September 2018 at the South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society
September was a month of steady increase in client numbers in all of our programs at South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society. This is a typical pattern for us as children go back to school and families start a familiar daily routine after the summer months.
Poverty Law Advocate from Kamloops Elizabeth Fry Office
On September 5th (Wed.) we had the Poverty Law Advocate from our Sister office in Kamloops – Kamloops Elizabeth Fry – come and visit us for the day. Erik was here to service clients and to assist people with issues in the areas of landlord/tenant, welfare, and employment insurance law.
South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society and Kamloops Elizabeth Fry Society are working together to make the Poverty Law Advocate visits to Ashcroft more regular – stay tuned for upcoming visits!
Training on Traumatic Loss from the BC Bereavement Society
On September 13 and 14th the staff at SCEFS had two days of professional development in the local office and had a two-day training on Traumatic Loss. A facilitator from the Lower Mainland, with recommendations from the BC Bereavement Society, came to Ashcroft to bring this fabulous training to the staff.
It was an intense two days of looking at different types of traumatic loss and how to assist victims of traumatic loss. The office now has four trained staff on Traumatic Loss and are now able to facilitate an eight-week traumatic loss support group.
Ashcroft and District Lions Club Visited on Food Bank Day
On our food bank day of September 19th, the Ashcroft and District Lions Club came down to the office with their mobile kitchen and cooked up some delicious ham and pancakes to treat all our food bank clients.
It was a wonderful gesture from the Lions members who have always been a great support of our SCEFS agency. Thank you!!
Donation of 500 Tim Hortons Smile Cookies
On September 21st a supporter of the South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society came into our office with a donation of 500 Tim Hortons Smile Cookies! This individual had gone to a local Tim Hortons and bought 500 Smile Cookies to support the charity of their choice – the Ashcroft Volunteer Fire Department – then brought the cookies to SCEFS to give to clients, volunteers, and staff. Thank you!
End of the Ashcroft Indian Band Kitchen program
The end of September also brought the end of the Ashcroft Indian Band Community Kitchen program with the last lunch on September 24th. It was a great seven-month program and partnership. But the support is still needed at AIB as victims of the 2017 Wild Fires are still not back in their homes.
The AIB fire victims are still living in hotel rooms in Ashcroft and Cache Creek since July 2017; they are still not back home.
And in seeing that the support is still needed, SCEFS as committed to continuing this partnership with AIB and starting a Coffee Hour group on the first and third Mondays of every month starting in October. SCEFS is committed to supporting AIB with their mental and emotional needs until everyone comes home.
Upcoming Programs and October Events
September has been a month of prepping for groups that will be starting up in October … groups starting in October are:
• Nobody’s Perfect (parenting support for parents with 0-5 year old children)
• Circle of Security (parenting support for parents with children 6 year and over)
• Women’s Wellness Circle
• Master’s Circle
Keep your eyes open for posters and details of each of the groups starting up soon.
October Events
October 1 & 15 Ashcroft Indian Band Coffee Hour; 1-2pm
October 3 & 17 Ashcroft and Area Food Bank Day; 12noon – 2:30pm
October 8 Office is CLOSED for Thanksgiving
October 12 Legal Services Worker is in the office from 9-11am; please call the office to make an appointment
October 16 South Cariboo Elizabeth Society AGM; starts at 5:30pm
October 16, 23 & 30 Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Group; 9:30am to 11:30am
October 16 Circle of Security Parenting Group - 10 week program starts 6pm to 7:30pm; every Tuesday