Community Connect Day is Coming November 19th!
By Contributor
Are you living in Nelson and struggling to make ends meet?
Does the approaching winter weather have you wondering how you’re going to pay for a needed coat or boots?
Have you been putting off vision testing or a dental check up, or that needed adjustment or care for your back, or the pet’s worsening condition because you just haven’t the money to deal with it?
Are you wondering what service in town can help with the health or housing or employment or personal issue you or your family are facing?
The 9th Annual Community Connect Day may be what you need!
Community Connect Day is a marketplace of FREE services, activities and resources for anyone in the community who is struggling to makes ends meet. It is a day that recognises we can take a community approach to help one another in Nelson. Organizers are extending a warm welcome to community members to come out and enjoy this family-friendly event.
This year it takes place on Saturday, November 19th from 10am to 3pm at Central School (access off of Ward & Mill Streets). It is hosted by the Nelson Committee on Homelessness – a group of over 20 service providers, but it is the involvement of dozens of professionals, businesses and volunteers that makes it such a special event.
“It is community support that makes this day possible!” says Ann Harvey, Community Coordinator for NCOH.
Valhalla Pure’s Coats for the Koots and a new partnership with Shoe Bank Canada will provide lightly-used coats and boots.
Dentist Dr. Matt Osepchook and the West Kootenay Teeth Clinic will offer dental check ups and referrals and Nelson’s Family Eye Care will offer vision testing and referrals.
A nurse practitioner and HIV Outreach staff, ANKORS staff and Selkirk nursing students will be on hand for health check ups and treatment, consultations, information on substance use and Hepatitis C, foot care, blood pressure checks and more.
Front Street, Shear Talent , and Lokel hair salons plus Kitty Wright and Paula Kiss are offering free haircuts, and others are offering free products as draw prizes. Chiropractor Shane Taylor, Reiki Master Holly Biggar, Chair Masseuse Karen Logan and Reflexologist Jacquie Jonkheid are offering their services too.
Nelson Veterinary Hospital ‘s Dr. Chris Chart is new to Connect Day this year, offering consultations and referrals for people’s pets.
“But,” says Harvey, “NO PETS are allowed on the grounds. This is to speak Dr. Chart about your pet and, if appropriate, get a referral for follow-up help.”
This year over 30 different booths will offer free goods, services and information from over 40 program and service providers. A free café will offer soup and other food courtesy of Our Daily Bread (Kootenay Christian Fellowship), Nelson’s Daybreak Rotary, Oso Negro, Kootenay Bakery, Safeway, Save-On Foods, Thor’s Pizza and other local food stores, bakeries, pizza businesses and NCOH.
Kootenay Kids will be providing child minding on-site so that parents can more easily attend appointments or consultations at Connect Day… with ample fun available for kids with face-painting and art supplies and creations courtesy of Kootenay Art Therapy Institute.
At the same time, services, information and supports will be offered for those wanting to find work or training, to find affordable housing, to navigate government services and applications, to find some advocacy help, domestic violence assistance, and to connect with indigenous, youth, family and early childhood services and food services.
There will be lots of people to listen and assist, with private meeting rooms available too.
“Connect Day recognizes that many people, from all ages and walks of life, struggle to make ends meet in Nelson. It provides an opportunity to come together, in a positive and community-based way, to take care of each other in our community. It’s a fun and up-beat day and EVERYONE – from guest to service provider to volunteer – takes something good away that day.”
Sponsors of Connect Day to date include the Columbia Basin Trust, Nelson Hydro, Daybreak Rotary, Nelson Cares, Nelson’s Covenant Church, the Nelson & District Credit Union, Kootenay Christian Fellowship, Nelson Community Services Society, ANKORS and the Salvation Army.
See more supporters on NCOH’s Facebook Page!
