Boissonnault Canadian Tire Lloydminster Linda Martin & Deb Verette The Hair Hut Chatters Linda Rosin The Real Canadian Superstore Communication, Energy & Paper Workers Local 858A Linktel Communications Tropical Inn Lloydminster Complete Holdings Ltd. Lisa Dodd Turtleford Hospital Devon Canada Lloydminster Dairy Queen Vermilion Catholic Women’s League Edith Blythe Luxx Hair Lounge Wainwright Flower Cart First United Board of Session Marjorie Nattress Warehouse One Jean Store Frank’s Saddlery & Supply Ltd. NOW Interactive Communications West Harvest Express Giant Tire Plains Midstream Canada ULC Wheat Law Office Glenda Elkow Provost Catholic Women’s League Winners Lloydminster Glenn Weir Redhead Equipment Lloydmisnter Zellers Lloydminster Grace United Church Women Remax Great Western Containers Inc. Ribstone Community Church Because of the donations we receive, we are able to make a difference in the lives of the women and children who come to us for the guidance and the help they need to go forward. 8 DONATIONS The Lloydminster Interval Home is a Registered Charity (#13006 3431 RR0001) For income tax purposes all donors will receive an official receipt in recognition of your support of our mission and goals. LLOYDMINSTER INTERVAL HOME SOCIETY Membership Form for 2011/12 Fiscal Year I/We wish to show our support of the Purpose, Mission, and Philosophy of the Lloydminster Interval Home by: Purchasing a membership ($5.) per person Making a donation NAME: _____________________________________________ PH. #: _____________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________ AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $ _________________________ Detach this form and forward to Michelle Flint, Administrative Assistant @ PO Box 1523, Lloydminster, AB/SK S9V 1K5 To provide safety, support, and education to families and communities regarding the issue of family violence. To passionately work towards eradicating family violence. We believe in empowering individuals and families towards an abuse-free lifestyle by living our values and beliefs, which include: integrity, honesty, equality, respect, knowing our alternatives, our belief that each individual can reach their full potential, our understanding that all individuals have the capacity to grow and change, and our hope for an abuse-free society. 9