Time Flies At The Project!

By Penny Coates & Helen Tuele

Where has time gone?  It seems only yesterday that we welcomed the Victoria Community Health Co-operative as the new operator of the primary health care clinic at JBCP.  Given all the logistics involved, the handover went remarkably smoothly and now after two months of settling in, we are working closely together on plans for enhanced services and new health and wellness programs.    

Then it was James Bay Day, the Diversity Health Fair and the Masquerade Ball.  Thanks to all the volunteers, staff, agency partners, and community members who made these events so successful.  It is a privilege to be part of such an involved and caring community.  Our Victoria Youth Clinic is particularly appreciative because the Masquerade Ball raised nearly $18,000 this year, including a very generous donation from our guest speaker for the night, 14 year old Hannah Taylor, who is the inspirational leader of the Ladybug Foundation, a national charity focused on homelessness. 

Our Family Centre also received a boost from Shell Oil with a $1,000 worth of new educational toys, due to the efforts and support of Anne Logie, a retired Shell employee.  This is the second year, that JBCP has been fortunate enough to be a Shell grant recipient,

Meantime our Community Closet store has contributed record amounts to our family, seniors and community programming this fall, thanks to our ever growing customer base, our generous clothing donors, and the fabulous team of store volunteers who work so hard to provide stellar service.  The recent $2 item sale was a real winner, bringing in many new faces and clearing the store for more fashion treasures.  We urge you to become one of the Community Closet treasure hunters - from the functional to the fancy and exotic, we have that special item waiting just for you.  Remember us too when you are clearing out your closet.  We take gently worn, seasonal men and women's clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories.  Be sure to mark down December 20^th on your calendar for our upcoming holiday fashion show.

October through November is the time of year, we send out our annual campaign brochure highlighting our programs and services.  Just as many of our programs and services could not happen without the assistance of our 250 wonderful volunteers, we also depend on financial support from our community.  Increasingly, support from government and other funding agencies has been on the decline and has affected many community organizations, including JBCP. Therefore we are particularly grateful for each donation, large or small, that comes our way.   In these difficult economic times it is encouraging that so many of you are making room in your limited budgets to support your community. So, a big thank you to you, our community members, volunteers, and donors for the many ways you support us.  The work of James Bay Community Project touches literally thousands of people of all ages, and we could not do it without your support and participation.