Taxi Saver Program

Lee VonBerg with her 'Hot Wheels'

Recently I was away visiting a family friend who is in her 80’s living in a retirement village. This friend has mobility challenges that do not allow her to walk very far. As a result, she has a motorized scooter to enable her to get down to the dining room and participate in activities outside of her apartment. After a few days of observing her use of the scooter, I decided that it would be beneficial for me have some product knowledge and a test drive was in order. Test-driving which took on the form of me racing my dad down the hall brought the neighbors out to check out what all the ruckus was about. This experience not only showed me how the technology of motorized scooter can turn on a dime but how important it is to have a tool to assist in your mobility which opens your world to new experiences.

Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) Volunteer Driving program under the umbrella of the existing program “Helping Hand” is a tool that can come in handy for many people in need of mobility support. The program offers individuals who are unable to get to appointments or do essential errands due to injury or limited mobility a door to door ride with a friendly volunteer. This is an excellent program that uses local resources to solve a big challenge for an individual who is unable to manage local transit due to mobility challenges. Unfortunately there are times that volunteer match cannot be made and that individual in need misses their appointment. After advocating to the RMOW to have a safety net in place to support the individuals that can’t be matched to volunteers due to scheduling conflicts, Emma DalSanto (RMOW) and myself (WCSS) were able to create a pilot project called “Taxi Saver Program”. This program will be co-funded as a pilot project for one year by WCSS and RMOW and the cost will be split 50/50. The Taxi Saver Program will be coordinated by WCSS in the following manner:

The individual will request a Helping Hand volunteer driver and the WCSS coordinator will put a call out to the Helping Hand volunteers. If the individual in need is unable to use the public transit and is financially restricted (their MSP is paid for) the coordinator will then contact Resort Cabs to set up a taxi to drive the individual to their appointment and back home. An example of a situation that would warrant accessing this support is during the winter an elderly person who uses a walker is unable to get to the bus stop six blocks from her door and therefore stops attending important medical appointments. After calling the Helping Hand Coordinator and going through a simple intake process, the coordinator discovers that the senior is financially restricted so paying a taxi fare is not an option. After putting out a request to the list of volunteers, the coordinator is unable to make a match. The alternative is to use the Taxi Saver Program and the senior is able to access a medical appointment. There are many other applicable situations and anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to contact Melissa Deller, 604-902-0865, helpinghand@mywcss.org. After coordinating the Helping Hand program for 6 years WCSS is proud to have an alternative option for individuals who risk missing important appointments due to lack of transportation and are thankful for the RMOW’s cooperation on the project.

Whistler Multicultural Festival Fun!

Thank you to the Whistler Public Library and the Whistler Multicultural Network for holding a great event last Friday. The evening featured music, art, food and culture. The weather was awesome, and everyone had a great time. WCSS was happy to participate, and take in all the activities including some high energy performers. To learn more about the Whistler Multicultural Network visit www.whistlermulticulturalnetwork.com.

FARM FRESH PRODUCE TO BE FEATURED ON MORE PLATES THIS SUMMER

For some families and seniors it can be difficult to add healthy options to their daily meals. Lack of finances can often be a barrier for those who would otherwise love to shop at the Whistler Farmers Market. This summer, Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) has partnered with the Whistler Farmers Market to make healthy options accessible to more Whistler families. The Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, an initiative of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, will provide participants with the resources to purchase BC products such as fruits, vegetables, fresh cut herbs, nuts dairy and meat.

WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

“Social responsibility is embedded in the corporate culture of the Whistler Farmers Market. We fully acknowledge that our success is due in a large part to the support of our partners and the community we are so proud to serve.” says Chris Quinlan, Market Manager. Program participants receive farm-fresh food; they meet farmers, pick up new recipes and learn how to include the market in their meal planning strategy. The farmer’s family benefits as well and funds stay in the region and support local economy. Participants take part in a series of workshops like canning and preserving, food demos, and nutrition info sessions organized by Whistler Community Services Society. “These workshops will be interactive and focus on the produce available at the Whistler Farmers market. WCSS will invite any interested community members to attend as learning about healthy eating and farm-fresh produce is for everyone and not just for those who are part of the Nutrition Coupon Program” says Claire Mozes, Outreach Program Manager for WCSS.

“Our objective is to encourage participants to try new foods and explore the diverse amount of produce available in their own community,” explains Peter Leblanc, Farmer Market Nutrition Coupon Program Manager. Shopping at farmers’ markets is an experience that should be inclusive to all and Whistler Community Services Society and the Whistler Farmers Market are working towards making that a possibility. Funding for this program is provided by Healthy Families BC.

This program is funded for people who are financially restricted. In order to participate you must also fit the demographic of: pregnant women, families or seniors. Please contact Jackie jackie@mywcss.org or Ashlin ashlin@mywcss.org or if you are 55+ please contact Melissa snap@mywcss.org.

The Inside Scoop On Discount Cards for Seniors in Whistler

There is a large debate when you speak about the need for a senior’s discount. I've heard all side of the debate, and lots of opinions. When I started writing this article I began researching the history of how the infamous “seniors discount' came about. What I found was that there is very little documented history and each business seems to have their own way of dealing with customer discounts.

The seniors discount was created for a generation who had survived the great depression, were living longer and had a very small savings, pension or were surviving just on old age security. The seniors discount was a way of supporting older adults by offsetting the cost of their purchases. As a child I was one to always razz my parents about their age and specifically when they were in their 60's reminded them at every time of purchase that they now qualified for a 'senior discount'. This would often result in a set of rolling eyes in my direction. The baby boomer generation has over whelmed the manner in which society viewed everything from birth, workforce, parenting and aging. According to Statistics Canada, “During that time (1946-1965), more than 8.2 million babies were born, an average of close to 412,000 a year” And I thought that Whistler was having a baby boom! With a large portion of the population aging at the same time and using discounts, challenges could arise for businesses if too much of their product is discounted so many choose not to and take a more inclusive approach with ‘membership cards’ for loyal customers not designated by age.

I have done some research around Whistler to see which businesses offer a 'seniors discount'. The results were interesting; there are very few stores to offer discounts. There is a drug store which offers a seniors discount on regular basis, the movie theater offers a reduced price and of course you can buy a mountain ski pass for less but otherwise I couldn’t find much in the way of a senior specific discount. However, seniors don’t be discouraged because there are two stores that do offer a Seniors Discount Card- Re Use It Centre and Re Build It Centre. These cards are available to anyone 60 years or older and can be used every day of the week. The cards are a way for WCSS to say thank you to the older adults in Whistler for the years of donating and shopping at the stores. At the Re Use It Centre this card offers 50% off clothing, kitchenware, linen and books. The Re Build It Centre offers 50% off any item under $20. All of the profits from both stores go directly to Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) to fund 25 programs and services such as Counseling Assistance, Summer Camp Fund and Outreach Services including the Seniors Needs Action Planner (SNAP) role. So, if you are 60 years or older, the next time you are shopping at the Re Use It Centre or the Re Build It Centre please sign up for your Seniors Discount Card and remember that every time you donate or shop you are supporting your community.

The Chief Challenge 2014

The staff of the Whistler Community Services Society hiked the Stawamus Chief in Squamish this morning, in support of Sea to Sky Community Services Centerpoint project. Hike the Chief as many times as you can in May 2014. Strengthen yourself, strengthen your community.

See more at: http://www.buildingopportunities.ca/chief-challenge

A call out for grandparents

Why am I recruiting grandparents? With all the benefits that Whistler offers as a community it lacks the generations of families living in the same town to be called on when a new family member is born. In the past few years, Whistler has experienced a baby boom and with many first time parents having extended families that live in other provinces or around the world there is a gap in intergenerational support. A natural part of being a new parent is experiencing uncertainty as you are learning about this little human who has just turned your world upside down. A senior who may have their own children and grandchildren is able to provide some perspective to parenthood and an extra set of experienced 'grandma or grandpa' hands for a new family is never turned down. 
Hopefully I have sparked your interest as Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) offers a program called Helping Hand that supports new parents who might need an extra help and we are looking for additional volunteers. What would a recruited Helping Hand Grandparent be doing? Some of the tasks that a volunteer may assist with are: preparing a simple nutritious meal for the family, helping around the house and playing with the newborn’s siblings. If there is an older child a walk around the neighborhood or to the park to play would be a great way to spend an hour. Watching the world through the eyes of a young child is magical. I recently learned how much fun watching a stick twirl in a puddle is for a 2 year old. My world slowed down in that moment. A quick trip to pick up groceries or mail could also make the difference to a new family since organizing and packing up a new baby can take longer than the simple errand for milk. Seniors in our community who are parents and grandparents can identify with how much laundry is created by babies, so helping do a load of laundry and putting it away could be one thing to help make a new parent feel less overwhelmed. If you are a ‘hands on’ kind of person, spending an hour in a rocking chair, cuddling a new baby may give mom a break to have a shower or cross a task off her long to do list. What's wonderful about this program is that volunteers have the flexibility to select a task if it fits their interest and schedule. This is excellent for those who are retired and looking to give back to the community without any set schedule. Seniors have a wealth of knowledge from their life experience and the challenges they may face on their own. You might be asking yourself “What's in it for me?” Supporting another member of our community brings feelings of purpose, an opportunity for fun, and the development of new relationships. An hour a week of volunteering can impact the life of the individual receiving the support so if you are interested in volunteering or are in need of support please contact Melissa at helpinghand@mywcss.org, 604-902-0865. WCSS will try to lend a Helping Hand.

Volunteers Support & Inspire

The impact that volunteers have at Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) is powerful and should be celebrated. Volunteers at WCSS provide energy and inspiration for staff and clients. There is also a significant, positive economic impact on our non-profit society that can be attributed to volunteer support.

The energy and inspiration can be found in many programs at WCSS where volunteer participation is prevalent. One example of this is at the Food Bank. Every Monday, Food Bank volunteers arrive early and start to unpack and shelve donations. There is a lovely buzz of energy as the volleys socialize while working. As one long term volunteer puts it, “Volunteering gets me out of the house and gives me purpose.  I like to interact with my fellow Whistlerites and lend hand.  It makes me feel good to know I can be helpful. Most of all I develop new friends and learn from others." Their energy is infectious and as an employee when you look around the room and see five individuals who have given up a portion of their day to assist people who don’t have enough to eat, you feel inspired to work that much harder.

Food Bank Volunteer collects cash and fresh produce at the
Whistler Farmer's Market

Volunteers’ actions can also have an inspiring impact on the people they help directly.  A recent client of WCSS who received volunteer support in the Helping Hand program wrote, "I would like to thank you for all your support and help you have given me in the last few months.  Before I had my injury I had no idea how much I might benefit from the Helping Hand program and other community services.  Everything, from you coming to my house and providing information on all services that were available to me and also talking to me about my injury and daily challenges, to finding volunteers that could get me to the swimming pool for rehab, to giving me a credit towards the cost of using the pool, it has all had such a positive impact on my life!  I also appreciate how the support is ongoing and how I get phone calls from you to follow up on how I am doing or to let me know about other forms of support I may be eligible for.  Living in Whistler as a family with two young kids and no other family around to help can be overwhelming, especially when you get injured and only have one income.  It is so good to know that, apart from friends, we have our community services out there, where there are people who really care and who will step in to help when you are feeling stuck or don't know where else to turn.  Thank you so much!  I am looking forward to being better and able to give back a little!” In fact, WCSS does see many people come back to be part of our volunteer team once they are in a place in their lives where they are able to be in a supportive role.

At WCSS, we track the number of hours that are given by volunteers. The tracking allows WCSS to have an understanding of how integral volunteer support is to being able to provide extensive social service programming for the Whistler community. Imagine Canada, with whom WCSS is accredited by uses a Volunteer Value Calculator to help quantify the economic impact that volunteers have on non-profit organizations.  WCSS acknowledges that the energy, generosity and knowledge that volunteers bring to our organization can’t be measured or counted easily.  However, it is useful to measure some aspects of contributions such as amount of time and economic impact. When plugging the number of hours volunteered last year (4680) into the Imagine Canada calculator, we get the following statistics: Volunteers at WCSS contributed the equivalent of $78, 120 in salaries, or 2.3 full-time year-round jobs. For every dollar WCSS invests in its volunteer program, we receive a return valued at $15.62 in unpaid volunteer activity. Just another reason to be thankful for our dedicated volunteers- WCSS would not be capable of running over 25 social service programs without ongoing volunteer support. 

If this blog has inspired you to contribute to the social sustainability of Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), please consider giving some time to the FoodBank, Helping Hand program, Re Use It Centre, Re Build It Centre, Peer Educator program, or fundraising events. Your time and energy will be appreciated by the entire community as you help to improve the quality of life for those in need of support.