Tuesday 28 January 2014

No Snow? No problem.

Looking for fun things to do while we wait for the snow to fall? Here are some fun ideas on a budget while we wait for pow.

Community Kitchens
Fun interactive cooking class where participants learn how to prepare healthy, delicious meals on a budget. (Subsidies available if you are financially restricted, all inquiries are confidential). Contact Sara to book your spot foodbank@mywcss.org or 604 935 7717.

Feb. 3rd Traditional Chinese Cooking
Feb. 24th Raw Coconut Cream Pie
Mar. 1st Raw Dips and Spreads
Mar. 14th Baby's First Foods

Hockey 101
Are you 18-35? Thursday Jan 30th, 7:30-11pm skating + fondue + prizes! Coaches, skates, helmets and dinner provided. 10$ entry. call 604 935 8410 or go to www.lunawhistler.com for more details. 

Check out the Re Use It Center
Shop and get some great deals on everything from clothing to housewares. There are some serious treasures down there!

Community Workshops at the Re Build It Center
Feb. 8th 1-3pm- Wood Furniture and Cabinet repair
Feb 22nd 1-3pm Build Your Own Silverware Coat Rack

Sessions are 25$. Phone or visit store to book space.

Friday 10 January 2014

AFOW Donates $17,000 to WCSS for Life Skills, Food Bank and Healthy Choices in Schools Programs



The American Friends of Whistler (AFOW) recently donated a total of $17,000 to be shared among three Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) programs; $5000 to the Food Bank, $5000 to the Support Network of Whistler (SNOW), and $7000 to Healthy Choices in Schools.  The generous support of the AFOW helps WCSS work toward their mission which is to “Provide programs and services that support social sustainability in Whistler”.
According to Gary Raymond, President of AFOW, “We continue to be impressed with the professionalism of WCSS as an organization and their continued focus on the true needs of Whistler residents.” WCSS reports that Outreach workers had a total of 1276 one-to-one meeting with clients looking for a safe confidential listening ear in 2012-13. Through these meetings, Outreach workers assessed people’s needs and made referrals to appropriate programs and services.  The needs vary, but healthy food and life skills are consistent areas in which people need assistance.
The $5000 for the Food Bank will go towards purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables for food bank users as well to support WCSS Outreach workers in leading hands-on cooking classes provided free to financially restricted participants. The informal lessons on nutrition and cooking using simple inexpensive ingredients will increase people’s knowledge of how to feed themselves on a tight budget.  A second program focused on life skills, the Support Network of Whistler (SNOW) received $5000 to provide participants with life coaching, yoga for mental health and a speaker series. All programs have space reserved for financially restricted participants first, but if not filled classes are open to the general public. The SNOW program is a support group which focuses on goal setting, budgeting, career building and stress management and is facilitated by a certified life coach. As an extension of the life skills program, WCSS is also planning a Spring Speakers Series led by local experts on topics such as effective communication, infant/toddler care and mental health awareness. The funding from the AFOW will also go towards ‘Finding the Balance Yoga program which exists to provide participants who may have mental health, physical trauma or addiction issues a way to increase their stress management skills.  Feedback from a past participant was extremely positive, “I recently suffered from a concussion and was having trouble dealing with my rehabilitation and I don’t have enough money to spend on extras like yoga. The instructor did a wonderful job of teaching me how to calm my mind and I really saw improvements in my overall health as yoga became an outlet.” The $7000 grant for the Healthy Choices in Schools program works towards enhancing the lives of Whistler residents, this time at a young age. WCSS provides Outreach Workers to local schools where they conduct age appropriate classes on: drug & alcohol education, bullying prevention, internet safety, minimizing risk taking behaviour, building self-esteem, and eating right for health.  WCSS also leads peer mentor training in elementary school for grade 7’s as well as in Whistler Secondary.
The ongoing support from the American Friends of Whistler (AFOW) is essential to meet the needs of Whistler residents, and WCSS is grateful to have the opportunity to provide social services as a direct result of the grant.