Nov
12
James Bay Community Project
By Catriona Campbell, Coordinator of Volunteers
The Community Services program has been an integral, vital part of the James Bay Community Project since its inception in 1973. In fact, James Bay Community Project was originally founded in response to a community need for action to prevent development of large apartment towers. The first staff member was a community development worker who started to develop the volunteer program. Since the very beginning volunteers have been a very important part of all our services and a part of our value system that states everyone deserves an opportunity to be a contributing member of the community.
The Community Library which was set up in the late 1970's continues to be run by volunteers and is a destination for many seniors who are looking for someone to talk with as well as providing a huge selection of books including talking books, medical books and computer tutoring.
Health education and self-care programs continue to support the health of individuals through yoga, art, Qigong, meditation, NIA, Chinese exercises, Community Kitchens as well as pain management workshops, support groups for low vision, breast cancer, isolated seniors and Alzheimer caregivers.
Through generous donations of food from the community, we are able to provide healthy snacks or meals for all our programs as well as regularly giving food to those who need it. Also through generous donations of clothing from the community our Community Closet Thrift Store was established in 1999 to provide retail training, a social destination, good quality, affordable clothes and funds for our Community Programs.
In 2007, a seniors' outreach worker was hired to help seniors to get the resources they need in the community and to connect them with volunteers to provide medical drives, social contacts and assistance with small tasks. The volunteer base continues to expand, currently about 300 volunteers support every one of our programs, in fact programs such as the Community Library, Community Closet and wellness programs could not be run without them.
Another large contributor to the wellbeing of our community are the 50 Community Living volunteers who come each week to make soup, wash toys, garden, clean the kitchen and do a wide variety of other significant tasks. Sharing time with them is a wonderful opportunity for all of us.
In addition, during the last 28 years, Community Services staff has also responded to community requests/needs for specific services, birthing the James Bay Community School Society, JBNEA, Birdcage's Housing Society, the labyrinth, the allotment gardens, and the Beacon. Each one of these organizations has become independent and also serves a wide variety of people in the James Bay community. We are proud of the accomplishments of Community Services over the years and the contribution we continue to make to the health and wellbeing of many individuals in our community.