Nelson’s Community Connect Day offers warm welcome
By Contributor
With the rising costs of housing and food, struggling to make ends meet is a familiar reality for an increasing number of households and individuals in Nelson and area.
On Saturday, November 17th more than 120 people will be volunteering for Community Connect Day at Central School in Nelson – a day that recognises we can take a community approach to support each other.
Once a year the Nelson Committee on Homelessness hosts Community Connect Day – a “marketplace” of FREE services, goods, resources and information for any person or family in the community who is struggling to makes ends meet. Community service providers, professionals, businesses and volunteers all come together to offer a warm welcome and free services, goods, information and supports at this free event.
Local businesses offer haircuts, Daybreak Rotary run a free café, teaming up with Kootenay Christian Fellowship, the Legion’s Ladies Auxilliary and local contributing businesses. Dr. Audet and a team of hygienists and the TEETH Clinic offer dental exams and follow-ups; Nelson Family Eyecare & Selkirk Eyecare offer vision testing and follow-up; Nurse Practitioners offer health check-ups with other wellness services giving flu shots, foot care, chiropractic, physio and massage services. Lightly used winter coats from Valhalla Pure’s Coats for the Koots campaign, gently-used winter boots come from ShoeBank Canada’s team, winter socks from Covenant Church and knit goods from the Nelson Knitting Club help prepare folks for winter weather. Local businesses are contributing towards wellness packages, café items, personal care items and door prizes.
“The generousity of local businesses, professionals, community groups, service clubs and sponsors in Nelson is amazing,” said Ann Harvey, Community Coordinator of Nelson Committee on Homelessness.
Meanwhile community, health and public services will be there to CONNECT with people to offer information and support for any issue or problem they may want to ask about, from seniors’ and unemployment benefits to rental or poverty rights, employment & training info, indigenous services, youth services, LGBTQ2S supports, addictions and harm reduction information and support, women’s services, housing and shelter services or family and early childhood supports.
There are two one-time services this year that NCOH is excited about.
Fortis BC which will be providing Energy Saving Kits to help bring down energy costs to people with an account with Nelson Hydro or Fortis BC. They will also be encouraging people who rent to apply for energy saving programs and will follow-up with landlords and property managers identified to invite them to consider the programs.
The other special service is a “photo studio” service, with two photographers there to capture portraits of individuals, couples and families. NCOH will cover a limited number of photo prints in 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 sizes and one frame.
“This can make a difference for people to help them reconnect with family members and friends, and they can be something affordable to give as a gift at Christmas,” says Harvey.
There will be a kid’s corner of activities and face-painting, with child-minding offered for up to 30 minutes for kids of parents who need to attend a service appointment at Connect Day.
An additional 50 volunteers help plan and organize the event, greet and assist guests and service providers, help people feel welcomed and supported, and make the day run smoothly.
“The amount of local support and engagement has been incredible, and this is what makes this great event possible!” says Harvey.
“We are especially grateful for the sponsors of Connect Day, including the Columbia Basin Trust, Nelson Hydro, Royal Bank Canada, RDCK Community Complex, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary, Nelson Star, Nelson and District Credit Union, Nelson CARES, Salvation Army, Nelson Community Services, Daybreak Rotary, Covenant Church, Kootenay Career Development Services and ANKORS.
“It’s a fun day to be a part of for everyone,” says Harvey. “Connect Day provides an opportunity to come together in a community-based way to show some support for each other. Everyone walks away with a smile and gets something from it, whether you’re a service provider, volunteer or guest!”
The Nelson Committee on Homelessness is supported with funding from the Homeless Partnering Strategy program of the federal government.
