糖心Swag

United Way Supports the Clearwater Regional Community Food Hub

鈥淵ellowhead Community Services Society is grateful for the funding provided through the United Way BC Regional Community Food Hub Initiative, as well as the opportunity to work with our partners to continue to provide further access to nourishing, healthy, and culturally appropriate food for all residents in the communities we serve throughout the North Thompson,鈥� Christine Peterson, Chief Executive Officer, Yellowhead Community Services Society. 

Yellowhead Community Services has provided food security programming to Clearwater since 2001 making them an ideal steward for this Food Hub. A steward organization works with nonprofits, First Nations and Indigenous-led groups to assess and help meet the unique food needs of the region that it serves. In Clearwater, the involvement of volunteers is key to the success of many food security programs. Hiring a Food Security Coordinator allows for volunteer coordination and growth of the program to better meet area food needs. While increased food storage space 鈥� think refrigerators and freezers, allows for storage of donations and food sourced through Yellowhead鈥檚 gleaning program. 

鈥淵ellowhead Community Services is well embedded in Clearwater with great programs to support families and seniors. They have also identified service gaps like providing childcare for those interested in attending food literacy workshops and promoting First Nations hunting and fishing knowledge to increase Indigenous food sources. Closing these gaps means better health and well-being for the community,鈥� says Kendahl Cardinal, Food Security Manager with United Way BC. 鈥淯nited Way BC is excited to be working with Yellowhead Community Services as the steward organization for our twenty-first Regional Community Food Hub. Their localized approach can lead to long-term impact for and with the region.鈥� 

Serving a growing need 

In 2022/23, there were 20 Regional Community Food Hubs across the province. In March, United Way BC received $7.5 million from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to expand Regional Community Food Hubs to rural, Northern and Indigenous communities over the next five years. Regional Community Food Hubs will expand at the rate of up to five Hubs per year. The Clearwater Food Hub is the first of these.  

United Way BC is committed to  for British Columbians.

Clearwater Regional Food Hub impact story: 

United Way provides funding for Child and Youth (and Caregiver) Mental Well-being to local agency partners with either existing or new programs and projects. These initiatives promote adaptability, resiliency, communication skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving, cultural diversity, intergenerational teachings, cultural expressions, identity, a sense of belonging, life skills, and prosocial behaviour. 

 United Way鈥檚 agency partners use the funding to support kids and youth in the following ways:  

• Increased Engagement 鈥� Inclusive and strengths-based programming that fosters social connectedness and positive relationship building. 

• Knowledge Sharing and Increased Life skills 鈥� Promoting cultural diversity and expressions, as well as intergenerational ways of health and well-being among children and youth.  

• Empowering Youth (ages 13 鈥� 29) 鈥� Providing opportunities for youth to learn skills and gain experience that enhances their capacity to make healthy life choices and create positive impact in their community.  

• Supporting Children (ages 0 鈥� 12) 鈥� Providing opportunities for children to learn and gain experience that enhances their capacity to make healthy life choices and reach their emotional and developmental milestones. 

• Access to training and resources for Caregivers 鈥� Defined as someone with a family or a cultural connection to or a strong relationship with a child in need, who cares for that child full鈥恡ime, on either a temporary or a permanent basis. 

Several agencies in the Thompson Nicola Cariboo region have received funding to provide supportive programming and contribute to the well-being of local communities. 

The Kamloops-Cariboo Regional Immigrants Society offers the Wild Edition of Mentoring, Empowerment, and Tutoring (MET). On the morning of Friday, August 11, 2023, a group of 15 newcomer and immigrant youth boarded a bus to travel to Wells Gray Provincial Park, many for the very first time. There they learned about the impressive park waterfalls and the geology that formed them. They had the chance to try wild huckleberries, a traditional indigenous food source, as well as talk to BC Parks ambassadors and see the furs and skulls of a variety of animals that live in the park. They stopped in at Edgewood Blue, an interpretive learning center, and saw the lodge home of Castor the beaver along the wetland path there. On the way home they were surprised by a special treat, a stop at Murray Mountain Ice Cream! The trip was full of new learning and experiences of a Canadian park space, as well as an opportunity for social interaction and intercultural learning amongst all the attendees originating from countries across the world. On the bus ride home nearly everyone had fallen asleep, after a day filled with incredible activities that they will never forget and never would have imagined being able to experience without the help of the United Way.

The Mental Health Promoting Programming is offered in Clearwater and is making a difference for youth. They had one youth with a long track record of non-attendance in previous communities. This individual found a pathway to engagement and wellness by accessing the upper gym after school where they benefited from the available space and mentorship to build connections and pursue physical wellness. This youth is now volunteering to support other students, creating a wonderful full-circle example. The program also supports a youth Dungeons and Dragons games program which provides a venue for youth who may not traditionally feel included or part of a group to find a sense of belonging. This group, which currently meets once a week, is welcoming and includes youth from various marginalized intersectionalities. As winter approaches, there are plans to potentially expand this group. 

The Kamloops Community YMCA - YWCA PEACE Child & Youth Counseling Program hosted Camp Starfish, a therapeutic summer camp focused on peer support. They invited both children and youth currently accessing services and those on the program鈥檚 waitlist. Since September of the previous year, the program has been working with a small family. Two out of the three children in the family have accessed services and attended the camp. After the first day of camp, the oldest child, initially hesitant about counseling, decided to give it a try. The counselors accommodated his request and made room for him in his peer group the following week. Though he expressed interest only in the trampoline place initially, the counselors respected his wishes while encouraging him to observe other activities. Within an hour he transitioned from observation to full engagement in art, play, and discussions. Impressively, he allowed his mom to enroll him in one-on-one counseling with the PEACE program for the upcoming fall. The counselors are looking forward to conducting dyad work with the family, including the mom and children, and express hope for positive changes in family dynamics. 

The Tk鈥檈mlups to Secw茅pemc Le7 te Melamen Project (Good Medicine) Youth Impact Story reflects a positive experience. The participant acknowledges the project as a valuable opportunity, noting the lessons learned dealing with challenging situations and gaining insights into what constitutes a healthy and safe environment. The individual expressed a desire for another chance to partake in the program and emphasized its potential benefits for youth, highlighting its significance in fostering personal growth and well-being. 

Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society鈥檚 Family Stepping Stones offers the only women鈥檚 second-stage housing in Kamloops. This program is accommodating five women and their children who live in long-term supportive housing to stabilize their lives. With a focus on individualized programming tailored to each woman and her children, Family Stepping Stones creates a safe and supportive environment. The program鈥檚 goal is to keep families together until they are prepared to transition to independent living, fostering stability and independence for those it serves.

Youth Futures Education Fund 鈥� Education is the Pathway to a Brighter Future

Ever since she was a little girl, Elanis knew she wanted to make a difference with her life. Her experience as a toddler in foster care, and the difficulties she faced when she was adopted at the age of 6, inspired her passion to become a social worker. 鈥淚 want to be there for children and youth that might feel like no one is listening to them. I know what they may be going through.鈥�

With support from the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF), Elanis is well on her way to creating the life she wants. The fund was established to cover basic living expenses like rent, food, bills, and textbooks. Elanis was relieved to learn she could use it when her old car broke down, and when she needed new tires. She didn鈥檛 have to miss a class and she wasn鈥檛 left with bills she wouldn鈥檛 have been able to pay. 鈥淚鈥檓 so passionate about wanting to be a social worker and being in this program. I want to be able to give them my all, and not have to worry about these other things.鈥�

Now a young adult, Elanis is in her final year of school to become a child welfare social worker. Her lived experience is a strong driver for wanting to help other youth as they navigate life in foster care. 鈥淵our donations to United Way BC have helped me to focus solely on my studies and have helped to alleviate some of the pressure that full-time students feel with studies and living expenses. Thank you for investing in my education, career, and future.鈥�

For young adults who have been in government care, a post-secondary education can seem out of reach. Although a tuition waiver program gives them the opportunity for education, additional funding can be the difference between earning a degree or not being able to continue because of financial pressures.

That鈥檚 where YFEF is making a difference. Basic annual living expenses for students amounts to $26,400 on average. For those living on their own with little or no family support, like Elanis, simply making rent can be a huge challenge. The fund also helps with expenses like technology, fuel for the car, phone bills, healthcare, and food. It鈥檚 vital support as the cost of living continues to rise.

YFEF partners with 27 post-secondary institutions throughout the province to ensure equal access to education. This includes Thompson Rivers University, where Elanis is studying. In 2020-2021, over $550,000 was disbursed, providing 519 students with low-barrier access to funds.

鈥淭hanks to British Columbia鈥檚 Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, we鈥檙e seeing more former youth in care attend post-secondary than ever before and the resultant need for help with living expenses also continues to grow,鈥� says Maureen Young, Coast Capital鈥檚 vice-president social purpose and chair of the Youth Futures Education Fund.

A Day in the Life of a School鈥檚 Out Program

The school bell rings.

Each weekday afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m. many Grade 1-7 students run out of their classrooms in excitement. They aren鈥檛 excited to head home, but instead to head to their School鈥檚 Out program since they know they鈥檒l get to hang out with their friends (including peers and cool adult leaders), play some fun games, and have some healthy snacks. Some are from homes where the family is struggling to make ends meet, some are newcomers to Canada who are working on their English skills, and some kids are looking for social interaction, a sense of belonging, and a safe and comfortable environment.  Regardless, all students anxiously scoot into the program. They鈥檙e ready to check-in and share how they鈥檙e feeling, for their healthy afternoon snack, and to talk about their school day highlights with each other and the afterschool staff.

Immediately following the refreshment, time is set aside for physical activity.  Sometimes students pair off in a game of soccer, while the rest run to the swings and slide for playground fun. On the days that the weather hampers outdoor enjoyment, exercise is moved indoors.  Either way, it鈥檚 refreshing to hear kids voice their excitement and laughter.  The excess energy being burned will provide the opportunity for better focus with some of the other learning activities later. As active play wraps up, the students scurry to work on some learning activities. Some of the School鈥檚 Out program leaders facilitate discussions around different cultures and stories. Others focus on community projects to help students build a sense of community and understand their own responsibilities. Some students can get help with homework, work on their reading, or even get some tutoring support under the helpful eye of our School鈥檚 Out program leaders. The common motivation among School鈥檚 Out staff and volunteers seems to be that a healthy and resilient child will have the tools they need to progress into adulthood and be future pillars of our communities.

At the end of their workday, weary parents and caregivers stop by to pick up their students with the opportunity to relax and enjoy their evening family time together. Some students in rural and remote BC communities rely on their School鈥檚 Out program to transport them home, in which case they get to enjoy a fun bus ride home. Every School鈥檚 Out program differs depending on the community it鈥檚 in, but the goal is to always to help kids be the best that they can be and to meet five key outcome domains: Social and Emotional Learning, Connectedness, Service to Community, Health and Wellness, and Interests and Competencies.

To learn more, please check out Schools Out story and video for this year鈥檚 United Way British Columbia Campaign: .

While this story takes place in the Lower Mainland, there are very similar stories happening locally, within the Thompson-Nicola-Cariboo Region which includes the communities of Kamloops, Ashcroft, and soon to be, Merritt!

To learn more, please go to: .